CFM Space Planning and Workplace Design 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which metric expresses how efficiently a building's gross area is converted to usable tenant space?
- Rentable-to-usable ratio
- Load factor (add-on factor)
- Space utilization rate
- Net-to-gross ratio (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Net-to-gross ratio
The net-to-gross ratio compares net usable area to total gross building area, indicating how much of the building is available for occupant use versus structural and common areas.
Question 2: In BOMA office measurement standards, what does the 'load factor' represent?
- The maximum structural load per square foot
- The percentage added to usable area to derive rentable area (Correct answer)
- The ratio of occupied to total available workstations
- The HVAC capacity per zone
Correct answer: The percentage added to usable area to derive rentable area
The BOMA load factor (also called add-on or loss factor) accounts for shared common areas and is multiplied by usable area to calculate the rentable area tenants are billed for.
Question 3: Activity-Based Working (ABW) is best described as:
- Assigning every employee a dedicated private office
- Providing a variety of unassigned work settings matched to different task types (Correct answer)
- Requiring employees to work from home three days per week
- Organizing desks in open rows without partitions
Correct answer: Providing a variety of unassigned work settings matched to different task types
ABW removes assigned seating and instead provides diverse settings—focus rooms, collaboration zones, lounges—so employees choose the space that best supports each task.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of a post-occupancy evaluation (POE) in workplace planning?
- To determine building market value after renovation
- To assess how well a completed space meets occupant needs and design intent (Correct answer)
- To calculate depreciation for tax purposes
- To survey energy consumption after HVAC replacement
Correct answer: To assess how well a completed space meets occupant needs and design intent
A POE gathers occupant feedback and performance data after move-in to evaluate whether the design goals were achieved and inform future projects.
Question 5: Which ADA-mandated minimum clear floor width is required for accessible corridors in US commercial buildings?
- 32 inches
- 36 inches (Correct answer)
- 44 inches
- 48 inches
Correct answer: 36 inches
The ADA Standards for Accessible Design require a minimum 36-inch clear width for accessible routes and corridors in commercial facilities.
Question 6: A 'hoteling' workplace strategy means:
- Providing hotel-style amenities such as concierge and cafeteria
- Pre-booking unassigned workstations for specific days (Correct answer)
- Converting underused offices into guest suites
- Assigning desks based on seniority
Correct answer: Pre-booking unassigned workstations for specific days
Hoteling requires employees to reserve a shared workspace in advance, enabling higher desk utilization ratios for hybrid or mobile workforces.
CFM Space Planning and Workplace Design 1
Which metric expresses how efficiently a building's gross area is converted to usable tenant space?