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100+ Free BOMI SMA Practice Questions

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A chiller's IPLV rating measures:

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Key Facts: BOMI SMA Exam

8

Total SMA Courses (5 SMT + 3 SMA)

BOMI International

3 yrs

Required Experience

BOMI International

40,000 sq ft

Minimum Portfolio Size

BOMI International

0

Separate Capstone Exam Required

BOMI International

5

Core SMT Technical Courses

BOMI International

3

SMA-Only Administrative Courses

BOMI International

100+

Free Practice Questions

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The BOMI SMA designation requires the five SMT courses plus three additional SMA-level courses (Building Design and Maintenance; Environmental Health and Safety Issues; Managing the Organization), three years of verifiable stationary-engineer or equivalent experience for a property of 40,000+ sq ft, and a passing grade on each course exam. There is no separate Capstone Exam for the SMA - mastery is demonstrated through course-by-course final exams.

Sample BOMI SMA Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your BOMI SMA exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1The Systems Maintenance Administrator (SMA) designation requires completion of all five SMT courses plus how many additional BOMI courses?
A.One
B.Two
C.Three
D.Five
Explanation: The SMA designation requires the five core SMT courses (refrigeration; air handling/water treatment/plumbing; electrical/illumination; boilers/heating/applied math; energy management and controls) plus three additional courses that address broader administrator-level concerns: building design and maintenance, environmental health and safety, and managing the organization.
2How many years of verifiable stationary engineer or equivalent experience does BOMI require for the SMA designation?
A.One year
B.Two years
C.Three years
D.Five years
Explanation: BOMI requires three years of verifiable experience as a stationary engineer or equivalent for a property of at least 40,000 square feet. Experience must demonstrate breadth across building systems and supervisory responsibilities.
3In a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle, the component that increases refrigerant pressure and temperature is the:
A.Evaporator
B.Compressor
C.Condenser
D.Expansion valve
Explanation: The compressor raises refrigerant from low-pressure suction-gas state to high-pressure superheated discharge state, providing the energy that drives the cycle. The condenser then rejects heat at high pressure, the expansion device drops pressure, and the evaporator absorbs heat at low pressure.
4Which refrigerant property is most relevant to ozone depletion potential (ODP)?
A.Boiling point
B.Chlorine content
C.Density
D.Specific heat
Explanation: Chlorine atoms catalyze the destruction of stratospheric ozone. CFCs (R-11, R-12) have high chlorine content and were phased out under the Montreal Protocol; HCFCs (R-22) have lower chlorine and are being phased out; HFCs and HFOs contain no chlorine and have zero ODP, though they may have GWP concerns.
5Under EPA Section 608, a Type II technician certification authorizes service of:
A.Small appliances only
B.High- and very-high-pressure systems
C.All system types (universal)
D.Motor vehicle air conditioning only
Explanation: EPA Section 608 has four certification levels. Type I covers small appliances (under 5 lb refrigerant charge); Type II covers high- and very-high-pressure stationary systems (R-22, R-410A); Type III covers low-pressure systems (R-123); Universal covers all three. MVAC is regulated under Section 609.
6What is the standard SI unit for refrigeration capacity used in U.S. commercial HVAC?
A.BTU/hour
B.Watts
C.Tons of refrigeration
D.Kilojoules
Explanation: In U.S. HVAC practice, refrigeration capacity is expressed in tons of refrigeration, where 1 ton equals 12,000 BTU/hour (the heat absorbed by melting one ton of ice in 24 hours). SI units use kilowatts (1 ton equals approximately 3.517 kW).
7A chiller has a coefficient of performance (COP) of 6.0. What is its EER (energy efficiency ratio)?
A.6.0
B.12.0
C.20.5
D.36.0
Explanation: EER equals COP times 3.412 (BTU per watt-hour): 6.0 x 3.412 = 20.47 ~ 20.5 BTU/Wh. EER is commonly used for room and unitary equipment; COP is dimensionless and aligns with thermodynamics. Higher EER and COP both indicate better efficiency.
8In a low-pressure centrifugal chiller using R-123, the typical operating evaporator pressure is:
A.Below atmospheric pressure
B.Slightly above atmospheric pressure
C.100 psig
D.300 psig
Explanation: R-123 is a low-pressure refrigerant; its evaporator operates below atmospheric pressure. Air ingress is a common concern, addressed by purge units that remove non-condensables. R-22 and R-410A operate well above atmospheric pressure in standard chiller configurations.
9Cooling tower approach is best defined as:
A.The difference between leaving tower water temperature and entering condenser water temperature
B.The difference between leaving tower water temperature and outdoor wet-bulb temperature
C.Building height divided by floors
D.Tower diameter divided by height
Explanation: Approach equals leaving cooling tower water temperature minus outdoor wet-bulb temperature. A typical design approach is 7-10 degrees F. Lower approach means a closer match to wet bulb and a more efficient (and larger) tower. Range is the temperature difference between entering and leaving tower water.
10A cooling tower's blowdown rate is set to:
A.Increase tower noise
B.Control concentration of dissolved solids and minerals
C.Reduce makeup water
D.Eliminate the need for biocide
Explanation: Cooling towers concentrate dissolved minerals as water evaporates. Blowdown removes a fraction of recirculating water to control cycles of concentration, preventing scale and corrosion. Common targets are 3-6 cycles depending on water chemistry. Higher cycles reduce makeup but raise scaling risk.

