EPA 608 Core: free practice test

25 questions · Core. Pick an answer for each, then check. Explanations cite the rule each question tests.

1. 1. Under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act, who must be certified?

   Only contractors who own a businessAny technician who maintains, services, repairs or disposes of appliances that could release refrigerant into the atmosphereOnly technicians working on systems over 50 lbOnly technicians handling CFCs

2. 2. What does the EPA define as 'recovery'?

   Cleaning refrigerant to new-product specificationsRemoving refrigerant from a system and storing it in an external container without necessarily testing or processing itVenting refrigerant in a controlled wayReducing contaminants by oil separation only

3. 3. Which refrigerant class has the highest ozone-depletion potential?

   HFCsHCFCsCFCsHFOs

4. 4. Since which date has it been illegal to knowingly vent HFC refrigerants such as R-410A during service?

   July 1, 1992November 15, 1995January 1, 2018January 1, 2020

5. 5. Which of the following is NOT an exempt release under the venting prohibition?

   De minimis releases during good-faith recoveryRefrigerant emitted during normal operation of a purge unit on a chillerReleasing the charge to speed up a compressor replacementSmall releases from disconnecting hoses with low-loss fittings

6. 6. Recovery cylinders must be painted with which color scheme?

   Solid greenGray body with a yellow topYellow body with a gray topSolid orange

7. 7. The maximum safe fill level for a recovery cylinder is:

   100% by volume90% by weight80% by weight (of its water capacity × refrigerant density)50% by weight

8. 8. A technician must keep a record of refrigerant sent for reclamation for how long?

   1 year3 years5 yearsIndefinitely

9. 9. Which agency regulates the transport of refrigerant cylinders on public roads?

   EPAOSHADOTAHRI

10. 10. Under the Montreal Protocol, production of HCFC-22 (R-22) for new equipment in the United States ended on:

    January 1, 2010January 1, 2015January 1, 2020January 1, 2030

11. 11. Which of these is a sign of a mixed (contaminated) refrigerant in a recovery cylinder?

    Pressure matches the pure refrigerant's saturation pressure at ambient temperaturePressure differs from the pure refrigerant's P/T chart value at the cylinder's temperatureThe cylinder feels coldThe cylinder is gray and yellow

12. 12. The Clean Air Act penalty for violating the refrigerant rules can be as high as, per day per violation:

    $500$5,000Over $40,000 (inflation-adjusted statutory maximum)There is no monetary penalty

13. 13. Which refrigerant safety group per ASHRAE 34 denotes lower toxicity and mildly flammable?

    A1A2LB1A3

14. 14. An 'appliance' under Section 608 includes:

    Only residential air conditionersAny device that contains and uses a Class I or II ozone-depleting refrigerant or substitute, including refrigerators, chillers and heat pumpsOnly equipment above 50 lb of chargeMotor vehicle air conditioning only

15. 15. Before disposing of an appliance, the final person in the disposal chain must:

    Vent the remaining charge outdoorsRecover the refrigerant to the required level or verify it was recoveredRemove the compressor firstNothing — disposal is exempt

16. 16. Since January 1, 2018, the sale of ANY refrigerant (including HFCs) in containers larger than the exempt small-can size is restricted to:

    Anyone over 18Licensed HVAC contractors onlySection 608-certified technicians (or employers of certified techs)Wholesalers only

17. 17. A refrigerant blend in the R-400 series (e.g., R-410A, R-407C) is:

    An azeotrope that behaves like a single compoundA zeotropic blend whose components can separate (fractionate), so it is charged as a liquidA pure single-compound refrigerantAlways a drop-in replacement for R-22

18. 18. If a leak allows part of the vapor charge of a zeotropic blend to escape, the remaining refrigerant:

    Keeps its original compositionMay have a changed composition because the components leak at different rates (fractionation)Becomes an azeotropeIs unaffected as long as the system runs

19. 19. Which oil type is used with most HFC refrigerants such as R-410A?

    Mineral oilAlkylbenzenePolyolester (POE), which is highly hygroscopicSilicone oil

20. 20. Non-condensable gases (air) trapped in a system cause:

    Lower head pressureHigher-than-normal head (condensing) pressure and reduced efficiencyLower suction pressure onlyNo measurable effect

21. 21. System-dependent (passive) recovery equipment may only be used on appliances containing:

    Less than 15 lb of refrigerantLess than 50 lbAny charge sizeOnly chillers

22. 22. Refrigerant may be sold across ownership lines (to a different owner's equipment) without restriction only if it has been:

    RecoveredRecycled on-siteReclaimed to AHRI 700 purity by a certified reclaimerFiltered through a drier

23. 23. Which certification type never expires and covers all four section scopes?

    Core onlyType IIUniversal (Core + Types I, II and III)Type III

24. 24. Refrigerant cylinders must never be heated with an open flame; the safe way to raise cylinder pressure during charging is:

    A torch on the cylinder baseWarm water or a thermostatically controlled heat blanket (below the cylinder's rated temperature)Placing it on the condenser fanShaking the cylinder

25. 25. As of 2026, under the AIM Act phasedown that accompanies Section 608 practice, HFC production and consumption in the U.S. are being:

    Increased to replace HCFCsStepped down on a percentage schedule toward an 85% reductionBanned entirely as of 2020Left unregulated