313A Refrigerant Handling

Question 1

Under Canadian regulations (Environmental Protection Act and provincial codes), what certification is required to purchase and handle refrigerants?

Accepted Answer

An ODP (Ozone Depletion Prevention) licence from the provincial authority and/or an Environmental Awareness Certificate for handling refrigerants

Answer

In Canada, technicians must hold valid certification to purchase, handle, and recover refrigerants. Requirements vary by province but generally include completion of an approved environmental awareness course and obtaining a certificate or licence from the provincial authority (e.g., TSSA in Ontario, BCSA in BC).

Question 2

What is the purpose of recovering refrigerant before opening a system for service?

Accepted Answer

To prevent the release of refrigerant to the atmosphere, which is both illegal under Canadian law and harmful to the ozone layer or contributes to global warming

Answer

Canadian federal and provincial regulations prohibit the intentional venting of refrigerants. CFC and HCFC refrigerants damage the ozone layer, while HFC refrigerants are potent greenhouse gases. Recovery captures the refrigerant in approved cylinders for reuse, recycling, or reclamation, protecting the environment and complying with the law.

Question 3

What is the difference between refrigerant recovery, recycling, and reclamation?

Accepted Answer

Recovery removes refrigerant from a system; recycling cleans it for reuse in the field; reclamation reprocesses it to meet new-product specifications at an approved facility

Answer

Recovery is the process of removing refrigerant from a system into an approved container. Recycling involves field-cleaning recovered refrigerant (removing oil, moisture, and non-condensables) for reuse. Reclamation is factory reprocessing to ARI 700 (new-product) specifications, involving chemical analysis, distillation, and certification.

Question 4

What colour coding identifies a recovery cylinder versus a refrigerant-specific cylinder?

Accepted Answer

Recovery cylinders are grey with yellow tops; specific refrigerants have designated colours (e.g., R-410A is rose/pink, R-22 is green)

Answer

Recovery cylinders used in Canada are identified by a grey body with a yellow shoulder/top. Specific refrigerant types use designated colours: R-22 (green), R-134a (light blue), R-410A (rose/pink), R-404A (orange). Since 2004, the ARI assigned grey with the same coloured band to prevent misidentification, but older colour coding persists.

Question 5

What safety precautions must be taken when handling refrigerants?

Accepted Answer

Work in well-ventilated areas, wear safety glasses and gloves, use proper recovery equipment, never heat cylinders with open flame, and have a refrigerant leak detector available

Answer

Refrigerant safety precautions include: work in well-ventilated areas (refrigerants displace oxygen and some decompose into toxic gases near flames), wear safety glasses (liquid refrigerant causes frostbite on contact), wear gloves, never use open flames to heat cylinders, monitor for leaks with proper detectors, and know the SDS for each refrigerant.

Red Seal HVAC 313A Practice Test

Red Seal HVAC 313A Practice Test

313A Refrigerant Handling