Serious burns are common at a distance of 10 feet away from an arc blast.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not sure
• D. It depends on arc duration

Answer: (A)

Arc flash burns come from the heat and energy released by the arc, which can injure skin even without contact. The energy diminishes with distance, but at ten feet you can still be exposed to enough radiant heat and a powerful blast to cause serious burns if the arc is energetic or lasts long enough. In high‑energy faults, the arc can deliver sufficient incident energy to reach burn thresholds at that distance, so being ten feet away does not guarantee safety. Therefore, serious burns at that distance are a real hazard, which is why reactive PPE and a safe working distance are emphasized.