Free Practice Questions for AHA CHFM Exam

Leadership requires a business case to justify capital expenditures. The Return on Investment (ROI) demonstrates cost savings, efficiency, and risk reduction benefits of replacing the boiler, making it the most critical piece of information. Size, maintenance cost, or timeline support the request, but ROI is decisive for approval.

NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code) is structured around occupancy classifications (healthcare, business, assembly, residential, etc.). Determining the correct occupancy type is the first step because all subsequent requirements—such as egress, fire protection features, and construction criteria—are based on occupancy classification. Construction type, deficiencies, and location are important, but they are addressed only after occupancy is defined.

In a fire tube boiler, hot gases of combustion pass through tubes, and water surrounds those tubes, absorbing the heat to create steam or hot water.

Correct: Fire tube (B) – Gases inside tubes, water outside.

Incorrect:

A. Water tube – The reverse: water flows inside the tubes, combustion gases surround them.

C. Vertical tube – Refers to orientation but still a water-tube or fire-tube design.

D. Cast iron sectional – Built from joined cast iron sections, not tubular gas-through-water design.

In a primary-secondary chilled water system, the primary loop is constant volume, supplying chilled water from the chiller plant. The secondary loop uses variable volume pumping to match distribution system load demand efficiently.

A. Secondary loop (Correct): Where variable flow is applied.

B. Open loop: Not a recognized term in this context.

C. Primary loop: Constant flow design.

D. Cooling tower loop: Separate condenser water system, not chilled water distribution.

The outsourcing scenario matches the current in-house budget exactly; therefore, no savings are achieved. This type of financial analysis is common in the CHFM Financial Management domain.

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A medical equipment management plan must include:

Problem/failure/user error data collection for trending and corrective action.

Performance standards to ensure safe and reliable operation.

Annual review of the plan to maintain compliance and effectiveness.

A computerized inventory system is a useful tool but not mandated by The Joint Commission or CMS; paper-based systems may still be acceptable if compliant.

Practical and ethical water conservation measures include landscape irrigation reduction (1) and metering cooling tower usage (3) since cooling towers are a major consumer of water.

2. Campaigns: Awareness is useful but not as effective as operational controls.

4. Reducing patient showers: Not appropriate for patient care and safety.

Predictive maintenance involves techniques that monitor the condition of equipment to anticipate failure before it occurs. Common predictive techniques include:

Vibration monitoring (1) – Detects imbalance, misalignment, or bearing wear.

Oil analysis (2) – Identifies contamination, wear particles, or breakdown in lubricants.

Ultrasound (4) – Detects leaks, arcing, and mechanical friction.

PM frequency analysis (3) is part of preventive maintenance, not predictive maintenance.

CMS Condition of Participation 482.41(c)(2) requires hospitals to ensure that elevator equipment is routinely inspected, tested, and maintained. Appendix A to this regulation clarifies that documentation of these three elements demonstrates compliance.

Correct (C): Maintenance – Inspections and testing alone are insufficient; ongoing maintenance must be documented.

Incorrect:

A. recalls: Not part of CMS 482.41(c)(2).

B. cleaning: While important, cleaning is not listed as a compliance requirement.

D. repairs: Only performed when problems are found; maintenance is the proactive required element.