EPA Regulations
The program that identifies alternative refrigerants for use.
A) Energy Star
B) SNAP
C) AHRI
D) UL
What is SNAP?
The international treaty that addresses ozone‑depleting substances and their alternatives.
A) Kyoto Protocol
B) Montreal Protocol
C) Paris Agreement
D) Geneva Convention
What is the Montreal Protocol?
A common refrigerant that contains chlorine.
A) R‑1234yf
B) R‑134a
C) R‑22
D) R‑410A
What is R‑22?
The first step before disposing of any appliance that contains refrigerant.
A) Vent the refrigerant
B) Recover the refrigerant
C) Purge with nitrogen
D) Seal the appliance
What is recover the refrigerant?
The gas used as the baseline measurement for GWP.
A) Carbon monoxide
B) Carbon dioxide
C) Ethane
D) Propane
What is carbon dioxide?
The definition of a small appliance regarding factory charge and construction.
A) Hermetically sealed, charged ≤ 5 lb at factory
B) Hermetically sealed, charged ≤ 15 lb at factory
C) Compressor < ⅓ HP
D) Any pre‑charged assembly < 2 lb
What is manufactured, hermetically sealed, and charged at the factory with 5 pounds or less?
Why oxygen or compressed air must never be used to pressurize a refrigeration system.
A) Too corrosive
B) Displaces refrigerant
C) Displaces oil
D) Can explode when mixed with compressor oil or some refrigerants
What is risk of explosion when mixed with oil or refrigerant?
The maximum fine per day for venting a non‑exempt refrigerant from a system.
A) $27,539
B) $37,839
C) $14,439
D) $44,539
What is $44,539?
The measure of a substance’s ability to destroy stratospheric ozone.
A) GWP
B) ODP
C) TLV‑TWA
D) EEL
What is ODP (Ozone Depletion Potential)?
The refrigerant type composed of hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon.
A) Helium, fluorine, carbon
B) Hydrogen, fluorine, carbon
C) Hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, carbon
D) Hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, calcium
What are HFCs?
How disposable cylinders must be discarded.
A) Vent remaining refrigerant; render useless
B) Recover all refrigerant; render useless; recycle metal
C) Refill for reuse
D) Use for nitrogen
What is recover all refrigerant, render the cylinder useless, and recycle the metal?
The general comparison of R‑410A’s GWP to carbon dioxide.
A) About the same
B) 10× lower
C) CO₂ is 5× lower
D) Thousands of times greater
What is thousands of times greater?
The component on sealed systems accessed with a piercing valve.
A) Process stub
B) Service valve
C) King valve
D) Suction stub
What is a process stub?
Why non‑toxic refrigerants can still cause death.
A) They are flammable
B) They displace oxygen and can cause asphyxia
C) They are lighter than air
D) They become toxic when mixed with air
What is they can displace oxygen and cause asphyxia?
The certification required to purchase or handle controlled refrigerants.
A) Section 609
B) Section 608
C) Universal MVAC
D) OSHA 30
What is Section 608 certification?
The molecule type present in ozone.
A) 2 oxygen atoms
B) 4 oxygen atoms
C) 3 oxygen atoms
D) 5 oxygen atoms
What are molecules containing three oxygen atoms?
An example of an HFO refrigerant.
A) R‑1234yf
B) R‑134a
C) R‑410A
D) R‑407C
What is R‑1234yf?
The maximum fill percentage for refillable recovery cylinders.
A) 70% by weight
B) 70% by volume
C) 80% by weight
D) 80% by volume
What is 80% of capacity by weight?
The refrigerant type that typically has the lowest GWP among modern options.
A) CFCs
B) HFOs
C) HCFCs
D) All equal
What are HFOs?
The appliances Type I technicians are authorized to service.
A) Factory‑sealed appliances ≤ 5 lb
B) Split systems ≤ 5 lb
C) Open‑drive ≤ 5 lb
D) Any MVAC or MVAC‑like
What are factory‑sealed appliances with 5 pounds or less of refrigerant?
The major cause of death in refrigerant accidents.
A) Fire/burns
B) Toxic poisoning
C) Oxygen deprivation
D) Heart attack
What is oxygen deprivation?
The year when the U.S. banned production and import of new R‑22 for servicing existing systems.
A) 2019
B) 2020
C) 2023
D) 2024
What is 2020?
What are molecules containing three oxygen atoms?
A) HFOs
B) HCs
C) CFCs
D) HFCs
What are CFCs?
An example of an HCFC refrigerant.
A) R‑407C
B) R‑123
C) R‑134a
D) R‑404A
What is R‑123?
The identifying color scheme for approved recovery cylinders.
A) Gray top, yellow body
B) Yellow top, gray body
C) Gray top, red body
D) Red top, yellow body
What is yellow top and gray body?
Which of these has the lowest GWP: R‑123, R‑134a, R‑404A, or R‑600a?
