An effective protector must never fail catastrophically. If a Leviton protector was 50,000 amps, then your venue requires a 100,000 amp protector.
Effective protectors never take the brunt of or even 'absorb' a significant amount of a surge. Less energy 'absorbed' by a protector means a better protector. Protector must be sized so that near zero energy is absorbed by a protector. Earth ground must be sufficient or upgraded so that almost all energy is 'absorbed' there.
^This is bang on. If it's a catastrophic event that ends like this, it's undersized.
The electronic devices inside a surge suppressor "turn on" at a specified level, and provide a path of lower resistance to ground, that the surge current will follow, rather than go to the load. If the energy exceeds the capacity of surge component, it will be "absorbed" and possibly destroyed.
It is most effective with a low impedance ground. The damaging current needs a "clear path"
Layered protection is effective, as a 100,000 or 200,000 amp surge current rated device may "turn on" at a higher level. As such, the higher rated device might be at the utility side of your home, (at the transformer secondary/meter), or on the main panel, and a lower rated device on the panel and/or sub-panels, with level 3 devices (plug in strips, component surge suppressors).
Of note: large surges will damage the components in surge suppressors. That's why it's imperative that you need visual/audio/signalling to make the home owner aware that the device needs to be replaced. If they do need to be replaced, they are NOT defective, they have done their job as "cheap insurance" for the house.
Also: The new style of devices must have thermal protection. If repeated transients bombard the device to the point where it heats up to unsafe levels, a thermal cutout will disengage the suppressor. It cannot be reset. The device will need to be replaced.
