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Article 682

Natural and Artificially Made Bodies of Water

Part I. General

  1. Scope. This article applies to the installation of electri‐ cal wiring for, and equipment in and adjacent to, natural or artificially made bodies of water not covered by other articles in this Code, such as but not limited to aeration ponds, fish farm ponds, storm retention basins, treatment ponds, and irrigation (channels) facilities.
  2. Definitions.Artificially Made Bodies of Water. Bodies of water that have been constructed or modified to fit some decorative or commercial purpose such as, but not limited to, aeration ponds, fish farm ponds, storm retention basins, treatment ponds, and irrigation (channel) facilities. Water depths may vary seasonally or be controlled.Electrical Datum Plane. The electrical datum plane as used in this article is defined as follows:
    1. In land areas subject to tidal fluctuation, the electrical datum plane is a horizontal plane 600 mm (2 ft) above the highest tide level for the area occurring under normal circumstances, that is, highest high tide.
    2. In land areas not subject to tidal fluctuation, the electri‐ cal datum plane is a horizontal plane 600 mm (2 ft) above the highest water level for the area occurring under normal circumstances.
    3. In land areas subject to flooding, the electrical datum plane based on (1) or (2) above is a horizontal plane 600 mm (2 ft) above the point identified as the prevailing high water mark or an equivalent benchmark based on seasonal or storm-driven flooding from the authority having jurisdiction.
    4. The electrical datum plane for floating structures and landing stages that are (a) installed to permit rise and fall response to water level, without lateral movement, and
    (b) that are so equipped that they can rise to the datum plane established for (1) or (2) above, is a horizontal plane 750 mm (30 in.) above the water level at the float‐ ing structure or landing stage and a minimum of 300 mm (12 in.) above the level of the deck.Equipotential Plane. An area where wire mesh or other conductive elements are on, embedded in, or placed under the walk surface within 75 mm (3 in.), bonded to all metal struc‐ tures and fixed nonelectrical equipment that may becomeenergized, and connected to the electrical grounding system to prevent a difference in voltage from developing within the plane.Natural Bodies of Water. Bodies of water such as lakes, streams, ponds, rivers, and other naturally occurring bodies of water, which may vary in depth throughout the year.Shoreline. The farthest extent of standing water under the applicable conditions that determine the electrical datum plane for the specified body of water.
  3. Other Articles. If the water is subject to boat traffic, the wiring shall comply with 555.13(B).

Part II. Installation

  1. Electrical Equipment and Transformers. Electrical equipment and transformers, including their enclosures, shall be specifically approved for the intended location. No portion of an enclosure for electrical equipment not identified for operation while submerged shall be located below the electri‐ cal datum plane.
  2. Location of Service Equipment. On land, the service equipment for floating structures and submersible electrical equipment shall be located no closer than 1.5 m (5 ft) horizon‐ tally from the shoreline and live parts shall be elevated a mini‐ mum of 300 mm (12 in.) above the electrical datum plane. Service equipment shall disconnect when the water level reaches the height of the established electrical datum plane.
  3. Electrical Connections. All electrical connections not intended for operation while submerged shall be located at least 300 mm (12 in.) above the deck of a floating or fixed structure, but not below the electrical datum plane.
  4. Wiring Methods and Installation. Liquidtight flexible metal conduit or liquidtight flexible nonmetallic conduit with approved fittings shall be permitted for feeders and where flex‐ ible connections are required for services. Extra-hard usage portable power cable listed for both wet locations and sunlight resistance shall be permitted for a feeder or a branch circuit where flexibility is required. Other wiring methods suitable for the location shall be permitted to be installed where flexibility is not required. Temporary wiring in accordance with 590.4 shall be permitted.
  5. Submersible or Floating Equipment Power Connec‐ tion(s). Submersible or floating equipment shall be cord- and plug-connected, using extra-hard usage cord, as designated in Table 400.4, and listed with a “W” suffix. The plug and recepta‐ cle combination shall be arranged to be suitable for the loca‐ tion while in use. Disconnecting means shall be provided to isolate each submersible or floating electrical equipment from its supply connection(s) without requiring the plug to be removed from the receptacle.Exception: Equipment listed for direct connection and equipment anch‐ ored in place and incapable of routine movement caused by water currents or wind shall be permitted to be connected using wiring meth‐ ods covered in 682.13.
    1. Type and Marking. The disconnecting means shall consist of a circuit breaker, a switch, or both, or a molded case switch, and shall be specifically marked to designate which receptacle or other outlet it controls.ARTICLE 685 — INTEGRATED ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS 685.12
    2. Location. The disconnecting means shall be readily acces‐ sible on land, located not more than 750 mm (30 in.) from the receptacle it controls, and shall be located in the supply circuit ahead of the receptacle. The disconnecting means shall be located within sight of but not closer than 1.5 m (5 ft) from the shoreline and shall be elevated not less than 300 mm (12 in.) above the datum plane.
  6. Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter (GFCI) Protection. Fifteen- and 20-ampere single-phase, 125-volt through 250-volt receptacles installed outdoors and in or on floating buildings or structures within the electrical datum plane area shall be provided with GFCI protection for personnel. The GFCI protection device shall be located not less than 300 mm (12 in.) above the established electrical datum plane.

Part III. Grounding and Bonding

  1. Grounding. Wiring and equipment within the scope of this article shall be grounded as specified in Part III of 553, 555.15, and with the requirements in Part III of this article.
  2. Equipment Grounding Conductors.
    1. Type. Equipment grounding conductors shall be insula‐ ted copper conductors sized in accordance with 250.122 but not smaller than 12 AWG.
    2. Feeders. Where a feeder supplies a remote panelboard or other distribution equipment, an insulated equipment ground‐ ing conductor shall extend from a grounding terminal in the service to a grounding terminal and busbar in the remote panelboard or other distribution equipment.
    3. Branch Circuits. The insulated equipment grounding conductor for branch circuits shall terminate at a grounding terminal in a remote panelboard or other distribution equip‐ ment or the grounding terminal in the main service equip‐ ment.
    4. Cord-and-Plug-Connected Appliances. Where grounded, cord-and-plug-connected appliances shall be grounded by means of an equipment grounding conductor in the cord and a grounding-type attachment plug.
  3. Bonding of Non–Current-Carrying Metal Parts. All metal parts in contact with the water, all metal piping, tanks, and all non–current-carrying metal parts that are likely to become energized shall be bonded to the grounding terminal in the distribution equipment.
  4. Equipotential Planes and Bonding of Equipotential Planes. An equipotential plane shall be installed where required in this section to mitigate step and touch voltages at electrical equipment.
  1. Areas Requiring Equipotential Planes. Equipotential planes shall be installed adjacent to all outdoor service equip‐ ment or disconnecting means that control equipment in or on water, that have a metallic enclosure and controls accessible to personnel, and that are likely to become energized. The equi‐ potential plane shall encompass the area around the equip‐ ment and shall extend from the area directly below the equipment out not less than 900 mm (36 in.) in all directions from which a person would be able to stand and come in contact with the equipment.
  2. Areas Not Requiring Equipotential Planes. Equipotential planes shall not be required for the controlled equipment supplied by the service equipment or disconnecting means. All circuits rated not more than 60 amperes at 120 through 250 volts, single phase, shall have GFCI protection.
  3. Bonding. Equipotential planes shall be bonded to the electrical grounding system. The bonding conductor shall be solid copper, insulated, covered or bare, and not smaller than 8 AWG. Connections shall be made by exothermic welding or by listed pressure connectors or clamps that are labeled as being suitable for the purpose and are of stainless steel, brass, copper, or copper alloy.

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