Certified Indoor Environmental (CIE) Practice Exam

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• Aspergillus is a genus of mold known for producing which toxin?
• Which side of a building is the windward side?
• Which statement best describes how contaminants move within a building?
• MCS stands for what?
• What does ASHRAE Standard 62.1 define?
• When should occupant interviews supplement questionnaires?
• Which concept can give an immediate indication of a filter condition without opening the unit to view the filter?
• What is the most common guidance for routine mold sampling?
• What is the approximate width of a human hair?
• Which agency is responsible for establishing the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)?
• Ventilation (per ASHRAE 62.1 definition) is the process of
• Which of the following is an example of a building-related illness (BRI) associated with indoor air quality problems?
• Occupants of damp and/or moldy buildings most frequently complain of
• Extraction methods will not be effective on which items?
• Which of the following represents the two types of air sampling for mold?
• In general building ventilation terms, what is the primary reason for introducing outdoor air into a space?
• Which contaminant originates from the HVAC system?
• Which of the following statements is true about wind effects on buildings?
• Which OSHA regulation applies to construction employees?
• What is the approximate average width of a human hair?
• Why might biocides not be used in an air handling unit?
• Which soil gas is commonly considered in indoor air quality assessments due to potential intrusion from the ground?
• TB transmission can occur through which mechanism described here?
• Bacteria are which type of organisms?
• Outdoor air is designed to
• What is the chemical abbreviation for Formaldehyde?
• How does HVAC control pollutants?
• National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) specify concentration limits for each air pollutant and are established by which agency?
• Under the Code of Conduct, confidentiality may be breached when which event occurs?
• How do uncontrolled quantities of outdoor air enter buildings?
• Which statement best describes mold testing?
• During a walkthrough inspection, which visual observation is critical?
• What is considered the best method for sampling mVOCs (volatile organic compounds) in indoor air?
• How does the ASHRAE 62.1 Ventilation Rate Procedure address cigarette smoke?
• Which method is used to treat outdoor air with ozone before it enters indoor spaces?
• Dampness is defined as what?
• In wind effects on buildings, which statement best describes the leeward side pressure relative to the windward side?
• Lethal percent of Oxygen is
• To reduce exposure to formaldehyde off-gassing from engineered wood products, which practice is most effective?
• Bacteria are which type of organisms?
• In risk communication for public and commercial office buildings, which principle is emphasized?
• Which of the following is a common asthma trigger?
• Which soil gases are known to affect indoor air quality?
• To which kingdom do molds belong?
• What OSHA standard number corresponds to Respiratory Protection?
• According to ASHRAE 55, what is the unwanted local cooling of the body caused by air movement?
• What is the purpose of mold testing?
• Based on guidelines, what is the primary objective of mold remediation?
• According to ASHRAE Standard 62.1, what is the proper slope of a drain pan intended to collect and drain liquid water?
• In an office, partitioned work spaces have a negative effect on what?
• Openings into the ceiling plenum are for
• What components constitute a comfortable internal environment for humans?
• How is tuberculosis primarily transmitted?
• Which of the following describes a common IAQ concern related to mold?
• In contents cleaning, which set lists the three zones?
• Which statement best describes Category 3 Water?
• What is the scope of NIOSH's respirator selection logic?
• What is the minimum pressurization condition for HVAC ductwork relative to surrounding areas?
• What pressure condition is typically used when dehumidifying a building in a hot and humid climate?
• The MCE Cassette can be used for which sampling applications?
• Which of the following lists typical HVAC system components?
• What is the correct order for the following sampling types?
• What is the most cost-effective method for controlling mold growth?
• Which statement best describes the device known for viable air sampling?
• What is the most important rule when implementing moisture controls?
• Which measurements are included in developing a building's IAQ profile?
• Which factor is a driver of air movement in a building?
• What is stack effect?
• Cryophilic fungi are fungi that do what?
• Which term best describes material removal due to the action of an impinging stream or droplets of fluid, and does not have to be liquid?
• The EPA recommends cleaning of air ducts under which condition?
• Drain pans should be inspected how often?
• Which statement best describes performance-based mold remediation?
• Substantial Majority (per ASHRAE) is defined as
• Which statement reflects the Code of Conduct regarding professional representations?
• Which statement defines Assigned Protection Factor (APF) most accurately?
• When should a bag carrying debris be HEPA vacuumed?
• Partitioned office spaces have what effect on ventilation effectiveness?
• Which organization provides the respirator selection logic used in workplaces?
• What does CAFS stand for?
• In instrumentation, which of the following best describes resolution?
• What do mold remediation guidelines typically state?
• Cooling water tower systems should be treated to limit the growth of what primary microbiological contaminant?
• What is the NIOSH short-term (15-minute) REL for formaldehyde?
• According to the Code of Conduct, when must you maintain confidentiality concerning personal and business information?
• Ventilation efficiency is defined as what?
• Endotoxin is a contaminant associated with which type of microorganism?
• Endotoxin is a contaminant found in the cell walls of which type of microorganism?
• Which NIOSH series respirators provide protection for oil-based particles and aerosols?
