The CHFSP focuses on the importance of using management principles to improve the fire and life safety status of healthcare facilities. The exam content was developed with the assistance of practicing healthcare fire safety professionals. Exam materials comes from appropriate NFPA sources, other consensus standards, accreditation standards, CMS requirements, and professional fire safety books or journals. If you have any responsibilities for fire or life safety, consider adding the CHFSP to your resume or qualification profile
CHFSP Exam blueprint
| Domains | 100-150 items |
|---|---|
| 1. Fire Safety Practice | 36% |
| 2. Fire Hazard Codes & Standards | 28% |
| 3. Safety Management Compliance | 36% |
IBFCSM exams contain 100-150 multiple choice items. Exam results permit the assessment to determine a candidate’s minimum competency for certification. The blueprint reflects specifications published in the JTA Technical Report. Percentages reflect proportion of test items in each domain. Candidates use recall, recognition, comprehension, and application to answer items related to professional practice.
Domain 1 - Fire Safety Practice (36%)
1.1 Identify life safety deficiencies in aisles, corridors, and ramps
1.2 Identify air handling equipment hazards
1.3 Given a scenario identify hazards of ineffective fire alarms
1.4 Given a scenario identify alternative approaches to life safety
1.5 Identify testing requirements for automatic fire extinguishing systems
1.6 Identify the various classes of fire
1.7 Identify construction hazards that impact life safety issues
1.8 Identify requirements for commercial cooking operations
1.9 Identify corridor fire safety issues
1.10 Identify door locking requirements in patient areas
1.11 Identify hazards of poorly operations exhaust systems
1.12 Given a scenario identify unacceptable passageways
1.13 Given a scenario identify the appropriate extinguishing systems
1.14 Identify fire and smoke door requirements
1.15 Identify the maintenance and testing requirements of fire hoses
1.16 Identify the standard that addresses fire safety cans
1.17 Identify the key purpose of conducting fire safety evaluations
1.18 Given a scenario identify the most flammable gas
1.19 Identify flow testing requirements for standpipes
1.20 Identify foot candle requirements for emergency lighting
1.21 Identify hazard related to heat detectors
1.22 Identify Inspection requirements for fire and smoke compartment or walls
1.23 Identify kitchen fire safety hazards
1.24 Identify fore hazard in hospital clinical labs
1.25 Identify healthcare laundry fire safety requirements
1.26 Identify the testing requirements for notification devices
1.27 Identify maintenance or testing requirements for fire extinguishers
1.28 Given a situation identify requirements for checking rated barriers
1.29 Given a scenario identify requirements non-sprinklered area separations
1.30 Given a scenario identify separations requirements for various occupancies
1.31 Identify requirements for smoke barriers and compartments
1.32 Identify risks of inoperative smoke dampers
1.33 Identify proper storing of combustibles
1.34 Identify surgical fire risks
1.35 Identify testing roof surfaces & thermal barriers
1.36 Identify actions to ensure safe welding
Domain 2 - Fire Hazard Codes & Standards (28%)
Identify healthcare facility requirements for the following:
2.1 Automatic Sprinkler Systems (NFPA 25)
2.2 Bonding, Grounding, and Electrical Fire Hazards (NFPA 70/70E)
2.3 Bulk Oxygen Systems (NFPA 50)
2.4 Electrical Power Standby Power Systems (NFPA 110, NFPA 111)
2.5 Fire Doors and Fire Windows (NFPA 80)
2.6 Fire Hoses (NFPA 1962)
2.7 Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals (NFPA 45)
2.8 Fire Safety and Emergency Symbols (NFPA 170)
2.9 Fire Walls and Fire Barrier Walls (NFPA 221)
2.10 Flammable/Combustible Materials (NFPA 30)
2.11 Healthcare Facilities (NFPA 99)
2.12 Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Protection Systems (NFPA 25)
2.13 Installation of Smoke Door Assemblies (NFPA 105)
2.14 Installation of Sprinkler Systems (NFPA 13)
2.15 Kitchen Hood Extinguishing (NFPA 96)
2.16 Laser Fire Protection (NFPA 115)
2.17 Life Safety and Egress (NFPA 101, 101A)
2.18 Portable Fire Extinguishers (NFPA 10)
2.19 Smoke Control (NFPA 92 & NFPA 92A)
