What is the required horizontal extension for equipotential bonding of permanently installed pools beyond the inside walls of the pool?

The required horizontal extension for equipotential bonding of permanently installed pools beyond the inside walls of the pool is indeed three feet. This requirement is outlined in the National Electrical Code (NEC) to ensure safety by reducing the risk of electric shock.

The purpose of equipotential bonding is to create a common grounding potential around the pool area, minimizing voltage differences that can occur between various points of the pool and its surrounding area. By extending the bonding conductors a minimum of three feet horizontally from the pool walls, the NEC aims to ensure that people using the pool area are less susceptible to hazardous voltage differences.

This specific distance helps to effectively dissipate stray electrical currents and improves safety for anyone near the pool. It is carefully determined to adequately encompass the area where people are likely to come into contact with water or the pool structure, providing that critical additional margin of safety against electrical shock hazards.