• According to ASHRAE Standard 62.1, how often should the outdoor air quantities to air handlers over 2,000 cfm be measured?
• CFU stands for which term in microbiology?
• Which of the following best describes positive pressure in a room?
• What is the best way to reduce volatile organic compound (VOC) levels in indoor air?
• What is the first thing to inspect when assessing HVAC?
• Liquid impingement has the advantage that which of the following is possible?
• What is a key disadvantage of a Variable Air Volume (VAV) system in terms of indoor air quality?
• Excessive air movement may create what problem on exposed skin surfaces?
• What happens to outdoor air amount in a VAV system?
• Which set of measurements is included in an IAQ profile?
• Pollutant pathways information should be collected during the initial IAQ assessment.
• Which set of zones is used for contents cleaning?
• The unit used for the Air-O-Cell Cassette flow rate is which?
• Which device is most commonly used for viable air sampling?
• What is meant by an ecological niche?
• If outdoor air does not meet NAAQS, what should the facility manager do before introducing it?
• What is a sling psychrometer used for?
• In designing a building with security considerations, which element is an important focus related to IAQ?
• Stuffiness can be blamed on what?
• What did Paracelsus say regarding the dose–response relationship?
• Who is typically able to address small areas of mold in a building as part of mold remediation?
• According to ASHRAE 55, humidity can be expressed in terms of which of the following?
• According to ASHRAE 55, the vast majority of the available thermal comfort data pertains to which activity level?
• To keep outdoor air ductwork clean, what is recommended?
• What characterizes prescriptive mold remediation?
• What is accurate about the use of antimicrobials in indoor environments?
• New building materials off-gas what contaminant?
• Mold remediation is the management of materials on which mold has grown and the mold particulates generated.
• Which device is used to measure pressure in HVAC systems?
• How HVAC creates IAQ Problems?
• In indoor environmental assessments, CO2 is commonly used as a surrogate for what?
• A fungistat is best described as
• How is moisture content defined?
• Productivity and performance have been shown to correlate with what percent relative humidity?
• What is the best method of calibration for measuring flow rate?
• How do contaminants move within a building?
• What best defines Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)?
• The CAFS credential stands for which of the following?
• Which of the following lists the four elements involved in the development of IAQ problems?
• Print toner is a common source for which type of particles in a modern office?
• In terms IAQ, how useful is an MSDS?
• Aspergillus is a genus of mold known for producing which toxin?
• Oxygen deficient environment (per OSHA)
• What is the design limit for relative humidity in occupied spaces?
• Porous material with mold growth
• Which methods are used to verify duct cleanliness?
• How can outdoor air with high levels of ozone be treated?
• What is the first step when developing a remediation plan of action?
• Which of the following is a set of techniques for controlling indoor air pollutants?
• OSHA PELs are based on TLVs from which year?
• What is the correct interpretation of the statement 'As the supply air cfm is reduced in a VAV system, outdoor air cfm is reduced'?
• Which statement best describes the role of mold remediation for small mold problems in buildings?
• Which side experiences the highest pressure when wind hits directly?
• What are the two types of air sampling for mold?
• The volumetric flow rate in ducts is expressed in which unit when cross-sectional area is in square meters and velocity is in meters per second?
• What is the function of surfactants in indoor environments?
• VOC stands for what?
• Temperature stratification is caused by which of the following?
• Which of the following is not listed as a method for expressing humidity according to ASHRAE 55?
• According to ASHRAE standard 62.1, what relative humidity should the occupied space be limited to by design?
• If carpet off-gasses VOCs, what action best reduces concentration?
• Which health symptom is commonly associated with damp indoor environments?
• According to Fungal Contamination, what should be done to carpet padding that gets wet?
• Which tool is useful to observe airflow patterns and pressure relationships between pollutant sources and surrounding rooms?
• Outbreaks of Legionnaires' Disease have been linked to the use of
• According to ASHRAE Standard 62.1, when should filters be replaced?
• According to ASHRAE 55, if occupancy distribution cannot be estimated, where should measurements be taken?
• A realistic starting point for air changes per hour for small areas per fungal contamination guidelines is which value?
• Pressure meters should be selected to read in what range
• Which OSHA standard governs Respiratory Protection in the workplace?
• Which of the following variables are needed to calculate the percent outdoor air when air volumes are unknown?
• Mold remediation includes management of materials on which mold has grown and of mold particulates generated. Which option best reflects this scope?
• What is the standard description of pressure on a building due to wind?
• As the cfm of supply air is reduced in a VAV system, what happens to the cfm of outdoor air?
• What does OSHA PEL stand for?
• Which practice is recommended to manage debris in contaminated areas to minimize IAQ concerns?
• Which type of dehumidifier uses silica gel?
• Under ASHRAE standard 62.1, ventilation is required when which condition applies?
• CO2 is a useful surrogate for what in indoor environmental assessments?
• According to ASHRAE 62.1 (2007), what percentage of people must not express dissatisfaction for IAQ to be acceptable?
• Which contaminant is described as an edible contaminant in IAQ contexts?
