HIC Environmental Health & Facility Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to ASHRAE Standard 170, what is the minimum total air change rate required for a general patient room?
- 2 air changes per hour
- 4 air changes per hour
- 6 air changes per hour (Correct answer)
- 12 air changes per hour
Correct answer: 6 air changes per hour
ASHRAE 170 requires a minimum of 6 total air changes per hour (ACH) for general patient rooms, with at least 2 ACH of outdoor air.
Question 2: An Airborne Infection Isolation (AII) room must maintain what type of pressure relationship relative to the adjacent corridor?
- Positive pressure
- Negative pressure (Correct answer)
- Neutral pressure
- Equalized pressure
Correct answer: Negative pressure
AII rooms must be maintained at negative pressure so that air flows inward, preventing airborne pathogens from escaping into the corridor.
Question 3: Which organization publishes the ventilation standards most commonly referenced for healthcare facility design and inspection?
- CDC
- OSHA
- ASHRAE (Correct answer)
- The Joint Commission
Correct answer: ASHRAE
ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) publishes Standard 170, which is the primary ventilation standard for healthcare facilities.
Question 4: During a hospital inspection, water temperature in patient care area handwashing sinks is consistently below the minimum. What is the primary concern?
- Patient comfort
- Legionella growth prevention (Correct answer)
- Energy efficiency compliance
- Plumbing code violations
Correct answer: Legionella growth prevention
Inadequate hot water temperature allows Legionella bacteria to proliferate in the water system, posing a serious risk of Legionnaires' disease.
Question 5: According to ASHRAE 188, at what minimum temperature should hot water be maintained at the storage heater to prevent Legionella growth?
- 90°F (32°C)
- 110°F (43°C)
- 122°F (50°C)
- 140°F (60°C) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 140°F (60°C)
ASHRAE 188 requires hot water to be stored at a minimum of 140°F (60°C) to kill Legionella bacteria throughout the water system.
Question 6: Which federal regulation requires hospitals to have a written Water Management Plan to reduce the risk of Legionella and other waterborne pathogens?
- CMS Conditions of Participation (42 CFR Part 482) (Correct answer)
- OSHA Standard 1910.141
- EPA Clean Water Act
- NIOSH Publication 2018-149
Correct answer: CMS Conditions of Participation (42 CFR Part 482)
CMS Conditions of Participation require hospitals to develop and implement water management policies to prevent waterborne illness, including Legionella.
Question 7: An inspector finds standing warm water in a hospital's HVAC cooling tower. What is the primary infectious disease concern?
- Influenza transmission
- Legionella pneumophila growth (Correct answer)
- MRSA contamination
- Tuberculosis spread
Correct answer: Legionella pneumophila growth
Cooling towers with standing warm water are ideal environments for Legionella pneumophila to multiply and then aerosolize, potentially causing Legionnaires' disease outbreaks.
HIC Environmental Health & Facility Management 1
According to ASHRAE Standard 170, what is the minimum total air change rate required for a general patient room?