EPA 608 Core Practice Test: Real Questions & Answers — Study Guide

Correct answer: B. Intentionally releasing refrigerants into the atmosphere during the maintenance, service, repair, or disposal of refrigerant-containing equipment

Section 608 establishes the National Recycling and Emission Reduction Program. Its core prohibition bars the intentional venting of ozone-depleting refrigerants and their substitutes during equipment servicing or disposal.

Reference: 40 CFR 82.154(a)

Correct answer: C. Only ozone-depleting refrigerants (CFCs and HCFCs); the 2020 rule rescinded leak repair provisions for HFC substitute refrigerants

The Feb 26, 2020 final rule eliminated leak repair provisions — including quarterly leak inspections and chronically-leaking appliance retrofit/retirement requirements — for appliances using HFCs. Leak repair requirements now apply only to ozone-depleting refrigerants under Subpart F. Frequently tested distinction.

Reference: 40 CFR Part 82 Subpart F

Correct answer: C. Yes; the venting prohibition remains in full effect for both ozone-depleting refrigerants and non-ozone-depleting substitutes including HFCs

The 2020 rule removed leak repair requirements for HFC systems but did NOT change the venting prohibition. Deliberately venting R-410A is still a Section 608 violation. This distinction (leak repair rescinded; venting still prohibited) is one of the most commonly missed Core questions.

Reference: 40 CFR 82.154(a)

Correct answer: C. Only Section 608 certified technicians, or businesses that can document they employ a certified technician

Section 608 restricts refrigerant sales to certified technicians or companies that employ them. Sellers must verify buyer eligibility. A state HVAC license alone does NOT satisfy the federal certification requirement.

Reference: 40 CFR Part 82 Subpart F

Correct answer: B. Small containers of 2 pounds or less of non-exempt substitute refrigerant equipped with self-sealing valves, intended for motor vehicle air conditioners

The small-can exception is narrow and requires ALL three conditions: (1) ≤2 lb container, (2) non-exempt substitute refrigerant (e.g., R-134a), (3) self-sealing valves for MVAC use. Generic 'small quantity' sales don't qualify. R-22 is never exempt under this provision.

Reference: 40 CFR Part 82 Subpart F

Correct answer: B. Yes; a non-certified employee may purchase refrigerant on behalf of a company that employs certified technicians, provided documentation is available

EPA explicitly allows a coworker or designated person to purchase refrigerant for a company that employs certified technicians. The seller must verify the company employs a certified technician (card copy, certificate, etc.). The certified technician doesn't need to be physically present.

Reference: 40 CFR Part 82 Subpart F

Correct answer: C. Three years

Vendors must keep three-year records for each sale: purchaser name, sale date, quantity, and certification documentation. Three years is the uniform retention period across all Section 608 parties — technicians, owners/operators, and vendors.

Reference: 40 CFR 82.166

Correct answer: C. Three years

Section 608 mandates a three-year retention period for all refrigerant-related records. Records may be kept in any format — paper or electronic.

Reference: 40 CFR 82.166

Correct answer: C. Until three years after they stop operating as a certified technician

Technicians must maintain their certification copy at the place of business until three years AFTER they cease operating as a technician. Distinct from three years from issuance — a tech who retires after 20 years still has a three-year post-retirement recordkeeping obligation.

Reference: 40 CFR 82.166

Correct answer: D. When the system leaks 125% or more of its full charge in a calendar year

Owners must report for any 50+ lb ODS appliance that leaks 125% or more of full charge in a calendar year. Note: this obligation applies only to ODS refrigerants, not HFC systems (leak repair rescinded for HFCs in 2020).

Reference: 40 CFR Part 82 Subpart F

Correct answer: C. March 1

Large ODS appliance (50+ lb) owners who exceeded the 125% annual leak threshold must submit their report to EPA by March 1 for prior-year incidents. EPA-certified reclaimers file by February 1; certification organizations file semi-annually on January 30 and July 30.

Reference: 40 CFR Part 82 Subpart F

Correct answer: B. Yes; the technician's employer may keep records for their employees

EPA explicitly permits the technician's employer to maintain required records on behalf of their technicians. Records may be paper or electronic and must be available for inspection for three years.

Reference: 40 CFR 82.166

Correct answer: B. Type II

Type II covers high-pressure and very high-pressure appliances — commercial refrigeration, rooftop units, chillers using R-22, R-410A, or R-404A. Type I is for small appliances (≤5 lb); Type III is for low-pressure (R-11, R-123).

Reference: 40 CFR 82.161

Correct answer: C. Never; the credential does not expire

Section 608 technician certifications are permanent and do not expire. Once a technician passes an EPA-approved exam, no renewal or continuing education is required under federal regulation.

Reference: 40 CFR 82.161

Correct answer: C. Only if closely and continually supervised by a certified technician while performing any work that could reasonably be expected to release refrigerant

40 CFR 82.161(a)(2) provides a supervision-based exemption: apprentices may perform work that could release refrigerant if they are closely and continually supervised by an appropriately-certified technician. The exemption is supervision-based, not duration-based — there is no DOL registration requirement and no time limit. It lasts as long as the supervision continues. Some study guides incorrectly describe this as time-limited or DOL-conditioned.

