CHC MEP Systems in Healthcare Facilities 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which ventilation requirement applies to a Type B (non-flammable) anesthetizing location per NFPA 99?
- Minimum 20 air changes per hour with 100% exhaust
- Minimum 15 air changes per hour with at least 3 outside air changes (Correct answer)
- Positive pressure relative to corridor with HEPA filtration
- Negative pressure relative to adjacent spaces to contain anesthetic gases
Correct answer: Minimum 15 air changes per hour with at least 3 outside air changes
NFPA 99 and ASHRAE 170 require Type B anesthetizing locations to have a minimum of 15 total air changes per hour, including at least 3 outside air changes.
Question 2: A healthcare facility's emergency generator fails to reach full load within the required time during a utility outage. Per NFPA 110, what is the maximum allowable time for the generator to assume full load for Type 10 equipment?
- 5 seconds
- 10 seconds (Correct answer)
- 30 seconds
- 60 seconds
Correct answer: 10 seconds
NFPA 110 Type 10 equipment must be capable of assuming full load within 10 seconds of a utility failure.
Question 3: During construction of a new hospital ICU, the contractor must maintain infection control. Which pressure relationship is required for the ICU relative to the corridor?
- Neutral pressure
- Negative pressure
- Positive pressure (Correct answer)
- Pressure relationship varies by patient acuity
Correct answer: Positive pressure
ICUs require positive pressure relative to the corridor per ASHRAE 170 to protect immunocompromised patients from airborne contaminants.
Question 4: What is the minimum number of duplex receptacles required at each patient bed location in a general care (Category 1) patient care space per NFPA 99-2021?
- 4 duplex receptacles (Correct answer)
- 6 duplex receptacles
- 8 duplex receptacles
- 10 duplex receptacles
Correct answer: 4 duplex receptacles
NFPA 99-2021 requires a minimum of 4 duplex receptacles per patient bed location in Category 1 general care spaces.
Question 5: A hospital is installing a new medical gas pipeline system. At what pressure must the piped oxygen system typically be maintained at the source?
- 35 psig
- 50 psig
- 55 psig (Correct answer)
- 100 psig
Correct answer: 55 psig
Hospital piped oxygen systems are typically maintained at 55 psig at the source per NFPA 99 to ensure adequate delivery pressure at all use points.
Question 6: Which of the following describes the correct installation requirement for medical vacuum inlet boxes in a healthcare facility?
- Must be installed at a minimum height of 60 inches AFF
- Must be color-coded white and labeled 'VAC' (Correct answer)
- Must include a HEPA filter at each inlet location
- Must be located within 6 feet of the patient bed head wall
Correct answer: Must be color-coded white and labeled 'VAC'
Per NFPA 99, medical vacuum inlets must be color-coded white with the label 'VAC' to allow for quick identification and prevent gas mix-ups.
Question 7: During phased hospital construction, a temporary chilled water connection is required to maintain cooling in an occupied unit. What is the most critical safety consideration?
- Pipe insulation R-value must match permanent installation
- Water treatment program must be maintained to prevent Legionella growth (Correct answer)
- Temporary connections must use stainless steel pipe only
- Flow rates must not exceed 50% of the permanent system capacity
Correct answer: Water treatment program must be maintained to prevent Legionella growth
Temporary chilled water systems must maintain an active water treatment program to prevent Legionella and other waterborne pathogen growth in stagnant or low-flow conditions.
CHC MEP Systems in Healthcare Facilities 4
Which ventilation requirement applies to a Type B (non-flammable) anesthetizing location per NFPA 99?