Free Practice Questions for AHA CHFM Exam

NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, is the controlling standard for inspection, testing, and maintenance (ITM) of fire alarm and signaling systems (see the ITM chapter—commonly Chapter 14). It details testing frequencies, procedures, and documentation requirements for initiating devices, notification appliances, control equipment, and interfaces.

The Joint Commission (TJC) aligns with NFPA 101: Life Safety Code. For business occupancies (such as outpatient clinics), the requirement is that fire drills be conducted annually (every 12 months).

Quarterly (every 3 months) drills are required for healthcare occupancies (hospitals, nursing care).

Outpatient business occupancies are less stringent.

OSHA’s Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) Standard (29 CFR 1910.147) requires that employers implement a staff training program to ensure all affected employees understand energy control procedures. Insulated tools, logs, or clothing may be used in some contexts, but training is mandatory under OSHA.

The FGI Guidelines and ASHRAE healthcare design standards recommend steam humidifiers for duct-mounted systems in hospitals, since they minimize microbial growth. Reservoirs, spray, and pan humidifiers pose contamination risks and are not permitted for patient care areas.

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.

EPA and OSHA define regulated medical waste (RMW) as waste that is saturated or dripping with blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM).

B. Blood-saturated gauze (Correct): Meets the definition of RMW.

A. Fluorescent bulbs: Considered hazardous universal waste (mercury), not RMW.

C. Urine-soaked pads: Not classified as RMW unless visibly contaminated with blood.

D. Home-use sharps: Not regulated by EPA as medical waste from households.

The Joint Commission Emergency Management Standards require organizations to evaluate their capabilities and plan for how they would maintain operations during an emergency for up to 96 hours. This does not mandate stockpiling or guaranteeing resources for that duration, but rather ensuring that the facility has assessed its resources, strategies, and agreements to maintain patient care and safety during prolonged emergency conditions.

Incorrect Options:

A and B: Maintaining actual supplies/utilities for 96 hours is not specifically required.

C: Agreements with vendors may be part of the plan but are not the mandated standard.

Hospitals must have a Type 1 Essential Electrical System (EES) as required by NFPA 99. Type 1 systems provide at least two separate branches: the Life Safety branch and the Critical branch, ensuring continuous power to essential life support, patient care, and safety functions during utility outages.

Type 2 systems (for smaller facilities) have fewer requirements.

Type A and B are not classifications under NFPA 99.

Step 1: Calculate utility cost per square foot.

$1,200,000 ÷ 500,000 sq. ft. = $2.40 per sq. ft.

Step 2: Calculate new total square footage.

500,000 + 100,000 = 600,000 sq. ft.

Step 3: Projected utility cost.

600,000 × $2.40 = $1,440,000

Thus, the anticipated utility budget after expansion is $1,440,000.

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.