CHFM Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CHFM facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What does the term 'statement of conditions' (SOC) refer to in Joint Commission accreditation? → A facility's written self-assessment of Life Safety Code compliance and any deficiencies
2. When preparing the annual facilities management budget, which approach uses prior-year actual expenses as the baseline and adjusts for anticipated changes? → Incremental budgeting
3. Which of the following is a critical Human Resources standard required by The Joint Commission (TJC) for all hospital staff, including facilities personnel? → A formal process for verifying competency, orientation, and ongoing education.
4. Which of the following best describes a 'chargeback' system in healthcare facility management? → Allocating shared service costs to consuming departments based on usage
5. Under NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, which occupancy classification applies to most acute care hospitals? → Health care occupancy
6. Water use intensity (WUI) in healthcare facilities is typically measured in: → Gallons per square foot per year
7. Which role in HICS is responsible for tracking the location and status of all patients during a hospital emergency? → Patient Tracking Officer
8. In the context of healthcare facility budgeting, 'favorable variance' for an expense account means: → Actual spending was less than the budget
9. Which document must accompany hazardous waste from the point of generation to the disposal facility? → Hazardous Waste Manifest
10. Under CMS Conditions of Participation, how often must a hospital conduct a full-scale community-based emergency exercise? → Every two years
11. All of the following, with the exception of one, should be part of a healthcare facility fire safety program. → NFPA Code 30
12. A healthcare facility project is experiencing scope creep. Which document should the facility manager reference first to evaluate proposed changes? → Project scope statement and WBS
13. Which accreditation organization uses the ISO 9001 quality management framework as a basis for hospital accreditation? → Det Norske Veritas (DNV)
14. Which type of fire suppression system is most appropriate for a hospital's data center or MRI suite? → Clean agent gaseous suppression system
15. In a healthcare construction project, what document establishes the baseline for measuring scope, schedule, and cost performance? → Project management plan with approved baselines
16. Which document must a hospital facility manager maintain to demonstrate compliance with The Joint Commission's Environment of Care fire safety requirements? → Life Safety Management Program
17. An equipment Inspection and Preventive Maintenance (IPM) interval is BEST determined by: → Manufacturer recommendations, risk assessment, and regulatory requirements
18. Which type of cost remains constant per unit regardless of the volume of services provided in a healthcare facility? → Variable cost
19. The START triage system classifies a patient as 'Immediate' (Red tag) based on which primary criteria? → Respiratory rate >30, radial pulse absent, or altered mental status
20. During a phased hospital renovation, which tool BEST helps the facility manager ensure patient care areas remain operational while construction proceeds? → Gantt chart with clearly defined construction phasing and interim life safety measures
21. For long-term financial planning, a healthcare facility manager should use which discount rate when calculating the present value of future maintenance costs? → The facility's weighted average cost of capital (WACC)
22. Which stakeholder group typically has authority to approve interim occupancy of a partially completed healthcare facility? → The authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) such as the state health department
23. When evaluating a Statement of Conditions (SOC) finding related to a corridor width deficiency, which equivalency approach is permitted under NFPA 101? → Equivalency through the use of a performance-based design
24. Which fire suppression system component is responsible for distributing water to sprinkler heads in a wet-pipe system? → Alarm check valve
25. What is the minimum number of drills required annually per shift for fire response in a hospital under Joint Commission standards? → One per shift per year
26. Under NFPA 101, what is the required minimum width of a corridor in a healthcare occupancy used for patient movement? → 8 feet (96 inches)
27. Which NFPA standard governs the inspection, testing, and maintenance of water-based fire protection systems (sprinklers, standpipes) in healthcare facilities? → NFPA 25
28. When a healthcare facility receives a Medical Device Safety Alert from the FDA or manufacturer, the FIRST action of the facility manager should be: → Assess the facility's inventory to determine if affected devices are present
29. In electrical systems, what does a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protect against? → Electrical shock from small current leaks to ground
30. A hospital installs occupancy sensors in administrative offices to control lighting. This is an example of: → Lighting controls for energy conservation