CAR CAR Documentation & Chain of Custody 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which piece of information from an appliance's data plate is MOST critical to record before beginning refrigerant recovery?
- Refrigerant type and charge weight (Correct answer)
- Manufacturing plant location
- Energy Star rating
- Retail price
Correct answer: Refrigerant type and charge weight
Knowing the refrigerant type ensures the correct recovery equipment and cylinder are used, while the charge weight confirms when recovery is complete.
Question 2: A facility receives an appliance with a missing or unreadable data plate. The technician should:
- Use a refrigerant identifier and record findings as 'unknown – identified as [type]' in the log (Correct answer)
- Assume the most common refrigerant (R-134a) and proceed without logging
- Refuse the unit and return it to the customer
- Drill the compressor immediately to release pressure
Correct answer: Use a refrigerant identifier and record findings as 'unknown – identified as [type]' in the log
When the data plate is absent, a refrigerant identifier determines the actual type, which must still be recorded in the recovery log for regulatory compliance.
Question 3: In an appliance recycling manifest, the term 'gross weight of refrigerant recovered' refers to:
- The total weight of refrigerant in the recovery cylinder including tare weight subtracted to find net refrigerant mass (Correct answer)
- The weight of the entire appliance
- The weight of the recovery machine after use
- The estimated original factory charge from the data plate
Correct answer: The total weight of refrigerant in the recovery cylinder including tare weight subtracted to find net refrigerant mass
Net refrigerant recovered is calculated by weighing the cylinder before and after recovery and subtracting the tare (empty cylinder) weight to determine actual refrigerant mass.
Question 4: NIST-traceable calibrated scales used for weighing recovered refrigerant at a CAR facility should be calibrated at minimum:
- Annually, or per the manufacturer's recommended interval (Correct answer)
- Every five years
- Only when purchased new
- Before every single recovery job
Correct answer: Annually, or per the manufacturer's recommended interval
Annual calibration (or per manufacturer schedule) ensures refrigerant weight records are accurate for both regulatory compliance and cylinder fill-level safety.
Question 5: A PCB-containing capacitor is discovered in a window air conditioner being recycled. The documentation requirement for its disposal is governed by:
- EPA TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act) regulations for PCB disposal (Correct answer)
- EPA Section 608 refrigerant rules only
- OSHA hazard communication standards
- State consumer product safety laws
Correct answer: EPA TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act) regulations for PCB disposal
PCBs are regulated under TSCA, which requires tracking, labeling, and disposal through approved PCB disposal facilities with specific recordkeeping.
Question 6: When a CAR-certified facility sells shredded steel from recycled appliances to a scrap metal dealer, what document should accompany the transaction to satisfy audit requirements?
- A material sales receipt or bill of lading documenting the weight, material type, and buyer (Correct answer)
- No documentation is needed for scrap metal sales
- An EPA hazardous waste manifest
- A DOT shipping paper for hazardous materials
Correct answer: A material sales receipt or bill of lading documenting the weight, material type, and buyer
A sales receipt or bill of lading provides the audit trail showing that recovered metals were sold as a commodity rather than disposed of as waste.
CAR CAR Documentation & Chain of Custody 2
Which piece of information from an appliance's data plate is MOST critical to record before beginning refrigerant recovery?