For GFCI protection for personnel, the distance from receptacles near sinks and bathtubs is measured as the _____ path the cord would follow without piercing a floor, wall, ceiling, fixed barrier, or passing through a door, doorway, or window.

• A. shortest
• B. longest
• C. direct
• D. diagonal

Answer: (A)

When determining GFCI protection requirements for receptacles near sinks and bathtubs, the distance is defined by the shortest path the cord would realistically follow along accessible surfaces, avoiding piercing floors, walls, ceilings, fixed barriers, or passing through doors, doorways, or windows. This means you measure along the surfaces (floor and walls) using the most direct route that a cord could actually take without cutting through building elements. The idea is to reflect a practical reach of a cord in a real room, not a straight line that ignores obstacles. The other options don’t fit because they either ignore barriers (direct or diagonal paths) or assume a longer, more conservative route (longest path).