About the BOMI SMA Exam

The Systems Maintenance Administrator (SMA) is BOMI International's advanced designation for stationary engineers and building systems administrators. It builds on the five-course SMT foundation with three additional administrator-level courses: building design and maintenance, environmental health and safety, and managing the organization. SMA candidates demonstrate three years of verifiable stationary engineer or equivalent experience.

Assessment

Eight course-level final exams (five SMT-level technical courses plus three SMA-level courses on building design and maintenance, EHS, and managing the organization). No separate Capstone Exam.

Time Limit

Per course exam (varies by course)

Passing Score

Passing grade on each of the eight course exams

Exam Fee

Course fees vary by member status (BOMI International)

BOMI SMA Exam Content Outline

15%

Refrigeration Systems and Accessories

Vapor-compression cycle (compressor/condenser/expansion/evaporator), refrigerant phase-outs (R-22, R-410A), EPA Section 608 Type I/II/III/Universal, COP/EER/IPLV, low-pressure (R-123) chillers, absorption chillers, VRF with heat recovery, superheat and subcooling.

12%

Air Handling, Water Treatment, and Plumbing

Cooling tower approach and range, cycles of concentration, blowdown control, ASHRAE 188 water management program, Legionella controls, halogen biocides, backflow preventers, NPSH and cavitation, primary-secondary pumping.

13%

Boilers, Heating Systems, and Applied Math

Firetube vs. watertube boilers, feedwater pumps, low-water cutoffs, safety valves per ASME, deaerators and oxygen scavengers, steam traps, condensing boilers (90-98% efficiency), turndown ratio, latent and sensible heat, BTU calculations.

13%

Electrical Systems and Illumination

Three-phase real/apparent/reactive power, power factor correction with capacitor banks, NFPA 70 (NEC), NFPA 70E arc-flash PPE categories, motor nameplate (FLA, LRA, NEMA Premium), phase imbalance limits, transformer step-down, GFCI/AFCI applications, LED efficacy, IES illuminance targets.

12%

Energy Management and Controls

Direct digital control (DDC), PID loop tuning, BACnet/ASHRAE 135 interoperability, demand limiting and load shedding, economizer cycles, demand-controlled ventilation (CO2), supply-air temperature reset, alarm priority hierarchies, VFDs and affinity laws.

10%

Building Design and Maintenance

Building envelope, structure and finishes, design for maintainability, asset useful life, capital planning, life-cycle costing, preventive vs. predictive maintenance, CMMS-driven PM.

