2009 NEC para 680.30 let get ready to RUMBLE!!

[pfarber]

So my pool is up and the electrical is in. Call the inspector and he comes out and asks about the pool and how I have it wired up.

After me very brief spiel he says "Its not bonded?" 'No. Its not a permanent pool... its a storable". At that point I realized that he was not familiar with storable pools. He then asked about the pump.. I explained it and he said no, there has to be an outlet within 5ft of the pool and the cord can't be 25ft (as the manufacturer supplied, UL listed pump had) it must be no longer than 3ft. I than said "680.7 excludes storable pool pumps, and 680.30 excludes part II for bonding".

He flipped through the NEC book and came up with a page that again, stated 3ft for the pump motor. This is where I made my error and is going to cost me... I never made sure he was still in 680.30 and not in 680.20.

So I said I would look at running a line. Some quick maths shows that this is like a $250 ordeal PLUS he wanted me to cut my UL listed pool pump cord. After more research I called him back up and asked if he was POSITIVE I had to cut the cord. He said he did a little more research on storable pools and said that the cord would not have to be cut, but I still need an outlet with 5ft of the pool. So I'm halfway home.

Tomorrow I will call and set up the last appointment. I did not dig the trench for the 5ft outlet as I simply don't need to.. and I won't. I've got all my documents ready and I'm not sure what the procedure is if he insists about this outlet... it's simply not required. So I guess he'll fail me and then I'll have something in writing to fight.

I hope it doesn't come to that... but damn, it sucks that I paid $211 for permits and the inspector has no idea what to look for!

[pfarber]

Storable Swimming, Wading, or Immersion Pool. Those
that are constructed on or above the ground and are capable
of holding water to a maximum depth of 1.0 m (42 in.), or a
pool with nonmetallic, molded polymeric walls or inflatable
fabric walls regardless of dimension.

Man is the NEC friggen clueless. There are 39 inches in a meter. Not 42.

And these guys tell US how its supposed to be made??

680.7 Cord-and-Plug-Connected Equipment
Fixed or stationary equipment, other than underwater luminaires,
for a permanently installed pool shall be permitted to
be connected with a flexible cord and plug to facilitate the
removal or disconnection for maintenance or repair.

(A) Length. For other than storable pools, the flexible cord
shall not exceed 900 mm (3 ft) in length.

[pfarber]

Well pool was inspected and I took the path of least resistance. Since the inspector said that I didn't have to cut the 25ft cord to 3ft I simply moved the pump to the outlet and re-plumbed the PVC suction return lines. My yard looked ridiculous with 40ft of PVC running all over it... but I got the sign off.

I cannot confirm or deny that I quickly moved the pump back to the original position.