Will GFCI work with items without equipment ground

Harvey51 wrote:
Would it be fair to suggest that the safety ground system is a waste of copper when all circuits are GFCI protected? If the cost of copper and electrician labour keeps rising it may become cheaper to go with GFCI breakers instead of ground wiring.

No.

Think of it as a "belt AND suspenders" type of thing.

Some electric items simply cannot be "double insulated" and therefore a "safety ground" is an essential must have.

Some examples of items which can not be "double insulated" are large appliances like fridge, microwaves, stoves, washers, dishwashers and so on.. Some appliances which have critical role like a fridge are not required to be on a GFCI even if in a basement or garage (don't want a fridge to shut off from a false trip).

Safety ground also stops the "skin effect" some items can exhibit which due to natural capacitance often will allow a device to have some slight potential above ground.

This typically can happen to RVs using 30A 120V service with a extension cord that is missing the ground or has a broken ground wire.. Often called a floating ground on the RV chassis which will show 5, 10 or more volts and "bite" you when you attempt to touch anything metal on the RV while standing on the ground in bare feet..

GFCIs are just an extension of safety features, they are actually reliable and the technology has matured greatly..

GFCIs since they really do not "need" a ground to operate can be EASILY retrofitted into old two wire electrical systems to make those a bit more safe..

I have them in my kitchen, basement, outside and garage for 25 yrs now and zero false trips and non have failed..

I did have one fail in my TT but that was because it was a GFCI with outside exposure under a "in use" cover.. Unit got damp after some heavy rains and died..