AHA CHFM - Certified Health Care Facility Manager (CHFM)

NFPA 13 (Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems) specifies that quick-response and standard-response sprinklers shall not be mixed within the same compartment. This is to ensure uniformity in activation and discharge characteristics.

A (Compartment): Correct, all heads in a compartment must match type.

B, C, D: NFPA does not require wholesale replacement across zones, buildings, or corridors beyond the compartment.

According to NFPA 251 (Standard Methods of Tests of Fire Resistance of Building Construction and Materials), once a material or assembly is tested and a measure of time is obtained, that result is defined as the fire resistance rating. This rating expresses the duration that a building element can withstand a standardized fire exposure while maintaining structural integrity.

Correct Answer (B. fire resistance rating): NFPA 251 specifically defines this as the time result from fire exposure testing. It applies to walls, floors, and structural assemblies.

Incorrect Options:

A. flame spread rating: This measures only the surface burning characteristics of materials, determined using ASTM E84 or UL 723, not the endurance of an entire assembly.

C. fire assembly rating: This is not an officially recognized NFPA term; the proper terminology is fire resistance rating.

D. fire protection rating: This applies to opening protectives such as doors, windows, or shutters, which are tested using NFPA 252 or NFPA 257, not NFPA 251. Fire protection ratings are distinct from fire resistance ratings, since they do not measure full structural endurance.

Relevance to CHFM Compliance Domain:

The Certified Health Care Facility Manager (CHFM) exam includes compliance with fire and life safety codes under its “Compliance” content area. The CHFM Candidate Handbook emphasizes the requirement to understand and apply NFPA standards in healthcare facilities, ensuring compliance with regulatory fire safety measures such as those defined in NFPA 251.

22% excess oxygen is far higher than normal (typical excess O₂ is 3–6%). This means there is too much air compared to fuel, causing inefficiency.

The corrective action is to increase fuel pressure, which reduces excess oxygen by balancing the air-fuel ratio.

D. Increase the fuel pressure (Correct): Restores optimal combustion balance.

A. Steam atomization: Not relevant unless using certain oil burners.

B. Increase nozzle air pressure: Would worsen the excess Oâ‚‚ condition.

C. No adjustment necessary: Incorrect because efficiency is compromised.

The operations and maintenance (OandM) operating budget includes recurring expenses needed to run the facility: labor, staff training, utilities, and equipment/vehicle repairs. Capital improvements such as major building upgrades are typically not part of the operating budget; they belong in the capital budget.

Correct: Training (1), Utilities (3), and Vehicle repairs (4) are OandM operating costs.

Incorrect: Building improvements (2) are capital budget items.

Replacement of major building systems (e.g., chillers, boilers, roofs) falls under capital expenditures because these items are large, non-recurring, and add to or extend the life of facility assets. The capital budget accounts for these costs, which are not part of the day-to-day operations budget.

Correct: Capital budget (A) – Covers replacement of major equipment and infrastructure.

Incorrect:

B. Project fund – May finance special projects but not part of standard budgeting categories.

C. Depreciation fund – An accounting mechanism, not typically a direct budget line for replacement.

D. Operating budget – Covers recurring expenses like utilities, maintenance, and repairs, not full replacements.

The Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA) is the primary tool recommended by The Joint Commission (TJC) for planning emergency response exercises. It allows facilities to identify, assess, and prioritize potential hazards and then plan drills and exercises accordingly.

C. HVA (Correct): Standard TJC requirement for developing emergency exercises.

A. ILSM (Interim Life Safety Measures): Used during construction or when life safety features are impaired, not for emergency planning.

B. PCRA (Pre-Construction Risk Assessment): Focuses on infection control and safety risks during construction.

D. ICRMR: Not a recognized TJC tool.

When Alternate B is chosen, total price = Base Bid + price for Alternate B (or zero if “Included”).

A: Not available → cannot be selected.

B: $20,000 + Included ($0) = $20,000.

C: $19,000 + $500 = $19,500.

D: $19,000 + $1,000 = $20,000.

Lowest total = $19,500 (Company C).

Best practice in safety and risk management is to have a final inspection performed by individuals with “fresh eyes” and go/no-go authority. Those directly involved may overlook issues due to task familiarity. Independent inspection reduces risk before re-energization.

All construction and renovation projects in healthcare must include Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA). Infection Control professionals assess potential risks such as dust, ventilation disruptions, and waterborne hazards during construction. They ensure patient safety through control measures (barriers, negative pressure, monitoring).

D. Infection Control (Correct): Mandatory involvement in construction planning.

A. IT / B. Biomed / C. Patient Services: May participate but are not mandated by TJC and CDC requirements for ICRA.