A) R‑123
B) R‑134a
C) R‑404A
D) R‑600a
What is R‑600a?
The certification needed to service small appliances.
A) Type I
B) Type II
C) Type III
D) Type I or Universal
What is Type I or Universal?
A universal PPE rule when operating recovery or recycling equipment.
A) Wear safety glasses
B) Wear protective gloves
C) Follow all equipment safety precautions
D) All of the above
What is wear safety glasses and protective gloves?
The standard reclaimed refrigerant must meet before it can be resold.
A) ASHRAE 700
B) UL 700
C) AHRI 700
D) EPA 700
What is AHRI 700?
The component in HCFC refrigerants responsible for ozone depletion.
A) Carbon
B) Hydrogen
C) Fluorine
D) Chlorine
What is chlorine?
The refrigerant with the lowest ODP among typical choices in the bank.
A) R‑11
B) R‑22
C) R‑410A
D) R‑502
What is R‑410A?
The required recordkeeping party for safe disposal of household refrigerators.
A) Final person in the disposal chain
B) Equipment owner
C) Last person to service the unit
D) Either B or C
What is the final person in the disposal chain?
Why HFC refrigerants are environmentally damaging.
A) Fluorine damages ozone
B) Chlorine damages ozone
C) High ODP
D) High GWP
What is they can have very high global warming potentials?
A system‑dependent recovery device can be used on appliances up to this charge.
A) 5 lb
B) 10 lb
C) 15 lb
D) 20 lb
What is 15 pounds?
The safest ASHRAE refrigerant safety classification.
A) A1
B) A2L
C) A3
D) B4
What is A1?
A task that does not require Section 608 certification.
A) Recovering refrigerant
B) Replacing an evaporator
C) Attaching a piercing valve
D) Rewiring a condenser fan
What is rewiring a condenser fan?
Why CFCs and HCFCs can reach the stratosphere.
A) They are lighter than air
B) They jet upward when released
C) They do not dissolve in water or easily break down in the atmosphere
D) They are attracted to UV radiation
What is they do not dissolve in water or easily break down in the atmosphere?
The defining characteristics of HFOs and hydrocarbons with respect to environment.
A) 0 ODP but high GWP
B) 0 ODP and low GWP
C) High ODP and 0 GWP
D) High ODP and high GWP
What is 0 ODP and low GWP?
The evacuation target to consider a system dehydrated (POE systems).
A) 500 microns or less is reached and held with pump isolated
B) 500 microns held with pump running
C) 29.9 in. Hg for 1 hour
D) Pump sound changes
What is 500 microns held with the pump isolated?
The comparative GWP of R‑441A versus R‑410A.
A) Significantly higher
B) Significantly lower
C) About equal
D) Slightly higher
What is significantly lower?
An example of what is not a small appliance.
A) MVAC‑like system with 3 lb of R‑22
B) Water cooler with 2 lb R‑22
C) Food freezer with 4 lb R‑134a
D) Dehumidifier with 7 oz R‑600a
What is an MVAC‑like system holding 3 pounds of R‑22?
The proper method to remove ice from a sight glass per EPA guidance.
A) Torch (low flame)
B) Alcohol spray / Isopropyl alcohol
C) Hot water
D) Flat file or screwdriver
What is isopropyl alcohol (or alcohol spray)?
A refrigerant servicing situation that does not require Section 608 certification.
A) R‑134a
B) R‑1234yf
C) Propane (R‑290)
D) Carbon dioxide (R‑744)
What is working with carbon dioxide refrigerant?
The type of radiation the stratospheric ozone layer protects us from.
A) Infrared
B) Alpha particles
C) Ultraviolet
D) Gamma rays
What is ultraviolet radiation?
The definition of a ternary blend.
A) Two‑part blend
B) Three‑part mixture
C) Four‑part two‑component blend
D) Terminally stable blend
What is a three‑part refrigerant mixture?
The required feature on appliances to allow servicing under EPA rules.
A) King valves
B) Oversized filter driers
C) Service aperture or process stub
D) Purge valves
What is a service aperture or process stub?
A pair of refrigerant families characterized by 0 ODP and low GWP.
A) HCs and HFOs
B) HCFCs and CFCs
C) HFCs and HCFCs
D) HFCs and HFOs
What are HFOs and hydrocarbons?
When a passive recovery device may be used.
A) Reciprocating liquid chiller (100 lb)
B) Walk‑in freezer (14 lb) only
C) Domestic refrigerator (3 lb) only
D) Small commercial walk‑in (14 lb) and domestic refrigerator (3 lb)
What is on small appliances (e.g., domestic refrigerator), including when the compressor does not run?
Why you should never heat a recovery cylinder with an open flame.
A) Reclaimers won’t accept burned tanks
B) Can vent/explode or decompose refrigerant at high temps
C) SNAP requires extra cleanup of burnt refrigerant
D) All of the above
What is risk of venting/explosion or refrigerant decomposition due to high temperature?
What distributors must verify before selling refrigerant.
