Rebar into Soil

[haonkered]

Sent PB a question concerning the method of an extended beam installed, in which they basically just drove rebar into the ground. Since I am not an idiot I know that this is not an acceptable practice in terms of the ACI. I got the general "blah blah I am a pool builder for XX years and if you dont trust me blah blah blah tell me what you know about pool building that I dont". First off, besides being really surprised by the comment back, just trying to have a civilized conversation. Any like most pool builders the draw schedule is not owner friendly so telling him to pound sand isn't my best choice either. Is there any need for me to be concerned about this installation method? Hindsight not sure how much more risk there is here considering I agree with his answer on the rebar at perimeter sticking out every so often for the electrical grounding cable to connect to. If this rebar can be exposed as a place for rust to penetrate into the gunite shell, then how is it any different than the extended beam?

 

[Arizonarob]

Let me grab a couple of our construction pros to advise.

@bdavis466 @jimmythegreek

 

[bdavis466]

Is this not getting inspected? No inspector would ever pass that and no homeowners should allow it.

I don't understand the rebar stubs for the bond grid either. That too would not pass inspection here because the rebar is exposed to the soil but that's a very common practice in your area and the Midwest..

 

[JoyfulNoise]

It's a bonding wire, not a grounding wire and the wire is NOT supposed to be exposed to earth when there is no decking to connect it to. So if the bonding wire is running along the edge of the pool with no decking, then bond wire would connect to the rebar in the bond beam and be encased by the cement. Wherever there is decking around the pool, the bond wire would be attached to the rebar that is connected to the rebar (or wire mesh) in the decking. But, in all instances, it would be buried in the cement. The only point at which it would be in contact with earth is when it exists the pool area and then runs over to the equipment pad. At that point it's ok to have the bond wire buried (as long as you know where it is roughly so that any future ground work doesn't accidentally cut the bonding).

Bonding and grounding are NOT the same thing and few PBs (and electricians) understand it.