Most pool owners’ greatest fear may be someone drowning in their pool. But there are other safety hazards you should also be aware of, with the most prominent being electrical hazards.
Most pools are hooked up to pumps, heaters, lights, and other electrical equipment, so being shocked while swimming is always a danger. And taking the necessary steps to prevent any electrical hazard in your swimming pool is a critical part of pool safety.
Voltage And Illumination
When it comes to preventing electrical fatalities in your pool, the National Electric Code includes a number of safeguards. Something as simple as following building codes can significantly reduce the danger of accidental shocks, so it’s crucial to hire licensed professionals for any electrical work. In addition to being a licensed electrician, some electricians specialize in swimming pool and electrical fixtures in and around water. If you are installing or repairing any electrical features around your pool, be sure to hire a licensed electrician who specializes in pools.
Additionally, avoiding outdated and dangerous fixtures is a vital safety measure. Today, low-voltage lighting for swimming pools has become the unofficial industry standard. It’s important to note that voltage can affect people in different ways. While 120 volts, for example, are considered fatal, and 12 volts may not be, that may not always be the case. In fact, many swimming pool experts consider 120-volt lighting perfectly safe as long as the lighting is installed correctly. More than anything else, proper installation and following safety protocols make all the difference.
Proper Wiring And Installation
When you don’t have your lighting installed by a swimming pool professional, you run the risk of improper wiring and installation components. Improper installation is a major risk factor for accidental injury from electrical shocks.
Without a transformer, you could easily electrify your swimming pool water if a wire experienced a short. Additionally, without the proper wiring, electrical currents from another source could enter the water in an attempt to complete the circuit.
Grounding And Bonding
In theory, you could swim around a pool of electrified water without any injury. The shock would come the moment you grab onto a pool ladder or any other metal object. That’s because the electrical shock that injures you is the result of electricity flowing through your body to complete a circuit. To prevent that from happening, electricians use grounding and bonding. Grounding attaches an electrical circuit to a conductor, usually a metal rod, driven into the soil (i.e., ground) as a way to discharge extra voltage in case of a surge. Bonding connects the various metal parts of your pool system into a circuit so that a human swimmer is never going to be the one completing the circuit with their body.
Calling the Experts
When you consider how vital proper installation is when it comes to preventing electrical hazards, it’s obvious why you need to call your local Atlanta swimming pool experts at The Pool Butler.
We’ve been serving Atlanta for years, and our experts are highly trained and experienced to correctly handle everything from swimming pool repair and cleaning to pool lighting installation and wiring. We’re on your side to prevent safety hazards for a safe and fun swim this season and beyond!