What protective function is primarily concerned with the limitation of overvoltage transients?

Surge protection is primarily focused on limiting overvoltage transients that can occur in electrical systems. These transients, which can arise from sources such as lightning strikes, system faults, or switching operations, can lead to damage of electrical equipment, disruptions in service, and even safety hazards.

Surge protection devices (SPDs) are specifically designed to divert excess voltage away from sensitive equipment and safely direct it to the ground, thereby protecting the electrical system from the harmful effects of these transient voltage spikes. This is critical in ensuring the longevity and reliability of electrical installations, as overvoltage conditions can easily exceed the voltage ratings of many components, causing them to fail.

The other options serve different protective functions: ground fault protection aims to prevent shock hazards by detecting imbalances in current; overload protection prevents damage from prolonged excess current; and short circuit protection addresses sudden, large current flows that can result from a fault condition. Each of these protections is essential in maintaining overall electrical safety and reliability, but surge protection is specifically targeted at managing and mitigating the risks associated with overvoltage transients.