What type of bonding is required for pools and hot tubs?

Equipotential bonding is essential for pools and hot tubs to ensure that all metallic components are at the same electrical potential. This type of bonding reduces the risk of electric shocks to individuals who may come into contact with both the water and any metallic parts, such as ladders, rails, or lighting fixtures, especially in wet environments. By connecting these metallic elements together and to a common ground, any stray voltage or potential difference is mitigated, enhancing safety for users.

In contrast, ground bonding typically focuses on connecting electrical systems to the ground to prevent faults, which while important, does not specifically address the safety concerns associated with water recreational facilities. Electrostatic bonding refers to the physics of electrical charges and is not directly applicable to the safety measures required in pools or hot tubs. Protective bonding generally refers to a form of grounding that is used to safeguard equipment from faults but does not directly address the specific needs of pools and hot tubs in terms of equalizing electrical potential among different metal parts.