ASHE Planning, Design, and Construction Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to the Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI), what is the primary purpose of a functional program in the pre-design phase of a healthcare construction project?
- To provide a detailed architectural and engineering schematic for the facility.
- To secure project funding and approval from financial stakeholders.
- To communicate the owner's intent, operational needs, and project scope to the design team. (Correct answer)
- To select the construction contractor and finalize building material specifications.
Correct answer: To communicate the owner's intent, operational needs, and project scope to the design team.
The Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) states that the primary purpose of the functional program is to communicate the owner's intent for the project to the design team, serving as the basis for design. It outlines the project's purpose, scope, operational requirements, and relationships between functional areas, rather than providing detailed schematics, securing funding, or selecting contractors.
Question 2: A hospital is renovating an area to create a new Airborne Infection Isolation (AII) room. According to ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170, which ventilation requirement is essential for this space?
- Positive air pressure relative to adjacent areas.
- A minimum of 4 total air changes per hour (ACH).
- Direct recirculation of exhaust air into the main hospital HVAC system.
- Negative air pressure relative to adjacent areas with direct exhaust to the outdoors. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Negative air pressure relative to adjacent areas with direct exhaust to the outdoors.
ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170 specifically requires Airborne Infection Isolation (AII) rooms to maintain negative air pressure to prevent airborne contaminants from spreading to adjacent areas. The air from these rooms must be exhausted directly to the outdoors or pass through a HEPA filter before being recirculated. Operating rooms require positive pressure, and the minimum air changes for an AII room is 12 ACH.
Question 3: During a multi-phase renovation project in an active hospital, which of the following is the most critical function of a properly implemented Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA)?
- To finalize the project budget and construction timeline.
- To select the most durable and aesthetically pleasing finishes.
- To identify patient risk groups and define specific infection control precautions for construction activities. (Correct answer)
- To coordinate staff parking and temporary facility access points.
Correct answer: To identify patient risk groups and define specific infection control precautions for construction activities.
The core purpose of an Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) is to systematically identify the potential for construction activities to expose patients to infectious agents and to define the necessary precautions to mitigate that risk. This involves classifying the type of construction activity and identifying the level of risk to adjacent patient populations to determine the required level of control measures, such as barriers and negative air pressure.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes the role of a multidisciplinary team during the planning and design phases of a new healthcare facility?
- The team is primarily composed of architects and engineers who focus on code compliance.
- The team's main function is to review and approve the final construction budget.
- The team consists only of senior hospital executives to define high-level strategic goals.
- The team brings together clinicians, facility managers, architects, and engineers to ensure the design meets clinical, operational, and safety needs. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The team brings together clinicians, facility managers, architects, and engineers to ensure the design meets clinical, operational, and safety needs.
Effective healthcare design relies on a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach. This team includes not just designers and engineers, but also end-users like nurses and doctors, as well as facilities staff. This collaboration ensures the final design is functional, safe, efficient, and supports the delivery of patient care, rather than focusing solely on one aspect like budget or code compliance.
Question 5: What is the primary goal of the commissioning (Cx) process for a newly constructed hospital wing?
- To verify that the construction cost did not exceed the initial budget.
- To ensure the aesthetic and interior design elements match the original renderings.
- To systematically verify and document that building systems perform according to the owner's project requirements and design intent. (Correct answer)
- To accelerate the construction schedule and achieve early occupancy.
Correct answer: To systematically verify and document that building systems perform according to the owner's project requirements and design intent.
Commissioning (Cx) is a quality assurance process that verifies and documents that all building systems (e.g., HVAC, electrical, medical gas) are planned, designed, installed, tested, and can be operated and maintained to meet the owner's project requirements. It is not primarily focused on budget, aesthetics, or schedule acceleration, but on performance and functionality.
Question 6: A project team is designing a new operating room. According to ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170, which of the following air pressure relationships and minimum total air changes per hour (ACH) is required?
- Negative pressure; 15 ACH
- Neutral pressure; 20 ACH
- Positive pressure; 20 ACH (Correct answer)
- Positive pressure; 12 ACH
Correct answer: Positive pressure; 20 ACH
ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170 requires operating rooms to maintain positive air pressure relative to adjacent spaces to prevent contaminated air from entering the sterile environment. The standard also mandates a minimum of 20 total air changes per hour (ACH) to ensure air quality and control airborne contaminants.
ASHE Planning, Design, and Construction Questions and Answers
According to the Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI), what is the primary purpose of a functional program in the pre-design phase of a healthcare construction project?