12%

Environmental Health and Safety Issues

OSHA general duty clause, HazCom 16-section SDS, lockout/tagout sequence, confined space entry permits, ASHRAE 62.1 ventilation, ASHRAE 188 Legionella, NFPA 25 fire pump testing, refrigerant safety per ASHRAE 15, CO PEL (50 ppm), arc flash and PPE.

13%

Managing the Organization

Supervisory skills, exit interviews and knowledge transfer, mean time between failures (MTBF), mean time to repair (MTTR), CMMS-driven KPIs (PM compliance, first-time-fix), multi-year capital plans, training programs and certifications, root cause analysis (Ishikawa, 5-Whys).

How to Pass the BOMI SMA Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Passing grade on each of the eight course exams
  • Assessment: Eight course-level final exams (five SMT-level technical courses plus three SMA-level courses on building design and maintenance, EHS, and managing the organization). No separate Capstone Exam.
  • Time limit: Per course exam (varies by course)
  • Exam fee: Course fees vary by member status

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

BOMI SMA Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master the four components of the vapor-compression cycle and where each happens in the chiller plant: evaporator absorbs heat (low P/T), compressor raises pressure, condenser rejects heat (high P/T), expansion device drops pressure. Every refrigeration question maps to this.
2Drill three-phase power formulas: Power = sqrt(3) * V_LL * I * PF (in watts). Know that 480/277 V wye gives 277 V line-to-neutral and 208/120 V wye gives 120 V line-to-neutral.
3Memorize NFPA standards by number: 13 (sprinkler installation), 25 (fire-protection inspection and testing), 70 (NEC), 70E (electrical safety), 80 and 105 (fire/smoke dampers), 110 (emergency power generators).
4Lock in EPA Section 608 certification types: Type I (small appliances <5 lb), Type II (high-pressure stationary), Type III (low-pressure - R-123), Universal (all three). Know that R-22 production was banned in 2020 under the Montreal Protocol.
5For ASHRAE 188 Legionella: store domestic hot water above 140 F, temper at fixture to 110-120 F, eliminate dead legs, cooling tower halogen biocides plus mechanical cleaning. Risk assessment and written water management plan are mandatory.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many courses are required for the BOMI SMA designation?

The SMA requires all five SMT courses plus three additional administrator-level courses, totaling eight courses. The SMA does not have a separate Capstone Exam - mastery is demonstrated through the eight course-level final exams.

What experience does BOMI require for the SMA designation?

BOMI requires three years of verifiable experience as a stationary engineer or equivalent, performed for a property of at least 40,000 square feet. Experience must show breadth across building systems and administrative responsibilities.

What are the three SMA-only courses beyond the SMT?

Beyond the five SMT courses, the SMA adds: Building Design and Maintenance; Environmental Health and Safety Issues; and Managing the Organization. These three courses elevate the SMT technician's knowledge to administrator and supervisory level.

Is there a Capstone Exam for the SMA?

No. Unlike the RPA and FMA, the SMA does not have a separate Capstone Exam. The designation is awarded after completion of all eight courses with passing exams and verification of three years of qualifying stationary-engineer experience.

How does the SMA differ from the SMT?

The SMT is BOMI's entry-level credential (five courses, no experience requirement, focused on systems operation). The SMA builds on the SMT with three additional administrator courses, requires three years of experience, and prepares candidates for chief engineer and building operations leadership roles.

How long does it typically take to earn the BOMI SMA designation?

Many candidates complete the eight SMA courses over 24-48 months while working full-time. Candidates who already hold the SMT can complete the remaining three SMA courses in 9-18 months. Pace depends on course delivery format and personal schedule.

Where are BOMI SMA courses delivered?

BOMI offers flexible delivery options including online self-paced, collaborative virtual learning (typically six-week classes), accelerated review, and classroom (where available). BOMA chapters across North America host live courses.