EPA 608 Core Practice Test

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This section of the EPA 608 Core practice test contains 90 questions designed to cover important material such as refrigerant safety, environmental impacts, regulations, and proper handling procedures.

The core test relates to all types of certification; therefore, scoring well is important regardless of which path you take. Use this quiz to check your knowledge, and build confidence before finishing the final section of the test.

90 Questions

1. What does Section 608 certification allow a technician to do?

 
 
 
 

2. What should be clearly labeled on all refrigerant recovery cylinders?

 
 
 
 

3. What should be done if a system repeatedly fails to hold a vacuum?

 
 
 
 

4. When did the EPA begin enforcing technician certification under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act?

 
 
 
 

5. What safety equipment should always be worn when opening a system under pressure?

 
 
 
 

6. When should a filter-drier be replaced?

 
 
 
 

7. What micron level should a system be evacuated to for most EPA standards?

 
 
 
 

8. Why is it dangerous to heat a refrigerant cylinder with an open flame?

 
 
 
 

9. Which systems must maintain leak inspection records?

 
 
 
 

10. Which records must be kept by technicians?

 
 
 
 

11. What is meant by refrigerant recovery?

 
 
 
 

12. Which substitute refrigerant has low GWP and is used in newer automotive systems?

 
 
 
 

13. Section 608 of the Clean Air Act covers which of the following?

 
 
 
 

14. What international agreement led to the CFC phaseout?

 
 
 
 

15. Which component is typically used to remove moisture from refrigerant in a system?

 
 
 
 

16. When working with refrigerants, what type of gloves are recommended?

 
 
 
 

17. What should be avoided when transferring refrigerants?

 
 
 
 

18. What is the primary purpose of the Clean Air Act in relation to refrigerants?

 
 
 
 

19. What tool is used to measure a system’s vacuum level during evacuation?

 
 
 
 

20. What happens when ozone in the upper atmosphere is reduced?

 
 
 
 

21. Which of the following is an ozone-depleting refrigerant regulated under the Clean Air Act?

 
 
 
 

22. Which part of the Clean Air Act established refrigerant recovery requirements?

 
 
 
 

23. What safety concern is most associated with using hydrocarbon refrigerants like R-290?

 
 
 
 

24. Which international agreement supports the Clean Air Act’s refrigerant regulations?

 
 
 
 

25. When is EPA Section 608 certification legally required?

 
 
 
 

26. Which of the following refrigerants is considered a substitute for R-22 in retrofitted systems?

 
 
 
 

27. What documentation must technicians provide under the Clean Air Act when disposing of an appliance with more than 5 lbs of refrigerant

 
 
 
 

28. Why should refrigerant cylinders never be stored in direct sunlight or high heat?

 
 
 
 

29. What is the purpose of refrigerant recovery?

 
 
 
 

30. What is the penalty for knowingly venting regulated refrigerants under the Clean Air Act?

 
 
 
 

31. What is required if a system cannot be repaired within the allowed timeframe?

 
 
 
 

32. What happens if refrigerant is charged into a system too quickly as liquid?

 
 
 
 

33. What is the EPA leak rate threshold for comfort cooling appliances before repair is required?

 
 
 
 

34. When retrofitting a system to use a new refrigerant, what must always be done?

 
 
 
 

35. Who is allowed to perform refrigerant reclamation?

 
 
 
 

36. What must be attached before transporting recovery cylinders?

 
 
 
 

37. What does AHRI Standard 700 refer to?

 
 
 
 

38. Which refrigerant is a natural hydrocarbon and flammable, requiring special handling?

 
 
 
 

39. What element in CFCs and HCFCs damages the ozone layer?

 
 
 
 

40. What is the main difference between recycling and reclaiming refrigerant?

 
 
 
 

41. Which refrigerant is most harmful to the ozone layer among these?

 
 
 
 

42. Which of the following is a valid use of a recovery machine?

 
 
 
 

43. Why was the Clean Air Act amended in 1990 with respect to refrigerants?

 
 
 
 

44. What is the best method to charge refrigerant into a system under a deep vacuum?

 
 
 
 

45. What is a key requirement under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act?

 
 
 
 

