Grounding and bonding terminals related to the pool installation are required to be identified for use in wet and corrosive environments.

Grounding and bonding terminals for pools, spas, or hot tubs are subjected to severe environmental conditions as well as corrosive chemicals such as chlorine and acid. Specifically requiring grounding terminals to be listed for wet and corrosive environments helps to address those conditions.

Section 680.7 states that “field-installed grounding and bonding connections in a damp, wet, or corrosive environment shall be composed of copper, copper alloy, or stainless steel. They shall be listed for direct burial use”.

Throughout Article 680, a precedence has been established that typically allows brass to be used when something metal is required to be corrosion resistant. This code section does not mention brass but it does mention copper alloy. Here are a few facts that may provide additional insight:

• UL 467 is the Standard for grounding and bonding equipment. Part of the standard requires grounding and bonding fittings suitable for direct burial to be copper or copper alloy made of at least 80% copper. Brass is a type of copper alloy.
• Even though a copper grounding lug bolted to the side of a pool heater may be above ground and not directly buried, it falls into the category of this new code requirement since it is a bonding terminal used at the pool equipment. These terminals must be listed for direct burial use according to the new code language.
• The guide information for UL product category KDER states: Grounding and bonding equipment suitable for use where buried in earth or embedded in concrete is marked for such use. The marking may be abbreviated "DB" (for "Direct Burial").

Below is a preview of the NEC^®. See the actual NEC^® text at NFPA.ORG for the complete code section. Once there, click on their link to free access to the 2020 NEC^® edition of NFPA 70.

2020 Code Language:

680.7 Bonding and Equipment Grounding Terminals. Terminals used for bonding and equipment grounding shall be identified for use in wet and corrosive environments. Field-installed terminals in a damp, wet, or corrosive environment shall be composed of copper, copper alloy, or stainless steel and shall be listed for direct burial use.