1 of my baths in a new addition will have a whirlpool tub. The tub pump needs a 20A and the add-on heater needs a 15A. Naturally these both need to be GFCI protected. Is it acceptable to use dead-front GFCIs located somewhere in the bathroom for these or do I have to use GFCI breakers in the panel?

Also - the pump/motor and the heater are required to be grounded and bonded. The plumbing in this new addition is all PEX, so there is no copper to bond it to. Can I run a 8g wire from the ground lug down into the main service panel and attach to the main ground there?

Using deadfront GFI device for this purpose is exactly what they are for, so no problem.

As far as bonding, no, do not run a #8 back to the panel. What needs to be done is use a #8 to connect any metal within 5 feet of the tub, either under, such as metal pipng, the heater, etc or any metal above the tub, such as metal handles, ladders,etc, and the #8 wire will terminate at the ground lug that you should find on the outside of the pump motor.

Now you have all the metal in the vicinity of the tub "bonded". Since the motor is grounded through the green or bare equpment ground wire that is part of the branch circuit wiring that feeds power to the tub/motor.

The equipment ground now grounds the pump motor, and grounds the bonding done.

OK good to hear about the dead fronts, so I can return the $80 worth of GFCI breakers I bought last night. What are the requirements on placement of the dead fronts - within / outside 6 feet from tub, etc?

Just to make sure I have this right on the bonding. The heater instructions say to run the wire from it to the ground lug on 1 side of the pump. Then the pump instructions say to run a second wire from the other side of the pump to a ground. So - if I've grounded the receptacle box that serves the pump and heater outlets (2 circuits) am I understanding you right that I can simply ground the pump back to that box? If so, how do you recommend that I connect that #8 wire to the ground in that box, or the box itself?

Thanks

OK good to hear about the dead fronts, so i can return the $80 worth of GFCI breakers I bought last night. What are the requirements on placement of the dead fronts - within / outside 6 feet from tub, etc?

Just to make sure I have this right on the bonding. The heater instructions say to run the wire from it to the ground lug on 1 side of the pump. Then the pump instructions say to run a second wire from the other side of the pump to a ground. So - if I've grounded the receptacle box that serves the pump and heater outlets (2 circuits) am I understanding you right that I can simply ground the pump back to that box? If so, how do you recommend that I connect that #8 wire to the ground in that box, or the box itself?

Thanks

Yes the breakers are pricey. The GFI deadfront cannot be closer than 5 feet to the tub, other than that put them where ever you like, unless they can be located down under the tub where the pump is.

No just run a #8 from the heater to the pump, the lug on the outside of the pump. If there is no other metal within five feet of the tub, you done.

The bonding is grounded through the equipment ground that you bring to the pump along with the hot and neutral wire to feed the pump. So if you plug in the pump into a receptacle, the outlet needs to be grounded, anda 3 wire cord feeds the pump.