BOMA Facility Management & Sustainability 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'preventive maintenance' (PM) program in facility management?
- Scheduled maintenance performed on a regular basis to prevent equipment failures (Correct answer)
- Maintenance performed immediately after equipment failures occur
- Emergency repairs funded from a capital reserve account
- Maintenance contracted to third parties to prevent liability
Correct answer: Scheduled maintenance performed on a regular basis to prevent equipment failures
Preventive maintenance involves scheduled, routine upkeep of building systems and equipment based on time intervals or usage, aimed at preventing unplanned breakdowns.
Question 2: In sustainable facility management, what is a 'waste diversion rate'?
- The percentage of waste diverted from landfill through recycling, composting, or reuse (Correct answer)
- The rate at which waste haulers transport refuse from the building
- The speed at which building occupants sort recyclables from trash
- The reduction in waste generation compared to the prior year baseline
Correct answer: The percentage of waste diverted from landfill through recycling, composting, or reuse
Waste diversion rate measures the proportion of generated waste that is kept out of landfill through recycling, composting, donation, or other diversion methods.
Question 3: What does 'Indoor Environmental Quality' (IEQ) encompass in building management?
- Air quality, thermal comfort, acoustics, lighting, and occupant satisfaction (Correct answer)
- Compliance with EPA indoor air quality standards only
- The performance of HVAC filters and air handling units
- Carbon dioxide and volatile organic compound concentrations only
Correct answer: Air quality, thermal comfort, acoustics, lighting, and occupant satisfaction
IEQ encompasses all factors affecting occupant comfort and health indoors, including air quality, thermal conditions, acoustics, daylighting, and overall satisfaction.
Question 4: What is a 'Fitwel' certification, and how does it relate to commercial buildings?
- A building certification that promotes health-supportive design and operational strategies (Correct answer)
- A fitness facility certification for buildings with on-site gyms
- An emergency evacuation fitness assessment for high-rise buildings
- A BOMA certification for buildings with active wellness programs
Correct answer: A building certification that promotes health-supportive design and operational strategies
Fitwel is a building certification system focused on strategies that support occupant health and wellbeing through design, policy, and programming elements.
Question 5: In facility management, what is a 'capital reserve study'?
- An analysis projecting future major repairs and replacements, with funding recommendations (Correct answer)
- An audit of current capital spending compared to the approved budget
- A lender-required assessment of building value and condition before refinancing
- A study determining tax depreciation schedules for building components
Correct answer: An analysis projecting future major repairs and replacements, with funding recommendations
A capital reserve study evaluates building components, estimates their remaining useful life, projects future replacement costs, and recommends annual reserve contributions.
Question 6: What does 'net zero energy' mean for a commercial building?
- The building produces as much energy on-site as it consumes annually (Correct answer)
- The building consumes no energy from fossil fuels
- The building's energy costs are offset by utility rebates and credits
- The building operates without connecting to the public utility grid
Correct answer: The building produces as much energy on-site as it consumes annually
A net zero energy building produces enough renewable energy on-site (typically solar) over a year to equal the total energy it consumes from all sources.
BOMA Facility Management & Sustainability 2
What is a 'preventive maintenance' (PM) program in facility management?