A) The net weight on the container is accurate
B) The purchaser owns a certified recovery device
C) The refrigerant meets AHRI 700
D) The purchaser employs at least one Section 608 certified technician
What is that the purchaser employs at least one Section 608 certified technician?
A serious health effect associated with loss of the stratospheric ozone layer.
A) Increased heart attacks
B) Increased respiratory issues
C) Increased rates of skin cancer
D) Decreased ground‑level ozone
What is increased skin cancer (and cataracts)?
How non‑azeotropic (zeotropic) blends must be charged.
A) As vapor
B) As liquid & vapor mix
C) As liquid
D) Same as pure refrigerants
What is as a liquid?
The definition of a system‑dependent recovery device.
A) External compressor
B) Appliance compressor and/or refrigerant pressure
C) Internal recovery tank only
D) Systems ≤ 5 lb only
What is a device that uses the appliance compressor and/or refrigerant pressure?
The refrigerant class most harmful to stratospheric ozone (not GWP).
A) HFOs
B) HCs
C) HCFCs
D) CFCs
What are CFCs?
Required recovery levels for small appliances with an operating compressor.
A) 4 in. Hg or 90% of remaining charge
B) 4 in. Hg or 90% of nameplate charge
C) 4 in. Hg or 80% of remaining charge
D) 500 microns
What is 4 inches Hg vacuum or 90% of the nameplate charge?
Two must‑have items when using a nitrogen cylinder.
A) Pressure regulator and downstream relief valve
B) Pressure regulator only
C) Float switch and regulator
D) Relief valve only
What are a nitrogen regulator and a downstream pressure relief valve?
An action that violates the EPA’s prohibition on venting.
A) De minimis release while recovering
B) Small accidental release during service
C) Opening a system without properly recovering refrigerant first
D) Refrigerant lost while connecting low‑loss hoses
What is opening the system without properly recovering the refrigerant first?
The scope of the ozone depletion problem in the stratosphere.
A) U.S. problem
B) North American problem
C) Arctic problem
D) Global problem
What is a global problem?
The term for a blend that has a range of bubble/dew points at constant pressure.
A) Saturation slope
B) Fractionation slope
C) Temperature glide
D) SPV
What is temperature glide?
How to measure final vacuum at the end of evacuation.
A) With pump running, ballast open, micron gauge connected
B) With pump running, ballast closed, micron gauge connected
C) System warm; pump full speed
D) With the system isolated from the vacuum pump
What is with the system isolated from the vacuum pump?
The environmental reason it’s legal to vent exempt refrigerants.
A) EPA determined it does not pose an environmental threat
B) EPA has not yet prohibited venting that refrigerant
C) Refrigerant not SNAP‑approved
D) Environmental analysis not complete
What is the EPA determined they don’t pose a threat when released?
Required recovery performance for certified equipment when the compressor is not operating.
A) 85%
B) 90%
C) 80%
D) 100% to 500 microns
What is at least 80% of the refrigerant?
Why solderless piercing valves should not remain permanently installed.
A) Violates EPA regs
B) Violates SNAP regs
C) They tend to leak over time
D) Trap lubricant; cause compressor failure
What is they tend to leak over time?
The refrigerants that must be recovered under EPA rules.
A) Only HCFCs and HFOs
B) All HFCs except R‑1324a
C) CFCs and HCFCs (not HFCs)
D) All non‑exempt refrigerants
What are all non‑exempt refrigerants?
The number of ozone molecules destroyed per chlorine atom per the Rowland–Molina theory.
A) 200
B) 10
C) 100,000
D) 25,200
What is 100,000?
How azeotropic mixtures behave during charging.
A) More stable than non‑azeotropic mixtures
B) Must be charged only as liquid
C) Must be charged only as superheated vapor
D) Act like single‑component refrigerants; can be charged as liquid or vapor
What is they act like single‑component refrigerants and can be charged as liquid or vapor?
What to do if R‑410A was added to an R‑22 system.
A) Vent R‑410A (higher pressure)
B) Vent mixture (cannot be reclaimed)
C) Recover mixture in a separate tank
D) Top off with R‑22 or R‑410A
What is recover the mixture into a separate tank (do not vent/mix)?
The term for global warming impact used across refrigerants.
A) ODP
B) GWP
C) TLV‑TWA
D) EEL
What is GWP (Global Warming Potential)?
The refrigerant transfer rule for R‑410A recovery tanks.
A) Into a tank with R‑32 or R‑125
B) Into a tank with R‑407C
C) Into a tank with R‑22
D) Only into an evacuated tank or a tank already containing R‑410A
What is recover only into an evacuated tank or a tank already containing R‑410A?
The EPA‑required hose end feature to minimize releases when attaching gauge sets.
A) Red/blue color coding
B) Self‑sealing valves or manual hand valves on hose ends
C) Longer hoses
D) Isolation tees
What are self‑sealing or manual hand valves on hose ends?