CHFM Fire and Life Safety 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, which occupancy classification applies to most acute care hospitals?
- Business occupancy
- Health care occupancy (Correct answer)
- Ambulatory health care occupancy
- Residential board and care occupancy
Correct answer: Health care occupancy
Acute care hospitals where patients are incapable of self-preservation are classified as health care occupancy under NFPA 101.
Question 2: What does the RACE acronym stand for in healthcare fire response?
- Run, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish
- Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish (Correct answer)
- Rescue, Alert, Call, Evacuate
- Remove, Activate, Close, Extinguish
Correct answer: Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish
RACE stands for Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish — the standard fire response sequence in healthcare facilities.
Question 3: A healthcare facility's fire alarm system must be inspected, tested, and maintained per which NFPA standard?
- NFPA 13
- NFPA 25
- NFPA 72 (Correct answer)
- NFPA 110
Correct answer: NFPA 72
NFPA 72, the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, governs inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire alarm systems.
Question 4: Which CMS Condition of Participation requires hospitals to maintain fire safety equipment and building features?
- CoP §482.11 — Compliance with Federal, State, and Local Laws
- CoP §482.41 — Physical Environment (Correct answer)
- CoP §482.13 — Patient Rights
- CoP §482.42 — Infection Control
Correct answer: CoP §482.41 — Physical Environment
CoP §482.41 (Physical Environment) requires hospitals to maintain a safe and functional physical environment including fire safety systems.
Question 5: In a defend-in-place strategy, what is the PRIMARY action taken when a fire is detected in a patient room?
- Evacuate all patients to the exterior
- Move patients horizontally to another smoke compartment (Correct answer)
- Shelter all patients in place in their rooms
- Immediately call the fire department and wait
Correct answer: Move patients horizontally to another smoke compartment
Defend-in-place relies on horizontal evacuation to an adjacent smoke compartment, avoiding the risks of moving patients vertically.
Question 6: Per NFPA 101, what is the maximum travel distance to a manual fire alarm pull station in a health care occupancy?
- 100 feet
- 150 feet (Correct answer)
- 200 feet
- 250 feet
Correct answer: 150 feet
NFPA 101 requires manual fire alarm boxes to be located within 150 feet of travel from any point in the building.
Question 7: Which fire suppression system component is responsible for distributing water to sprinkler heads in a wet-pipe system?
- Alarm check valve (Correct answer)
- Dry-pipe valve
- Preaction valve
- Deluge valve
Correct answer: Alarm check valve
An alarm check valve in a wet-pipe system allows pressurized water to flow to sprinklers and triggers the water flow alarm when activated.
CHFM Fire and Life Safety 2
Under NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, which occupancy classification applies to most acute care hospitals?