I am installing my 27' AG pool in the next couple week now that my deck is done and I was looking at the NEC for pool bonding. Your supposed to bond all metal parts together using a minimum #8 wire and that includes the metal outer shell and each vertical support brace if you are completely NEC compliant. I cannot see how anyone can bond the pool itself without compromising the protective finish of the metal. I wasn't going to do this but I have been googling and in fact many pool installers do this.