CHI Environmental & Safety Assessment 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which building material used in floor tiles and adhesive (mastic) installed before 1980 commonly contains asbestos?
- Ceramic tile
- 9-inch vinyl floor tiles (Correct answer)
- Hardwood parquet flooring
- Laminate flooring
Correct answer: 9-inch vinyl floor tiles
9-inch vinyl floor tiles and their adhesive mastic installed before 1980 frequently contain asbestos fibers.
Question 2: What is the primary pathway for radon gas to enter a home?
- Through municipal water supply
- Through cracks and openings in the foundation from soil (Correct answer)
- Through window screens
- Through attic vents
Correct answer: Through cracks and openings in the foundation from soil
Radon enters homes primarily through cracks, joints, and openings in the foundation from the underlying soil and rock.
Question 3: A home inspector finds a bathroom without any exhaust ventilation. The PRIMARY safety and structural concern is:
- Increased electricity costs
- Moisture accumulation leading to mold growth and structural damage (Correct answer)
- Reduced natural lighting
- Poor air circulation causing carbon monoxide buildup
Correct answer: Moisture accumulation leading to mold growth and structural damage
Without exhaust ventilation, moisture from baths and showers accumulates, promoting mold growth and structural deterioration.
Question 4: What is the recommended clearance between the bottom of a wooden structural member and the soil in a crawl space?
- 6 inches
- 12 inches
- 18 inches (Correct answer)
- 24 inches
Correct answer: 18 inches
A minimum 18-inch clearance between soil and wood framing in a crawl space is recommended to reduce moisture and pest damage.
Question 5: Which condition would MOST concern a home inspector regarding lead paint?
- Intact lead paint on interior walls in a home built in 1978
- Deteriorating and peeling lead paint on windows and doors (Correct answer)
- Lead paint covered by wallpaper installed after 1980
- Lead paint on exterior trim that is fully intact
Correct answer: Deteriorating and peeling lead paint on windows and doors
Deteriorating, chipping, or peeling lead paint — especially on friction surfaces like windows and doors — creates hazardous dust and chips.
Question 6: An AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) breaker is designed to protect against:
- Overloaded circuits causing overheating
- Electrical arcing that can ignite fires in wiring (Correct answer)
- Ground faults in wet locations
- Voltage surges from lightning strikes
Correct answer: Electrical arcing that can ignite fires in wiring
AFCIs detect dangerous electrical arcing caused by damaged wiring or loose connections that can start fires.
Question 7: A home inspector tests a smoke alarm and it does not respond. What should the inspector note in the report?
- Replace the battery and retest before noting anything
- Note the deficiency and recommend immediate replacement or repair (Correct answer)
- Ignore it since smoke alarms are not part of a home inspection
- Manually trigger the alarm to confirm it is truly broken
Correct answer: Note the deficiency and recommend immediate replacement or repair
A non-functioning smoke alarm is a life-safety deficiency that must be documented and repair or replacement recommended.
CHI Environmental & Safety Assessment 3
Which building material used in floor tiles and adhesive (mastic) installed before 1980 commonly contains asbestos?