CHC MEP Systems in Healthcare Facilities 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does ASHRAE 170 require regarding the recirculation of exhaust air from soiled utility rooms in healthcare facilities?
- Exhaust air may be recirculated after HEPA filtration
- Exhaust air may be recirculated if UV-C treatment is applied
- Exhaust air must be 100% exhausted to the outdoors with no recirculation (Correct answer)
- Exhaust air may be recirculated within the same department only
Correct answer: Exhaust air must be 100% exhausted to the outdoors with no recirculation
ASHRAE 170 designates soiled utility rooms as spaces requiring 100% exhaust to outdoors with no recirculation to prevent odor and pathogen spread.
Question 2: A healthcare constructor is coordinating the installation of a nurse call system. Under which MEP discipline does nurse call system wiring typically fall?
- Mechanical — pneumatic controls
- Electrical — low-voltage systems (Correct answer)
- Plumbing — signal conduit only
- Fire protection — life safety systems
Correct answer: Electrical — low-voltage systems
Nurse call systems are low-voltage electrical systems and fall under the electrical discipline, typically classified as communications or special systems.
Question 3: Per FGI Guidelines, what is the minimum clear floor space required between the foot of a patient bed and the opposite wall in a single-bed inpatient room?
- 3 feet
- 4 feet
- 6 feet (Correct answer)
- 8 feet
Correct answer: 6 feet
The FGI Guidelines require a minimum of 6 feet of clear floor space at the foot of the bed to allow for patient transfer and equipment movement.
Question 4: A contractor notices that the installed medical air compressor system produces air with a dew point higher than specified. What is the most likely cause?
- Oversized compressor cycling too frequently
- Failed or undersized air dryer in the system (Correct answer)
- Excessive downstream demand reducing system pressure
- Incorrect pipe sizing causing velocity to decrease
Correct answer: Failed or undersized air dryer in the system
A failed or undersized air dryer will not remove sufficient moisture from the compressed air, resulting in a dew point higher than the NFPA 99 specification of -40°F at line pressure.
Question 5: Which type of electrical panel serves life safety loads such as exit lighting and fire alarm systems in a hospital, per NFPA 99?
- Normal system panel
- Critical branch panel
- Life safety branch panel (Correct answer)
- Equipment system panel
Correct answer: Life safety branch panel
The life safety branch of the essential electrical system serves exit lighting, fire alarm, and other egress-critical loads per NFPA 99.
Question 6: During infection control risk assessment (ICRA) for above-ceiling MEP work in an occupied hospital, which is NOT a required containment measure for Class III risk work?
- Sealing all penetrations through existing walls
- Installing temporary anteroom with negative pressure (Correct answer)
- Providing HEPA-filtered negative air machines exhausted outdoors
- Installing a hard-wall barrier with sealed joints
Correct answer: Installing temporary anteroom with negative pressure
A temporary anteroom with negative pressure is a Class IV requirement; Class III requires hard barriers, HEPA filtration, and sealed penetrations but not an anteroom.
Question 7: What is the required minimum flow rate for an emergency eyewash station in a healthcare facility per ANSI Z358.1?
- 0.4 gallons per minute for 15 minutes (Correct answer)
- 1.0 gallon per minute for 15 minutes
- 3.0 gallons per minute for 10 minutes
- 0.4 gallons per minute for 10 minutes
Correct answer: 0.4 gallons per minute for 15 minutes
ANSI Z358.1 requires emergency eyewash stations to deliver a minimum of 0.4 gallons per minute for a full 15-minute flushing period.
CHC MEP Systems in Healthcare Facilities 5
What does ASHRAE 170 require regarding the recirculation of exhaust air from soiled utility rooms in healthcare facilities?