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680.5(A)(B(C) GFCI and SPGFCI for Swimming Pools and Similar Installations

Revision/New

Change Summary

  • New subsection requiring Ground Fault protection beyond that required in 210.8. In addition, a new Special Purpose Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter (SPGFCI) is being introduced for circuits above 150 volts to ground.

NEC®Text

Article 680 Swimming Pools, Fountains, and Similar Installations
680.5 Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection (GFCI) and Special Purpose Ground-Fault Circuit- Interrupter (SPGFCI) Protection.
(A) General. The GFCI and SPGFCI requirements in this article, unless otherwise noted, are in addition to the requirements in 210.8.
(B) 150 Volts or Less to Ground. Where required in this article, ground-fault protection of receptacles and outlets on branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground and 60 amperes or less, single- or 3-phase, shall be provided with a Class A GFCI.
Exception: Receptacles and outlets that are part of listed equipment with ratings not exceeding the low-voltage contact limit that are supplied by listed transformers or power supplies that comply with 680.23(A)(2) shall not be required to be provided with ground-fault protection.
Informational Note: The high leg of a 120/240-volt 4-wire delta-connected system, and the two ungrounded phases of a corner-grounded delta system have a voltage to ground greater than 150 volts, exceeding the limit for a Class A GFCI.
(C) Above 150 Volts to Ground. Where required in this article, ground-fault protection of receptacles and outlets on branch circuits operating at voltages above 150 volts to ground, not exceeding 480 volts phase-to-phase, single- or 3-phase, shall be provided with SPGFCI protection not to exceed 20-mA ground-fault trip current.
Informational Note: See UL 943C, Outline of Investigation for Special Purpose Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters, for information on Classes C, D, and E ground-fault circuit interrupters

Material taken from the National Electric Code. is reprinted with permission from NFPA 70., 2023 edition. National Electrical Code®, Copyright 2022, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA. All rights reserved.

Expert Analysis

A revision has been made to clarify the requirements for ground-fault protection to protect personnel from shock hazards. The ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection (GFCI) and special purpose ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection (SPGFCI), unless otherwise noted, are in addition to the requirements in 210.8, which address the requirements for 150 volts or less to ground and above 150 volts to ground.