• Assigned protection factor (APF) represents which of the following?
• Which two measurements does a sling psychrometer use to estimate relative humidity?
• Which type of dehumidifier uses silica gel to remove moisture from air?
• Which option is a listed way HVAC creates IAQ problems?
• In indoor environments, a location with high relative humidity is typically near:
• New engineered wood products off-gas what contaminant?
• What is a manometer?
• Which condition is most likely to promote condensation on interior surfaces?
• Positive pressure in a room occurs when which relationship exists between supply and exhaust air?
• Which circumstance is a government-issued legal document that may require disclosure of confidential information?
• The NIOSH REL for formaldehyde is a short-term exposure limit for how long?
• Which statement best describes OSHA ladder regulations?
• Which of the following is a recognized driver of air movement in a building?
• Electrostatic precipitators produce which gas that can affect indoor air quality?
• Which of the following is an example of Category 3 Water?
• According to Fungal Contamination, what is a realistic starting point for air changes per hour for small areas?
• Do remediation contractors have MSDS requirements?
• Which statement best describes wind effects around a building?
• Category 3 Water is best defined as water that is grossly contaminated with pathogens, toxins, or bacteria and can cause sickness.
• What CO2 target concentration is recommended?
• Mold spores are a type of what?
• Which HVAC-related factor is associated with indoor air quality problems?
• Which factor dictates the movement of air in a building?
• Which approach to mold remediation provides a detailed, step-by-step protocol?
• What is a major limitation of a written IAQ questionnaire?
• Which topic is typically covered in the initial IAQ walkthrough?
• ASHRAE 62.1's IAQ Procedure
• In a walkthrough, which observation is considered critical?
• Which organism is given as an example of a building-related illness (BRI)?
• Which temperature variables are needed to calculate the percent outdoor air when air volumes are unknown?
• Which term describes the side opposite the wind direction?
• Which term describes the side opposite the wind direction?
• What is a mass spectrometer used for?
• Building-related illness is described as an illness due to air quality problems; which are among typical symptoms?
• Which pairing of device and flow rate is correct?
• What is a disadvantage of spore trap sampling in IAQ assessments?
• Which of the following are environmental stressor examples?
• Which trio is described as humidity expressions?
• Ventilation effectiveness is defined as what?
• In mold and bacteria prevention, what is described as the most cost-effective tactic?
• Which statement best describes the risk consideration when using biocides in AHUs?
• Which side is the leeward side?
• Which term describes an agent that inhibits fungal growth?
• Which agency enforces ladder safety standards in the United States?
• A smoke pencil is primarily used to
• Which statement about wind effects on buildings is true?
• Which side is the windward side?
• The Ventilation Rate Procedure addresses cigarette smoke in which way?
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from building materials are best described as what type of contaminants?
• What is the likelihood that a federal permissible exposure limit will be established for mold?
• Variable Air Volume systems respond to changing thermal loads by doing what?
• Which regulatory standard governs the use of ladders in typical workplace safety programs?
• For outdoor air quantities to air handlers over 2,000 cfm, how often should measurements be taken?
• What is the required flow rate for Air-O-Cell Cassette?
• What should be done with carpet padding that becomes wet?
• How do you decontaminate an Andersen N6?
• CFU is commonly used to quantify what in air samples?
• Which action tends to increase particulate levels in the building air?
• Which organism is the focus of control in cooling water tower systems to prevent disease, as noted in guidelines?
• In air ducts, which formula correctly expresses volumetric airflow rate?
• What is the required flow rate for Andersen N6?
• Which item is NOT typically documented during the initial IAQ walkthrough?
• What do mold remediation guidelines say about significant growth?
• Re-entrainment refers to what phenomenon?
• An electrostatic precipitator is:
• Which pair best describes wind-induced pressure on a building?
• Which of the following is NOT a standard method to verify duct cleanliness?
• Which description best fits a sling psychrometer?
• Which substances are regulated during abatement activities?
• What does ACH stand for?
• Which filters can remove carbon monoxide from air?
• Acceptable Indoor Air Quality is defined as air in which there are no known contaminants at harmful concentrations as determined by cognizant authorities and with which a substantial majority (80% or more) of the people exposed do not express dissatisfaction.
• Which statement best identifies a comprehensive approach to controlling indoor air pollutants?
• Which respirator classification is used for oil-based particles and aerosols?
• Which term is listed as a humidity expression along with dew point and humidity ratio?
• When using carbon dioxide to assess ventilation, measurements should be taken when?
• All air systems must have the capability to provide outdoor air to the building in order to
• Formaldehyde is abbreviated as which chemical symbol and is described as a colorless, strong-smelling gas used as a preservative when in solution?
• In HVAC systems, what is the primary purpose of outdoor air introduction?
• Which action is recommended when a porous material shows mold growth?
• Which term describes the difference in pressure that drives airflow in ventilation systems?
• Which HVAC design is most common in modern public and midrise commercial buildings?
• Which statement best describes the general purpose of moisture controls in indoor environments?
• Drain pans should inspections frequency documented in which facility document?