Equipotential bonding, pool fencing and electrical safety

The issue of equipotential bonding for pools is now covered under new pool fencing laws which came into effect on 1 December for new pools and from late in 2010 for existing pools.

Electrical safety laws will continue to cover pools to reduce the risk of users receiving an electric shock from nearby conductive material like pool fence supports.

The electrical safety laws also apply to pool fencing that has been erected, in some cases, a long time after pool electrical equipment and ancillary fittings have been installed.

The requirements on whether to install an equipotential bond are outlined in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules.

The requirements depend on a number of factors which include, but are not limited to, the arrangement of electrical equipment associated with the pool (such as pool pumps and filters) the existence of an equipotential bond to the pool construction, when the pool fence was installed, and the distance the pool fence is away from the pool.

The Electrical Safety Office advises electrical contractors and anyone associated with the pool building and pool fencing industries to be aware of these bonding requirements for electrical safety reasons.

It is also important to note that the installation of an equipotential bonding conductor, whether to the pool, its conductive fittings or fencing coming within the specified distance of the pool, is defined as ‘electrical work’ under Section 18 of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 – meaning that it may only be carried out by a licensed electrical contractor.