10 exam-style questions with answers and explanations, straight from our 1,030-question bank. Tap an answer to check yourself. When you're ready, take the scored version in the free practice test.
The CIAQM exam has 100 questions and runs 3 hours.
These 10 free CIAQM questions are organized by exam domain, so you can see how each part of the Council-certified Indoor Air Quality Manager blueprint is tested. Reveal the answer and explanation under each question.
A records room is at 75°F and 45% relative humidity, with a measured dew point of 52°F. Condensation repeatedly forms on an uninsulated chilled-water pipe at 44°F. Facilities proposes raising the room temperature to 78°F without changing its moisture content or the pipe temperature. Would that change eliminate the condensation?
Correct answer: C - No. The dew point remains unchanged, and the pipe is still cold enough for condensation.
A steady-state air-handler test records 4,000 cfm total supply airflow, 76°F return air, 36°F outdoor air, and 68°F mixed air upstream of the coils. Supply air downstream of the coils is 56°F. The streams are fully mixed; fan heat and leakage are negligible. The approved occupied-mode plan requires at least 1,000 cfm of outdoor air. What does the thermal-balance estimate indicate?
Correct answer: B - 800 cfm of outdoor air; the specified minimum is not met.
Following biocide treatment of a mold-contaminated cabinet, a culture yields no fungal growth, but microscopy of residual surface dust shows spores and fragments. A parent asks whether the negative culture proves that the cabinet cannot trigger a child's mold allergy. The scientifically supportable response is:
Correct answer: A - Nonculturable fungal material may remain allergenic despite the negative culture result.
An office and an attached garage are connected by a closed door with leakage gaps. Steady pressure measurements taken at the same height and against the same outdoor reference are −8 Pa in the office and −2 Pa in the garage. In which direction does this pressure difference drive air through the door gaps?
Correct answer: D - From the garage to the office, because the garage is at the higher pressure.
An accredited inspection confirms that asbestos-containing floor tiles in a public elementary school are intact, well bonded, and unlikely to be disturbed. No renovation is planned. The principal proposes removing them during summer closure to eliminate the issue. Under AHERA, which management approach is appropriate?
Correct answer: D - Manage the tiles in place, with six-month surveillance and accredited reinspection at least every three years.
At a tenant meeting, the facilities director proposes saying, 'The mechanical checks were normal, so the odor complaints can be closed.' Temperature, humidity, and outdoor-air delivery have been checked, but no odor source has been identified. Choose the replacement statement that accurately conveys the investigation's status.
Correct answer: B - Mechanical checks are complete, but the source is unconfirmed. We are tracing the reported odors and will update tenants tomorrow.
A tenant adds evening classes from 6 to 9 p.m. The building profile shows that room heat pumps recirculate indoor air; a separate outdoor-air unit shuts down at 6 p.m. The rooms remain at the thermostat setpoint. What must be resolved in the revised operating plan?
Correct answer: C - Extend and verify outdoor-air operation for evening classes, with a named person responsible.
After a chemical-storage incident has been secured, an assessor reviews a 0.0 ppm reading from a photoionization detector (PID). The instrument passed its calibration check and uses a 10.6 eV lamp. The potentially released chemical is methylene chloride, whose ionization potential is 11.35 eV. What limitation governs use of this result?
Correct answer: A - The lamp cannot ionize methylene chloride; a zero reading cannot exclude it, so use an appropriate measurement method.
Several employees near a boiler room develop headache and nausea; one becomes confused. A carbon monoxide alarm sounds. A supervisor suggests confirming the alarm because last month's combustion inspection found no defect. What must happen before a routine IAQ investigation proceeds?
Correct answer: D - Move occupants outdoors, call emergency services, and keep people out pending clearance by responders.
Twelve hours after a clean supply-water leak, the source is repaired and a small area of gypsum wallboard remains damp. The panels have no swelling, their seams are intact, and inspection finds no mold or contaminated water. The uninsulated cavity is accessible for drying, and electrical hazards have been controlled. Which work specification is justified by these findings?
Correct answer: A - Dry the board and accessible cavity in place, verifying material dryness before closing the work.
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