If a guy used 430.52 to size his breaker and ended up with a hard wired pool pump on a single pole 30, he would not need GFCI.
(B) GFCI Protection. Outlets supplying pool pump motors from branch circuits with short-circuit and ground-fault protection rated 15 or 20 amperes, 125 volt or 240 volt, single phase, whether by receptacle or direct connection, shall be provided with ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.
Greg:
Yes, that scenario would fly. I have not seen anyone go down that path, & I would not be the guide.
Yes, as you say, it would be compliant, and acceptable using that path, but...if I was the EC, I would not go there. GFI protection costs are not that high.
Let's see what everybody else says!!
What's the surprise? Heck, use a 10-amp breaker and it works too!
Put your house on 10-amp breakers and you don't need AFCI's
..... as a result of the NEC using the exact sort of language.
The problem I can see with house on 10 Amp circuits not needing AFCI?...... There aren't any 10 Amp receptacles.
This actually came up on a home owner BB. The guy had a pool pump on a 25 (2 pole).
I suggested the right fix was a 20A GFCI but the code question did nag me.
I do believe, if your pool pump is tripping a GFCI, you have a bad pool pump.
I have heard a couple of discussions about the 10a breaker thing.
The first issue is the number of 10a circuits you would need to get the 3va per sq foot. That might be a show stopper right there.
The other one is the 210.21(B)(2) problem.
I have heard a more compelling argument if the 10a only served the smoke alarms. That could make some sense.