680.11 Underground Wiring Location.
Code Change Summary: The rules for underground wiring near a pool have been revised.
The previous rules for underground wiring near a pool have been moved from 680.10 to 680.11 and Table 680.10 was deleted.
Previously, table 680.10 provided the minimum cover depth for underground wiring methods used around the pool. In the 2014 NEC®, only pool related wiring methods were permitted under or in close proximity to the pool. All other non-pool related wiring methods were required to be located at least 5 feet horizontally from the pool.
In the 2017 NEC®, the Table was deleted and now the installation must only comply with the cover depths provided in Table 300.5. As well, the requirement to keep non-pool related wiring methods at least 5 feet horizontally from the pool has been removed. Now, any wiring whether related to the pool or not can be within 5 feet horizontally from the pool.
Wiring under the pool is a different story. Underground wiring is not permitted under the pool unless the wiring is necessary to supply pool equipment permitted by Article 680.
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 2017 NEC® edition of NFPA 70.
2014 Code Language:
680.10 Underground Wiring Location. Underground wiring shall not be permitted under the pool or within the area extending 1.5 m (5 ft) horizontally from the inside wall of the pool unless this wiring is necessary to supply pool equipment permitted by this article. Where space limitations prevent wiring from being routed a distance 1.5 m (5 ft) or more from the pool, such wiring shall be permitted where installed in complete raceway systems of rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, or a nonmetallic raceway system. All metal conduit shall be corrosion resistant and suitable for the location. The minimum cover depth shall be as given in Table 680.10.
2017 Code Language:
680.11 Underground Wiring Location. Underground wiring shall be permitted where installed in rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, rigid polyvinyl chloride conduit, reinforced thermosetting resin conduit, or Type MC cable, suitable for the conditions subject to that location. Underground wiring shall not be permitted under the pool unless this wiring is necessary to supply pool equipment permitted by this article. Minimum cover depths shall be as given in Table 300.5.