EPA Section 608 Universal Refrigerant Certification

Under Title VI of the Clean Air Act, what is the primary environmental concern that EPA Section 608 regulations are designed to address?

• AAcid rain caused by sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions
• BStratospheric ozone loss from vented refrigerants
• CGround-level ozone smog from vehicle and industrial exhaust
• DLead and copper contamination in public drinking-water systems

The international agreement that established the phaseout schedule for ozone-depleting substances such as CFCs and HCFCs is known as the:

• AKyoto Protocol
• BParis Agreement
• CMontreal Protocol
• DGeneva Convention

The 'three R's' of responsible refrigerant management under EPA rules are:

• AReduce, reuse, recycle (general waste slogan, not refrigerant terms)
• BRecover, recycle, reclaim
• CRemove, repair, replace (service steps, not defined 608 terms)
• DRecord, report, retain (recordkeeping duties, not the three R's)

What distinguishes 'reclaimed' refrigerant from 'recycled' refrigerant?

• AReclaimed meets AHRI 700 purity; recycled is only on-site cleaned
• BRecycled refrigerant always exceeds reclaimed purity after one pass
• CReclaimed refrigerant may be vented; recycled refrigerant may not
• DThe terms are interchangeable under EPA Section 608 rules

Refrigerants R-12 and R-11 belong to which class of compounds, having the highest ozone-depletion potential (ODP) of 1.0?

• AHFCs (hydrofluorocarbons)
• BHCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons)
• CCFCs (chlorofluorocarbons)
• DHFOs (hydrofluoroolefins)

R-410A and R-134a are examples of HFC refrigerants. What is their ozone-depletion potential (ODP)?

• AApproximately 1.0
• BApproximately 0.05
• CZero — they contain no chlorine or bromine
• DApproximately 0.5

The sale of ozone-depleting refrigerants (since November 14, 1994) and of non-exempt substitutes such as HFCs (since January 1, 2018) is restricted to:

• AAnyone over the age of 18
• BOnly licensed plumbers
• CTechnicians certified under EPA Section 608 or 609
• DOnly refrigerant wholesalers

How long must a Section 608 certified technician (or refrigerant purchaser/owner) retain records such as recovery, recycling, and disposal documentation?

• A1 year
• B3 years
• C5 years
• D10 years

A worker registered in a U.S. Department of Labor apprenticeship program who is closely and continually supervised by a certified technician:

• AMay never handle refrigerant
• BMay handle refrigerant while closely supervised by a certified tech
• CMust pass the Universal exam within 30 days
• DIs automatically certified Type I

Which statement about the Section 608 venting prohibition is correct?

• AOnly CFCs and HCFCs are covered; venting HFCs remains legal
• BVenting CFCs, HCFCs, and HFC substitutes during service is prohibited
• CReleases under one pound are always exempt from the venting ban
• DVenting is allowed if the technician recovers refrigerant afterward

De minimis releases of refrigerant that occur during good-faith service — such as the small loss when connecting or disconnecting hoses with low-loss fittings — are:

• AConsidered illegal venting
• BNot treated as illegal venting when tied to good practice
• CPermitted only for CFCs
• DAllowed only with EPA written approval

When a CFC or HCFC molecule reaches the stratosphere, what process actually destroys ozone?

• AFluorine atoms bond permanently with ozone
• BUV frees chlorine that catalytically destroys many ozone molecules
• CThe whole molecule absorbs and neutralizes ozone once
• DCarbon atoms react with oxygen to form ozone

Which gas is the most common warning agent added to refrigerant cylinders or used to leak-check after recovery because of its detectability?

• APure oxygen, which is inexpensive and easy to obtain on job sites
• BPure nitrogen alone with no detectable refrigerant component present
• CChloropicrin tear gas, a fumigation warning agent not used on EPA 608
• DDry nitrogen plus a trace of refrigerant for electronic leak detection

Why must oxygen NEVER be used to pressure-test or flush a refrigeration system?

• AIt is too expensive compared with dry nitrogen for routine testing
• BIt can explode when mixed with refrigeration oil under pressure
• CIt dissolves copper tubing and weakens brazed joints over time
• DIt freezes inside refrigerant lines and blocks capillary tubes

A refrigerant that leaks into an enclosed mechanical room and displaces air primarily poses what hazard?

• AAsphyxiation from oxygen displacement in the room
• BElectrocution
• COzone exposure
• DRadioactive contamination

When refrigerant such as R-22 contacts an open flame or very hot surface, it can decompose into a toxic gas that smells acrid. That decomposition product is primarily:

• ACarbon dioxide
• BPhosgene and toxic acids such as HCl and HF
• CHelium
• DPure chlorine, which is harmless

A disposable (single-use) refrigerant cylinder that is empty should be:

• ARefill the cylinder with recovered refrigerant for future service use
• BRecover residue, render the cylinder useless, then recycle as scrap
• CVent remaining gas to atmosphere and discard the empty cylinder
• DBury the empty cylinder on the job site without depressurizing it