Reference: 40 CFR 82.161(a)(2)

Correct answer: B. No; EPA requires Section 608 certification based on appliance type, not refrigerant type. A trade school R-410A certificate is not equivalent

EPA requires Section 608 certification based on the type of APPLIANCE being serviced, not the refrigerant. Trade school R-410A certificates are not equivalent. Adding or removing refrigerant from a mini-split — including attaching gauges — requires formal Section 608 certification.

Reference: 40 CFR 82.161

Correct answer: B. Class II; ODP of approximately 0.055

R-22 (HCFC-22) is Class II — an HCFC developed as a lower-ODP replacement for Class I CFCs. Its ODP is ≈0.055, much lower than Class I refrigerants (R-12 ODP = 1.0) but still above zero. Class II ODS are in phase-down under the Montreal Protocol.

Correct answer: D. Class I; ODP of 1.0

R-12 (CFC-12) is Class I with ODP = 1.0 — the same value as R-11 (CFC-11), the baseline reference. CFCs are among the most potent ozone destroyers and have been fully phased out of production in developed countries.

Correct answer: C. Substitute refrigerants — zero ozone depletion potential but still subject to the venting prohibition and technician certification requirements

HFCs contain no chlorine and have zero ODP — classified as substitute refrigerants, not Class I or II ODS. Still subject to Section 608's venting prohibition and technician certification requirements. The 2020 rule rescinded only leak repair requirements for HFCs.

Reference: 40 CFR Part 82 Subpart F

Correct answer: B. R-11 (CFC-11); ODP = 1.0

CFC-11 (R-11) is the established baseline with ODP = 1.0. All other substances are measured relative to R-11. CFC-12 also has ODP = 1.0. HCFC-22 (R-22) is 0.055, and HFCs like R-134a are 0.

Correct answer: C. To remove refrigerant in any condition from an appliance and store it in an external container

Recovery = removing refrigerant in any condition from an appliance and storing it externally. No purity testing required. Distinct from recycling (filtering for reuse) and reclamation (reprocessing to AHRI 700 standards).

Reference: 40 CFR 82.152

Correct answer: D. To reprocess used refrigerant to at least the purity level of new product (AHRI 700), performed by an EPA-certified reclaimer

Reclamation = reprocessing recovered refrigerant to meet or exceed AHRI Standard 700 — equivalent to new-product quality. Only EPA-certified reclaimers may perform reclamation. Reclaimed refrigerant may be legally sold on the market; merely recovered or recycled refrigerant may not.

Reference: 40 CFR 82.152

Correct answer: B. Yes; recovered refrigerant may be recharged into another appliance owned by the same customer without reclamation

EPA explicitly permits recharging recovered (unreclaimed) refrigerant into another appliance owned by the SAME customer. If sold, transferred to a different customer's equipment, or placed back on the market, it would need to be reclaimed first. The 'same customer' rule is one of the most commonly missed Core distinctions.

Reference: 40 CFR Part 82 Subpart F

Correct answer: C. No; used refrigerant must first be processed by an EPA-certified reclaimer to AHRI 700 before sale

Selling used refrigerant requires prior reclamation by an EPA-certified reclaimer to AHRI 700. Self-testing is not sufficient. The only exception is charging recovered refrigerant into another appliance owned by the same customer.

Reference: 40 CFR Part 82 Subpart F

Correct answer: D. Chlorine

Chlorine catalyzes ozone destruction. When CFC or HCFC molecules reach the stratosphere, UV radiation releases free chlorine atoms — each can destroy ~100,000 ozone molecules. HFCs contain no chlorine → ODP = 0.

Correct answer: B. Class I (primarily CFCs and halons) have higher ODP than Class II (primarily HCFCs), which were developed as interim, lower-ODP replacements

Class I = CFCs (R-11, R-12, R-113) and halons — highest ODP (1.0). Class II = HCFCs (R-22, R-141b) — lower ODP (~0.055), developed as interim replacements. HFCs are neither — they're substitute refrigerants with ODP = 0.

Correct answer: C. R-12 (1.0) > R-22 (0.055) > R-134a (0)

R-12 (CFC, 1.0) > R-22 (HCFC, ~0.055) > R-134a (HFC, 0). Maps directly to regulatory class: R-12 Class I, R-22 Class II, R-134a non-ODS substitute. Explains why CFCs were phased out first.

Correct answer: C. Standing pressure test or vacuum decay test

Standing pressure / vacuum decay tests don't qualify alone — they confirm a leak exists somewhere but cannot LOCATE it. Valid leak inspections must use methods that locate the leak: electronic detectors, ultrasonic scanners, bubble solutions, or gas-imaging cameras. Pressure/vacuum decay tests may supplement but cannot substitute. Sight glass checks are also excluded.

Reference: 40 CFR Part 82 Subpart F