It is pretty much specific to NAm because the problems they purport to solve are more common in the US. This is because of their use of lower voltage. At 230V, the current produced in a given fault condition is twice as high compared to 115V. We also use different circuit breaker (MCB) types with fast fault current trip as well as overload (thermal) trip, so the circuit breaker trip current could be half as much for the same circuit power rating. This means that a conventional MCB will be far more effective at detecting such a fault on a 230V nominal voltage system.
A far higher proportion of US house fires are electrical in origin compared to the UK. Using half the mains voltage means equivalent power appliances require twice the current, and a poor contact/connection will be giving off 4 times the heat it does on 240V, and thus getting much hotter. The Americans also have widespread use of alumin(i)um wiring. The quality of most US electrical accessories is mediocre compared to the EU, and they still use wirenuts (Scruits) which AIUI were banned in the UK in the sixties, and routinely use unearthed outlets relying on RCD protection instead of, rather than alongside, earthing.
