This post may be to late but it could help some one else.

The bonding is important. This link helps explain bonding and grounding
http://ecmweb.com/mag/electric_grounding_vs_bonding_11/

Just copy and past the link


Ladder Anchors

I would use the brass anchors (better for salt pools) and an anchor jig that fits the width of your handrail. Cut out a rectangle using the jig as your template making the rectangle bigger than the jig but smaller than the escutcheon plate.

On the anchor jig there will be some holes, use these to put in two stainless steel bolts on the bottom of the jig (4" or more) with stainless steel nuts and lock washers on the under side and the top side. Tighten the nuts and lock washers so the bolts do not move. Next dig out your hole so that the bolts will fit with two inches room when the anchors are flush with the deck.

At this point you will need to determine how you are going to run the bonding wire. Choice one is to cut a saw joint behind the new anchor hole and run the bond wire in that and back to your equipment pad. Choice two is to put the bond wire behind the coping in the expansion joint and run the wire down to the best deck expansion joint to your equipment pad. If you do not have an expansion joint behind the coping or you have a cantilever deck then its choice one.

Next you will need a small level and anchoring cement (Home Depot or Lowes). Put tape over the holes on the top of the anchors. Set the jig in the hole and pour the anchoring cement around the jig and part way up on the anchors. You will have only a short time to adjust the anchors before the cement sets. Level the anchor nearest the pool with the existing concrete, the back anchor should be level with the front anchor. The back anchor will stick up a little bit above the deck but don't worry because the escutcheon plate should cover this. Make sure the anchors are also level from side to side. After the anchors are level and the cement has set enough to stay then mix up more of the anchor cement and fill the rest of the way. If you don't like the look of the anchor cement then leave the cement down two inches from the deck level and fill it with a matching material (concrete, concrete with cool deck, stone or what ever material matches).

If you are doing this and do not have any existing holes to guide you then you will need to determine the spot for the anchors. The best way to do this is to have the handrail you want to install and place it on the deck where you want it to go, make sure that if the hand rail is centered on the steps that you have room to comfortably step on the top step. If you do not have room then you will need to set the hand rail offset from the middle of the top step to give your self room to get in and out of the pool (usually only needed if your top step is to small). When marking out where to cut your jig hole in the deck use a yard stick. Lay the yard stick on top of the coping, overhanging most of it into the pool making sure one side is centered on the top step, then mark a center line. This just helps center the jig in the pool deck.

I may have rambled a little. Sorry

But I do hope it helps