The AFCI device was also rejected in Canada as the intent for AFCI devices was to protect the concealed wiring in the walls and not necessarily the cord under the carpet where Grandma's rocking chair is located.
I don't know that series rating rules always force a single manufacturer's breakers. The probably do where the lower rated breaker is within the higher fault zone.
In a big building is is common for the distribution to use all the same manufacturers equipment especially if series rating is part of the design but by the time you are getting to the panels in the tenant spaces the fault levels are often well within the standard 10ka fault level for most modern breakers. That or the tenant space panel might have a series rated pane for a lower fault level still over 10 ka.
So say the service gear is in a 45 ka fault zone but the nearest suite panel is in a 18 ka fault zone. the main service could all be Schneider and the suite panel could be cutler hammer with a series rated main at 22 ka and 10 ka branch.
No series rating between the main service panels and the suite panels.
Now if coordination is required you really are needing the gear from 1 manufacturer and certainly are needing the more expensive breakers until you get enough impedance to get the fault levels below 10ka.