46. Which term describes a refrigerant’s contribution to climate change?

 
 
 
 

47. What should be done before opening any sealed refrigeration system?

 
 
 
 

48. What is the leak rate limit for commercial refrigeration systems?

 
 
 
 

49. Which type of UV radiation is most harmful but mostly blocked by ozone?

 
 
 
 

50. When must refrigerant be sent to a reclaimer?

 
 
 
 

51. What is a key reason retrofitting old systems to use modern refrigerants can be challenging?

 
 
 
 

52. What is the main environmental concern with HFCs?

 
 
 
 

53. What is the primary purpose of using safety goggles when working with refrigerants?

 
 
 
 

54. What should be done before using a recovery cylinder?

 
 
 
 

55. Which container is required for storing recovered refrigerant?

 
 
 
 

56. Under the Clean Air Act, which government agency is authorized to regulate refrigerant emissions?

 
 
 
 

57. Which refrigerant group has the highest ozone depletion potential (ODP)?

 
 
 
 

58. Why should oxygen never be used to pressurize HVAC systems?

 
 
 
 

59. Which document outlines EPA’s authority under Section 608?

 
 
 
 

60. Section 608 applies to which types of refrigerants?

 
 
 
 

61. What color is typically used for recovery cylinder tops?

 
 
 
 

62. What should a technician do if a small refrigerant leak is suspected but not visible?

 
 
 
 

63. After discovering a leak above the EPA threshold, how many days are allowed to repair it?

 
 
 
 

64. What is the primary purpose of system evacuation before charging with refrigerant?

 
 
 
 

65. Which of the following refrigerants is classified as an HFO (Hydrofluoroolefin)?

 
 
 
 

66. Why must mineral oil be replaced when converting a system from R-22 to R-410A?

 
 
 
 

67. What type of lubricant is commonly used with HFC refrigerants like R-410A?

 
 
 
 

68. Which appliance category has the lowest EPA leak rate threshold?

 
 
 
 

69. When must initial leak verification be completed after repair?

 
 
 
 

70. What tool is commonly used to detect refrigerant leaks?

 
 
 
 

71. Which part of Earth’s atmosphere contains the protective ozone layer?

 
 
 
 

72. What is the goal of refrigerant reclamation?

 
 
 
 

73. What do AHRI-700 standards define?

 
 
 
 

74. What does refrigerant recycling involve?

 
 
 
 

75. Which method verifies that a leak has been properly repaired?

 
 
 
 

76. Recovered refrigerant can only be reused in which situation?

 
 
 
 

77. How is annual leak rate calculated?

 
 
 
 

78. What is the purpose of technician certification under Section 608?

 
 
 
 

79. Which agency enforces Section 608 regulations?

 
 
 
 

80. Who can legally reclaim refrigerant?

 
 
 
 

81. What should be done with unusable contaminated refrigerant?

 
 
 
 

82. What happens if a technician violates Section 608 regulations?

 
 
 
 

83. Which refrigerant has zero ozone depletion potential and low GWP?

 
 
 
 

84. Which term describes refrigerant cleaned for reuse on-site without meeting purity standards?

 
 
 
 

85. What is the primary benefit of using low-GWP refrigerants?

 
 
 
 

86. Which gas is commonly used to pressurize systems for leak checking and is considered safe?

 
 
 
 

87. Which section of the Clean Air Act specifically deals with refrigerant handling and technician certification?

 
 
 
 

88. What is the main U.S. law that regulates refrigerant emissions?

 
 
 
 

89. What is one sign that moisture is present in a refrigeration system?

 
 
 
 

90. Why is moisture in a refrigeration system a problem?

 
 
 
 


Each technician obtaining EPA 608 certification must complete the Core section first. Therefore, the Core section is an essential starting point to HVAC knowledge. The EPA 608 Core practice test ensures that you feel adequate with the rules, safety protections, and environmental stewardship as required by the EPA.

Since you have to answer all of the questions, be sure to review the explanation given with each question as many of the explained details are positive learning reinforcement. When you are finished and ready, go to the Type I practice test to begin your focus on small appliance systems.

Next: EPA 608 Type 1 Practice Test
Mark A. Fletcher
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