Quality Garden Fountains :: Fountain Safety Articles
Water Fountains and Electrical Safety Considerations
Written by Michael Widner, Vice President of the Independent Electrical Contractors Association (IEC), Southern Colorado Chapter, and The Director of SCC Electrical, Inc., a full service Colorado Springs electrical contractor.
Indoor and outdoor water fountains are an excellent aesthetic addition to businesses, home gardens and in your home. They offer a sense of tranquility and touch of design. The peaceful sound of water running over each unique fountain surface and ending its journey into the pool below calms the senses. In larger garden fountains, the running water can mask neighborhood noise and provide a personal retreat in the middle of our busy world. Fountains operate in a simple manner. Water is placed in a holding basin, an internal electric recirculation pump is turned on and water is drawn from the basin into one pipe or flexible tube and pushed to the fountain’s exit point. This is where the water either free falls to the basin or makes its way over the fountain’s contours until reaching the basin. Before you site any outdoor water fountain, be sure to contact your local building department, zoning office or equivalent in your city. These agencies can tell you if there are any restrictions on fountains in your area. There may be ordinances on how close you may place a fountain on the boundary of your property, if a permit is required and other restrictions.
Installing a Water Fountain: Electrical Connections
When your new fountain arrives at your home or business - do
not rush to install it!
Improper installation can lead to malfunction and in some cases, pose a serious
electrocution hazard to humans, pets and wildlife. Electrical installation of
a water fountain warrants the following considerations:
Residential Indoor Water Fountains
Indoor water
fountains come in all shapes and sizes but they do share one thing in common –
all fountains are filled with water and powered by electricity. Water and
electricity do not mix well. Ensure your indoor fountain is safe by plugging it
into a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt (GFCI) protected outlet. The GFCI outlet
will cause the pump to shut off and the electrical line from the wall outlet to
the water fountain to de-energize if there is a short in the wiring of the pump.
Without the GFCI, a person or pet will be exposed to an electrocution hazard
when they touch the water and an electrical short exists. A standard outlet can
easily be converted to GFCI for under $10.00 in parts. There are also plugs that
are placed in a standard outlet to convert them to GFCI protection. If you are
not comfortable changing the standard outlet to GFCI, call a licensed
electrician for help. Once correctly installed, you will enjoy a worry-free
experience with your fountain.
Residential Outdoor Water Fountains:
For small to medium-sized wall
mounted or free standing water fountains, any outdoor outlet will suffice. Check
to ensure there is Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt (GFCI) protected outlet
available nearby. In general, if you live in a home constructed prior to 1980,
check closely to verify the outlet you choose is GFCI protected.
If you wish to place a fountain in the middle of your property, there is probably no existing power source (electrical outlet) at that location. The National Electrical Code, Section 650.58 provides specific guidance on what type of connection to use for water fountains and all outlets within 20 feet of a water fountain. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt (GFCI) protected outlets are required for outdoor use. Installing outlets in the middle of a yard will require a degree of electrical knowledge and physical effort to dig a trench for burying the wire. Some regions require the wire to be inside metal or PVC pipe before burial. Also, there is special wire rated for direct burial without the need for pipe. The wire’s design enables it to withstand the rigors of wet conditions, freezing and caustic ground elements that can deteriorate normal (outdoor wire) sheathing.
You also need to be aware of restrictions on how deep to bury the electrical wire. It is best to call a licensed electrical contractor to have the installation performed safely and in accordance with all prevailing electrical code, local covenants and restrictions.
It may be against electrical building code in some towns and cities to run an ordinary outdoor extension cord from your residence to the fountain location. If the extension cord is not plugged into a GFCI protected outlet, you pose a serious electrocution risk to anyone near the fountain in the event of a short circuit.
Commercial Water Fountains
For businesses wishing to add a fountain inside or
outside, National Electrical Code rules apply depending on the location of the
fountain. If an electric sign is present and within 10 feet of a water fountain
or water feature, the sign must be plugged into or hardwired in a GFCI protected
circuit. See NEC Section 650.57 (B), (C) and (D) for detailed information if an
electric sign will be located in the fountain itself. Ask your local electrical
contractor before ordering a fountain for your property to ensure you have the
connections required to guarantee successful installation.
General Water Fountain Safety:
- Make sure the fountain
is near a GFCI outlet to avoid the use of extension cords.
- To avoid the
hazard of pulling and tipping a fountain over, do not place electrical cords
under carpets, mats or other loose floor covering.
- Use three-prong
electrical plugs connected to GFCI protected outlets.
- Hang cords where any
fountain leak will not run directly into the outlet.
- Place the electrical
cord out of the way to avoid kids and pets obtaining access and
chewing on
the cord.
- Call a licensed electrical contractor before installing a
fountain to ensure all national
and local code requirements are met.
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