CHFM AHA Certified Health Care Facility Manager (CHFM) Free Practice Exam Questions (2025 Updated)

The requirement for Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) planning is specifically mandated under Federal Regulations 40 CFR Part 112, under the Clean Water Act (Oil Pollution Act amendments). Facilities with aboveground storage exceeding 1,320 gallons or underground storage over 42,000 gallons must develop and implement an SPCC plan to prevent oil discharges into navigable waters.

Correct Answer (A): Federal 40 CFR Part 112 establishes the threshold quantities and program requirements.

B (Joint Commission): TJC standards govern utility management but do not set SPCC requirements.

C (OSHA 1926.153): This regulation applies to liquefied petroleum gas safety, not petroleum or oil spill prevention.

D (NFPA 430): Governs oxidizers, not oil storage or spill prevention.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, headaches, and drowsiness are commonly associated with poor indoor air quality (IAQ). The most likely cause in this case is insufficient outside air ventilation, which allows buildup of carbon dioxide and other indoor contaminants.

Correct Answer (C. insufficient outside air): According to ASHRAE Standard 62.1 (Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality) and referenced in NFPA 99 Health Care Facilities Code, inadequate outside air results in occupant discomfort and health complaints known as “sick building syndrome.”

Incorrect Options:

A. mercury spill: Causes more acute, localized toxic exposure symptoms; less likely across an entire wing unless a large spill occurred (and it would be unusual in general occupancy areas).

B. humidity levels: Low or high humidity can cause discomfort, but not typically dizziness or drowsiness.

D. medical gas leak: Could cause similar symptoms depending on the gas, but would typically trigger alarms and affect specific zones tied to gas lines, not general wing-wide complaints.

Relevance to CHFM:

This question relates to the Compliance and Maintenance & Operations domains. CHFM professionals must ensure compliance with ventilation codes (ASHRAE 62.1, NFPA 99, Joint Commission EC standards) and manage HVAC systems to maintain proper indoor air quality, protecting patient and staff health.

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.

The simple payback period is calculated by dividing the initial investment cost by the annual operating savings (reduction in operating cost). It does not consider time value of money, inflation, or full life-cycle costs.

A (Correct): Annual operating cost directly determines the annual savings, which is essential for payback calculation.

B: Inflation is considered in more advanced financial models (e.g., NPV, IRR), not simple payback.

C: Replacement cost is relevant for life-cycle cost analysis, not simple payback.

D: Life of the equipment may determine feasibility but is not part of the basic payback formula.

The correct sequence aligns with the Plan–Do–Check–Act (PDCA) cycle of continuous improvement:

Identify and prioritize opportunities (3).

Take action on those priorities (4).

Evaluate to confirm results (1).

Take further action if goals are not sustained (2).

This matches performance improvement processes emphasized in the CHFM Administration domain.

Cost reduction without reducing service scope can be achieved by:

Implementing an in-house first response program (1): Staff address minor issues before calling the vendor, reducing service calls.

Extending the contract length (4): Vendors often offer reduced rates for long-term contracts.

Increasing house calls (2): Increases cost, not savings.

Financing the contract (3): Impacts payment terms, not cost reduction.

Salary ranges are determined by job requirements and market benchmarks, not individual candidate qualifications. Key factors are:

Market salary analysis (1).

Internal equity review (3).

Job description (4).

Candidate qualifications (2) affect where within the salary range an individual may be placed, but not the establishment of the range itself.

In a standard patient room in a healthcare facility, the typical medical gas outlets include:

Oxygen (1) – for patient respiratory therapy.

Medical Air (2) – used for respiratory support.

Vacuum (4) – for suction applications.

Nitrogen (3) is not normally supplied in a patient room; it is typically used in surgical suites for powering tools.

In healthcare facility maintenance, institutional standards are established to improve consistency, reliability, and efficiency in operations. Ball valves are often chosen over gate valves because they are available in standardized sizes, have fewer variations, and simplify inventory management. This allows facility departments to reduce the number of spare parts stocked and streamline repairs. The CHFM exam reference materials, including ASHE/AHA guidelines, highlight that “ease of inventory control and standardization” is a common justification for selecting one type of valve as a facility standard.

NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code, Section 9.6.1.6) requires that when a fire alarm system is out of service for more than 4 hours in a 24-hour period, the facility must (1) notify the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) and (2) provide an approved fire watch until the system is restored. Internal notifications such as to administrators or vendors may occur, but the code specifically mandates AHJ notification and fire watch.

The Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) Guidelines are the authoritative source that specifies requirements for the design and construction of healthcare facilities. Within these guidelines, the number and type of medical gas outlets required in patient care areas such as intensive care units, operating rooms, and patient rooms are detailed. NFPA 99 governs installation and performance standards for medical gas systems, but the quantities of outlets are determined by the FGI Guidelines, which CHFM candidates are expected to know.

Incorrect Options:

A. NFPA 101 Life Safety Code – Addresses fire and life safety, not medical gas outlet quantities.

C. ADA Guidelines – Focus on accessibility, not medical gas systems.

D. The Joint Commission EOC Standards – Require safe use of systems but do not prescribe outlet numbers.