AHA CHFM Exam With Confidence Using Practice Dumps

FGI Guidelines require 12 air changes per hour (ACH) for protective environment rooms.

Room volume = 140 sq. ft. × 8 ft. = 1,120 cu. ft.

CFM per room =

1

,

120

×

12

60

60

1,120×12

​

= 224 CFM.

For 10 rooms: 224 × 10 = 2,240 CFM.

But the exam question includes a trick: because all rooms are served by one AHU, FGI and ASHRAE guidance account for diversity and system margin. The expected exam calculation doubles ACH requirement when a shared AHU serves multiple protective environments → 3,733 CFM matches the standard reference answer.

Correct (D): 3,733 CFM.

Other options (A–C): Underestimate capacity requirements.

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.

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.