Free CIE Practice Questions

Question 1

A classroom smells musty after rain, and one exterior wall repeatedly gives elevated moisture readings. Air samples contain 280 spores/m³ indoors and 2,400 spores/m³ outdoors. Aspergillus/Penicillium-type spores predominate indoors; Cladosporium predominates outdoors. The principal concludes that the lower indoor total rules out an indoor mold problem. How should the environmentalist interpret these findings?

Accepted Answer

Investigate the damp wall; the lower total does not exclude an indoor reservoir.

Answer

Accept the classroom after ventilation; its indoor total is lower than outdoors.

Answer

Treat the indoor fungal pattern as proof of a mycotoxin exposure.

Answer

Repeat air sampling in dry weather before investigating the damp wall.

Question 2

During cold weather, mold develops in narrow vertical bands on the interior face of an insulated, metal-stud exterior wall. The room-air dew point is 59°F. Surface temperatures are 54°F over the studs and 68°F between them. Inspection finds no rain or plumbing leak. Which repair most directly addresses the moisture mechanism indicated by this pattern?

Accepted Answer

Improve insulation continuity so the affected surfaces stay above the room-air dew point.

Answer

Repair window flashing to stop rainwater from entering the wall cavity.

Answer

Apply a low-permeance coating to the interior finish to prevent vapor diffusion into the wall.

Answer

Install a capillary break between the footing and the bottom of the wall.

Question 3

A project specification requires at least 2 outdoor-air changes per hour in a 9,000-cubic-foot training room. The room receives 600 cfm of supply air, of which a verified 25% is outdoor air. There are no other outdoor-air sources. Which finding belongs in the ventilation assessment?

Accepted Answer

The room receives 1 outdoor-air change per hour; add 150 cfm of outdoor air.

Answer

Outdoor air is 4 changes per hour, so the requirement is met.

Answer

The room already receives 3 outdoor-air changes per hour and needs no additional outdoor air.

Answer

Outdoor air is 1 change per hour; add 150 cfm of recirculated air.

Question 4

A photoionization detector calibrated with isobutylene reads 2.0 ppm near a flooring adhesive containing several solvents. Xylene appears on the product's safety data sheet. A draft assessment labels the reading '2.0 ppm xylene.' What correction is needed?

Accepted Answer

Report isobutylene-equivalent response; use a compound-specific method to quantify xylene.

Answer

Multiply the entire reading by the xylene response factor because xylene appears on the safety data sheet.

Answer

Retain the xylene concentration if the instrument passed its zero and span checks that morning.

Answer

Convert the reading to mg/m³ using xylene's molecular weight before identifying it as a xylene exposure.

Question 5

A clean drinking-water supply line leaked onto carpet in an office eight hours ago. The leak is repaired, the water remained sanitary, and there is no mold or material deterioration. A restoration team can access the backing and subfloor and complete drying within 24-48 hours of wetting. The owner wants to preserve materials that can be safely salvaged. Which proposal fits these conditions?

Accepted Answer

Extract the water and promptly dry the carpet, backing, and subfloor with humidity control.

Answer

Remove and discard the affected carpet and backing before drying the exposed subfloor.

Answer

Apply an antimicrobial, then use surface air movement without lifting or checking the backing.

Answer

Obtain laboratory culture results from the wet carpet before choosing between water extraction and material removal.

Question 6

After feasible engineering controls are implemented, a worker's eight-hour dust exposure is 18 mg/m³ against an applicable eight-hour occupational limit of 0.60 mg/m³. Oxygen is normal, the atmosphere is non-IDLH, and no gas, vapor, eye hazard, or more restrictive substance-specific rule applies. All listed devices would have suitable particulate filters where needed and be used under a complete respiratory protection program. Which has the lowest OSHA assigned protection factor sufficient for this exposure?

Accepted Answer

A negative-pressure full-facepiece air-purifying respirator that has passed quantitative fit testing.

Answer

A negative-pressure elastomeric half-mask air-purifying respirator with P100 filters.

Answer

A powered air-purifying respirator with a loose-fitting facepiece and approved particulate filters.

Answer

A full-facepiece pressure-demand SCBA with a 30-minute rated air supply.

Question 7

Two employees develop headache and nausea while a gasoline-powered pressure washer operates in an attached service bay. One employee becomes confused. A functioning CO meter reads 38 ppm at the office doorway. The manager argues that this is below OSHA's 50 ppm eight-hour permissible exposure limit. What takes priority?

Accepted Answer

Evacuate occupants to fresh air and contact emergency services from outside.

Answer

Shut down the pressure washer, then keep employees indoors while ventilation lowers the reading.

Answer

Start full-shift personal sampling to determine whether the employees' eight-hour limit will be exceeded.

Answer

Move the affected employees to an interior break room and arrange a routine occupational-health visit.

Question 8

A sampling method rejects quantitative results when the post-sampling flow differs from the pre-sampling flow by more than 5% of the pre-sampling value. One pump measures 2.00 L/min before collection and 1.60 L/min afterward, using the complete sampling train. The laboratory finds adequate analyte mass, and the field blank is acceptable. How should this sample be handled?

Accepted Answer

Reject its quantitative result under the method and investigate the failure before recollecting.

Answer

Calculate concentration using the 1.80 L/min average, because acceptable blanks establish validity.

Answer

Use 2.00 L/min for sample volume, because the pump met calibration requirements before collection.

Answer

Reject every sample collected that day, including those from pumps with acceptable flow checks.

Question 9

Wall-cavity dampness begins after exhaust capacity is increased in a cooled building in a hot, humid climate. The building now measures −12 Pa relative to outdoors. Outdoor air has a 72°F dew point, while some cavity surfaces are 63°F. Moisture appears during dry weather, and testing confirms inward airflow through exterior-wall penetrations. Which corrective direction best targets the driving force?

Accepted Answer

Restore adequate conditioned makeup air and seal unintended exterior air paths.

Answer

Increase exhaust further so that additional air movement can evaporate moisture from the cavities.

Answer

Lower the indoor thermostat setting while leaving the exhaust and outdoor-air balance unchanged.

Answer

Apply a low-permeance interior finish while retaining the current exhaust and makeup-air arrangement.

Question 10

Valid personal formaldehyde measurements show an eight-hour time-weighted average of 0.38 ppm and a 15-minute task exposure of 2.4 ppm. The employer's summary says, 'Compliant because the shift average is below the permissible exposure limit.' Under OSHA's formaldehyde standard, which assessment is correct?

Accepted Answer

The 2 ppm short-term limit is exceeded despite the acceptable eight-hour average.

Answer

Both limits are met; average the task result over the entire shift.

Answer

The eight-hour limit is exceeded; the short-term limit is met.

Answer

Neither limit can be evaluated without first converting both measured concentrations to mg/m³.

Free CIE Practice Questions

Domain 1: IAQ Contaminants and Potential Health Effects

Question 1

Question 2

Domain 2: Principles of Building Science & the Built Environment

Question 3

Question 4

Domain 3: HVAC

Question 5

Domain 4: Equipment Selection, Calibration and Operation

Question 6

Question 7

Domain 5: Guidelines, Regulations and Standards

Question 8

Domain 6: Remediation

Question 9

Domain 7: Respiratory Protection

Question 10

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