EPA Section 608 Technician Certification Exam: Practice Test & Licensing Guide

A contractor recovered 40 lb of R-22 from a customer's retired unit and wants to sell it to a different building owner. What must happen first?

Answer: It must be reclaimed by an EPA-certified reclaimer to the Appendix A (AHRI 700) specifications

Used refrigerant may not be sold for use as a refrigerant to a new owner unless it has been reclaimed by a reclaimer certified under 82.164, which requires meeting Appendix A (based on AHRI 700-2016). Recycling on the job, even multiple passes, does not meet that standard. Certification of the buyer satisfies the sales restriction but does not waive the reclamation requirement.

Reference: 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F, 40 CFR 82.154(d)(1); 82.164(a)

What is the standard color scheme for a refillable refrigerant RECOVERY cylinder?

Answer: Gray body with a yellow top

Recovery cylinders are DOT-approved refillable cylinders identified by a gray body and yellow top (shoulder). The yellow-body/gray-top reversal is a common trap. Recovery cylinders must be kept separate from disposable (virgin) cylinders, which must never be refilled.

Reference: EPA Section 608 Test Topics (epa.gov/section608/test-topics), Core: Safety (recovery vs. disposable cylinders)

A technician needs to pressurize a repaired system for a leak test. What should be used?

Answer: Dry nitrogen through a pressure regulator, with a relief valve in the line

Nitrogen is the correct pressurizing gas, and it must be used with a pressure regulator and relief valve because a full cylinder holds over 2,000 psi. Oxygen can explode on contact with compressor oil, and compressed air adds moisture and oxygen to the system. Using nitrogen without a regulator risks rupturing system components.

Reference: EPA Section 608 Test Topics (epa.gov/section608/test-topics), Core: Safety (nitrogen, regulator and relief valve)

Under the Subpart F definitions, which activity is NOT considered "opening an appliance"?

Answer: Connecting hoses and gauges to measure pressure

"Opening an appliance" means service, repair or disposal that would release refrigerant to the atmosphere, and the definition specifically says connecting and disconnecting hoses and gauges to measure pressures, add refrigerant or recover refrigerant is not opening. Note that attaching hoses and gauges still makes someone a "technician" who must be certified; the two definitions answer different questions.

Reference: 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F, 40 CFR 82.152, definition of "Opening an appliance"

Using recovery equipment manufactured after November 15, 1993, a technician must recover refrigerant from a window A/C unit whose compressor will NOT run. What is the minimum recovery requirement?

Answer: 80 percent of the refrigerant, or evacuation to 4 inches of mercury vacuum

For post-November 15, 1993 recovery equipment, the rule requires 90% with a functioning compressor and 80% with a non-functioning compressor. Either way, evacuating the small appliance to four inches of mercury vacuum also satisfies the requirement. The 10-inch and 0 psig levels come from Table 1 for larger appliances.

Reference: 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F, 40 CFR 82.156(b)(2)-(3)

A scrap recycler (the final processor) receives old refrigerators whose refrigerant was removed by the supplier. Instead of recovering it themselves, what may the recycler do?

Answer: Obtain a signed statement with the name and address of the person who recovered it and the recovery date

The final processor must either recover remaining refrigerant or verify recovery with a signed statement (including name and address of the person who recovered it and the date) or a qualifying contract. EPA says it does not accept a sticker as verification. The final processor must also notify suppliers, for example with signs, that refrigerant must be recovered before delivery.

Reference: 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F, 40 CFR 82.155(b)

Using recovery equipment manufactured after November 15, 1993, to what level must a 350-lb R-22 chiller be evacuated before it is opened for major repair?

Answer: 10 inches of mercury vacuum

R-22 is high-pressure, and Table 1 requires 10 in. Hg for high-pressure appliances with 200 lb or more when using post-November 15, 1993 recovery equipment (4 in. Hg with older equipment). 0 in. Hg is for high-pressure appliances under 200 lb, and 15 in. Hg is for medium-pressure appliances of 200 lb or more.

Reference: 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F, 40 CFR 82.156(a), Table 1

System-dependent recovery equipment may NOT be used on appliances with a full charge of more than how many pounds, unless it is a permanently attached pump-out unit?

Answer: 15 pounds

Subpart F prohibits using system-dependent equipment on appliances with a full charge of more than 15 lb unless it is permanently attached as a pump-out unit. Five pounds is the small appliance limit, 50 lb is the leak repair threshold, and 200 lb is the Table 1 dividing line.

Reference: 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F, 40 CFR 82.156(e)

To what level must a low-pressure chiller be evacuated before major repair or disposal, using recovery equipment made in 2015?

Answer: 25 mm of mercury absolute

Table 1 requires low-pressure appliances to be evacuated to 25 mm Hg absolute, regardless of whether the recovery equipment was manufactured before or after November 15, 1993. Note the units: millimeters of mercury absolute, not inches of vacuum. 0 psig is the non-major repair level for higher-pressure appliances.

Reference: 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F, 40 CFR 82.156(a), Table 1

When pressurizing a low-pressure centrifugal chiller for a leak test, what is the maximum test pressure?

Answer: 10 psig

Leak test pressure on a low-pressure chiller must not exceed 10 psig to avoid bursting the rupture disc, which typically relieves at 15 psig. Choosing 15 psig is the common mistake: that is the relief setting, not a test pressure.

Reference: EPA Section 608 Test Topics (epa.gov/section608/test-topics), Type 3: Leak Detection (maximum leak test pressure for low-pressure centrifugal chillers)