2.20 Ventilating System Dampers and Controls (NFPA 90A)
2.21 Welding, Cutting, and Brazing (NFPA 51B)
Domain 3 - Safety Management Compliance (36%)
3.1 Identify built structure risks
3.2 Identify emergency communications
3.3 Identity basic compressed gas safety
3.4 Identify the definition of fire confinement
3.5 Identify fire and emergency drill frequency and monitoring
3.6 Identify egress and exit requirements
3.7 Identify healthcare electrical safety hazards or requirements
3.8 Identify elevator/escalator safety and fire operational issues
3.9 Identify emergency lighting requirements in all facility areas
3.10 Identify emergency power systems operational testing
3.11 Identify emergency facility emergency procedures
3.12 Identify facility areas that need fire safety hazard evaluations
3.13 Identify fire-related statistics for deaths and injuries
3.14 Identify hazardous storage areas with flammable/combustible materials
3.15 Identify the elements of a hospital Incident command system
3.16 Identify fire and electrical occupational hazards
3.17 Identify fire and life safety requirements for outpatient facilities
3.18 Identify OSHA personal protective equipment and respirator requirements
3.19 Identify prioritized emergency response actions
3.20 Identify fire safety inspection requirements
3.21 Identify fire safety requirements of CMS and accreditation organizations
Sample CHFSP Questions
- What response reflects the best method for identifying workplace fire hazards?
a. Conducting comprehensive site analyses and surveys*
b. Reviewing hazard control publications and journals
c. Analyzing accident/injury data for five previous years
d. Understanding application of standards and codes
- What response about carbon monoxide is most accurate?
a. Gas inhibits blood from carrying oxygen to the brain*
b. Indoor pollutant generated from arcs of electric motors
c. Causes breathing/respiratory problems but seldom fatal
- What extinguisher effective on computer fires is declared environmentally dangerous?
a. Carbon dioxide
b. Dry powder
c. Halon*
- What NFPA publication addresses electrical grounding requirements for patient areas in healthcare facilities?
a. NFPA 70
b. NFPA 99*
c. NFPA 101
CHFSP Study Resources
Studying the resources listed does not guarantee that a candidate will pass the examination. Candidates must personally decide how they can best prepare for the examination. IBFCSM does not require any candidate to purchase study materials, resources, or attend any review session to qualify for certification. Study references include the following resources:
- Healthcare Hazard Control and Safety Management, 3rd Edition, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 2014, J.T. Tweedy, ISBN: 978-1-4822-0655-5. Buy it here!
- CHFSP Self Directed Study Guide, TLCS, Available in downloadable PDF or PRINT format. Buy it here!
- NFPA 99-2012, Health Care Facilities Code Handbook, NFPA, Quincy, MA, 2011, MA, R.E. Bielen & J.K. Lathrop, ISBN: 978-161665141-1
- NFPA 101-2012, Life Safety Code Handbook, NFPA, Quincy, MA 2011, ISBN: 978-006461807
- Joint Commission Accreditation Standards: Environment of Care, Life Safety, and Emergency Management Standards.
NFPA Publications
- Automatic Sprinkler Systems (NFPA 25)
- Bonding, Grounding, and Electrical Fire Hazards (NFPA 70/70E)
- Bulk Oxygen Systems (NFPA 50)
- Electrical Power Standby Power Systems (NFPA 110, NFPA 111)
- Fire Doors and Fire Windows (NFPA 80)
- Fire Hoses (NFPA 1962)
- Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals (NFPA 45)
- Fire Safety and Emergency Symbols (NFPA 170)
- Fire Walls and Fire Barrier Walls (NFPA 221)
- Flammable and Combustible Liquids (NFPA 30)
- Flammable/Combustible Materials (NFPA 30)
- Healthcare Facilities (NFPA 99)
- Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Protection Systems (NFPA 25)
- Installation of Smoke Door Assemblies (NFPA 105)
- Installation of Sprinkler Systems (NFPA 13)
- Kitchen Hood Extinguishing (NFPA 96)
- Laser Fire Protection (NFPA 115)
- Life Safety and Egress (NFPA 101, 101A)
- Portable Fire Extinguishers (NFPA 10)
- Smoke Control (NFPA 92 & NFPA 92A)
- Uniform Fire Code (NFPA 1)
- Ventilating System Dampers and Controls (NFPA 90A)
- Welding, Cutting, and Brazing (NFPA 51B)