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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

3. Who can legally reclaim refrigerant?

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

10. How is annual leak rate calculated?

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

14. What is the goal of refrigerant reclamation?

 
 
 
 

15. When must refrigerant be sent to a reclaimer?

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

19. What does refrigerant recycling involve?

 
 
 
 

20. What is the purpose of refrigerant recovery?

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

24. What international agreement led to the CFC phaseout?

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

26. What should be done with unusable contaminated refrigerant?

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

31. What must be attached before transporting recovery cylinders?

 
 
 
 

32. Which container is required for storing recovered refrigerant?

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

36. What does AHRI Standard 700 refer to?

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

43. What should be avoided when transferring refrigerants?

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

45. Which records must be kept by technicians?

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

52. Section 608 applies to which types of refrigerants?

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

55. When is EPA Section 608 certification legally required?

 
 
 
 

56. When should a filter-drier be replaced?

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

60. What is meant by refrigerant recovery?

 
 
 
 

61. Who is allowed to perform refrigerant reclamation?

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

72. What do AHRI-700 standards define?

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

79. Which systems must maintain leak inspection records?

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

83. Which agency enforces Section 608 regulations?

 
 
 
 

84. What is the main environmental concern with HFCs?

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 

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

 
 
 
 


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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