Are GFCI Breakers an alternative to whole house GFCI outlets?

[Bob_Sacamano]

There are many 100 year old houses in my area with customers that want to replace their 2-prong outlets with modern 3-prong. However, these houses don't have ground wires in their knob-and-tube wiring nor grounded boxes. The legal solution is to install GFCI outlets throughout with "no equipment ground" stickers on the trim plates? Many customers don't like the stickers/text on there trim plates and frankly, the cost of that many GFCIs is daunting to some customers.

2 questions:
1) Does the sticker have to be on the outside of the plate? Can it be on the inside of the trim plate or across the 6/32 and covered by the plate?

2) Can I install regular 3-prong outlets throughout (minus kitchen countertops and baths, etc.) and change the breakers to GFCI breakers? Is this NEC legal? Thank you all for your time.

 

[ramsy]

See this thread below
https://forums.mikeholt.com/threads/gfci-ungrounded-3-prong-receptacles.2552905/post-2571688

 

[LarryFine]

I tell customers to forget about 3-prong receptacles where there is no EGC in almost every location, as almost nothing requires them these days. Anywhere the ground is needed, such as for a computer system or an audio/video system, I suggest running a new circuit, providing a good ground while eliminating adding such a concentrated load to the existing wiring.

 

[kwired]

GFCI breakers certainly are an alternative to receptacle type GFCI's. Still doesn't change the rules of needing the "no equipment ground" labeling on receptacles that are grounding type but have no EGC.

Still my opinion that this labeling means nothing to the average user. You can explain it to them and they may even get it, but will forget within hours or even minutes.

Does help a qualified person with troubleshooting to some extent though.