Equipotential Grounding / Bonding System Around tub ???

[trichert]

Electrician was out today to approve a generator sub panel and saw my new hot tub sub panel.  While he wasn't there to inspect it he asked what it was for, when I told him he said I had to either dig up the concrete and have the tub on bare earth, or, put down a bonding system with ceramic tile on top.

The tub is going in doors, but I can not find any references to this type of requirement anywhere.  Any electricians out there verify this ?  My county doesn't have special local codes they use :Electrical - 2011 National Electrical Code,
 2011 Michigan Electrical Code Rules Part 8

I think this is BS ? 

[flava flav]

Section 680 of NEC 2011.  No Equipotential Grounding is required for a outdoor spa.  It specifically says in the spa section under 680 for outdoor installations you don't need to follow section 680.26(Equipotential Grounding) section.  This was required in the 2005 code(I think) and removed in the 2008 code(or one of those years).  There are resources to find and read the code.  Who knows maybe there is a local sub-code that adds to the NEC 2011 that requires it.   Yeah Boyeee   BS.

[Dr. Spa™ Ret.]

The tub is going in doors,

[flava flav]

This home boy missed the "indoor" part.  See this link.  This guy is good.  Explains exactly http://m.ecmweb.com/code-basics/nec-rules-swimming-pools-and-spas

Need to find:
Tentative Interim Amendment that was passed by the NFPA Standards Council with an effective date of March 21, 2011.

Not sure of the dimensions to walls ( if close than yes it is required) but it seems that you might not have to because of the amendment.

[trichert]

This is great !  So this says that we don't have to do this bonding if :

A new exception in the 2011 NEC makes it clear that an equipotential bonding grid isn’t required around the perimeter of an indoor listed self-contained spa or hot tub when installed above the finished floor [680.43 Ex 2].

So .. what constitutes a finished floor?  Does the basement concrete floor count or do I have to put down some laminate to 'finish' it to be incode ? 

[Dr. Spa™ Ret.]

Anything.

This doesn't refer to the finish of the floor, but to the height, off grade of the end product (the level of the floor).

[flava flav]

It's usually up for interpretation.  I would steer away from a wood product around and below the tub.    Ceramic tile is probably your best bet.  Put a heat mat in the floor around it...Lots of ideas.

[trichert]

Ceramic Tile $$$$ .. This is in my basement I'm looking for the cheapest thing that is legal   I think Vinyl counts as flooring does it not?  And only .40/sq foot  

[Dr. Spa™ Ret.]

If you set it on top of the vinyl, yes, that's the finished floor.