Certified Facility Manager (CFM) Practice Exam

Which centralized HVAC system provides the greatest flexibility in room temperature control?

1. Two-pipe system

2. Four-pipe system

3. Single-zone system

4. Ductless mini-split system

The correct answer is: Four-pipe system

A four-pipe HVAC system provides the greatest flexibility in room temperature control because it uses separate pipes for both heating and cooling. This design allows for simultaneous heating and cooling in different areas of a building, accommodating varied temperature needs across diverse spaces. With a four-pipe system, the facility manager can have specific temperature settings in different zones or rooms by adjusting the flow of hot or chilled water as required. This adaptability makes it particularly suitable for buildings where different areas may have different thermal needs due to varying occupancy levels, equipment loads, or external environmental conditions. In contrast, systems like the two-pipe system only allow for either heating or cooling to occur at any given time, which limits flexibility. Single-zone systems offer control but only for one designated area, and ductless mini-split systems, while flexible for individual rooms, do not provide the same level of centralized control that a four-pipe system offers across an entire building.