Short Circuit Current Rating in breakers

No, the basic protection remains the same  The only thing that changes is the largest fault current that the breaker is guaranteed to break at,as opposed to not breaking or catching fire or some other final failure. If and only if, you have a system with very high potential fault currents then the higher rated device is really needed.

But almost never in a small installation  will you see a fault that draws 6000 amps, let alone 10,000 - real faults have some resistance, if they did not they would not get hot and generate sparks and light, and there is resistance in the wiring between the origin of the installation and the point of fault. To limit the current to less than 6000A from a 230V supply needs a mere 0.038 ohms, 38 milli-ohms, and that is not that many metres of wire ;-)

So while breakers with a higher fault rating may sound like a good thing everywhere, and they certainly do no harm, there are not many places that actually need them, so the lower rated cheaper ones can be  used.
In a building with its own transformers and cables sized for loads that need hundreds of amps, then the short high current fault paths mean it really would  be needed. The panel makers are probably being cautious if they do not know the details of the supply available where it will be used then a higher limit is a safer choice in all places

Mike.

No, the basic protection remains the same  The only thing that changes is the largest fault current that the breaker is guaranteed to break at,as opposed to not breaking or catching fire or some other final failure. If and only if, you have a system with very high potential fault currents then the higher rated device is really needed.

But almost never in a small installation  will you see a fault that draws 6000 amps, let alone 10,000 - real faults have some resistance, if they did not they would not get hot and generate sparks and light, and there is resistance in the wiring between the origin of the installation and the point of fault. To limit the current to less than 6000A from a 230V supply needs a mere 0.038 ohms, 38 milli-ohms, and that is not that many metres of wire ;-)

So while breakers with a higher fault rating may sound like a good thing everywhere, and they certainly do no harm, there are not many places that actually need them, so the lower rated cheaper ones can be  used.
In a building with its own transformers and cables sized for loads that need hundreds of amps, then the short high current fault paths mean it really would  be needed. The panel makers are probably being cautious if they do not know the details of the supply available where it will be used then a higher limit is a safer choice in all places

Mike.