CAR Inspection & Quality Control 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When inspecting a refrigerator for recycling, which component must be checked for CFC content before processing?
- Compressor oil
- Door gaskets
- Refrigerant in the sealed system (Correct answer)
- Insulation foam blowing agent
Correct answer: Refrigerant in the sealed system
Refrigerant trapped in the sealed system must be identified and recovered because CFCs are ozone-depleting substances regulated under the Clean Air Act.
Question 2: A quality control inspector finds a window air conditioner with a cracked compressor housing. What is the most critical immediate concern?
- Reduced scrap metal value
- Potential refrigerant leak into the environment (Correct answer)
- Difficulty in disassembly
- Loss of warranty documentation
Correct answer: Potential refrigerant leak into the environment
A cracked compressor housing can release refrigerant, which is an ozone-depleting or greenhouse gas and must be contained before recycling.
Question 3: Which standard is most commonly referenced when inspecting used appliances for hazardous material content in a US recycling facility?
- ANSI/ASHRAE 15
- EPA Section 608 (Correct answer)
- OSHA 1910.119
- DOT 49 CFR 173
Correct answer: EPA Section 608
EPA Section 608 of the Clean Air Act governs the handling, recovery, and recycling of refrigerants in appliances.
Question 4: During incoming inspection, a technician notices a washing machine has a strong chemical odor. The correct first action is to:
- Immediately disassemble it to locate the source
- Tag and quarantine it for hazmat evaluation (Correct answer)
- Add it to the general processing queue
- Rinse the unit with water before inspection
Correct answer: Tag and quarantine it for hazmat evaluation
Unknown chemical odors indicate possible hazardous residue; the unit must be quarantined and evaluated before any further processing.
Question 5: What information should be recorded on a receiving log when an appliance arrives at a CAR-certified facility?
- Owner's purchase receipt
- Unit type, refrigerant type if applicable, and source (Correct answer)
- Brand preference of the driver
- Color and aesthetic condition only
Correct answer: Unit type, refrigerant type if applicable, and source
CAR certification requires documentation of unit type, refrigerant information, and source to maintain chain-of-custody and regulatory compliance.
Question 6: An inspector identifies a chest freezer that uses R-600a (isobutane) as its refrigerant. What special handling precaution applies?
- Treat it as non-hazardous since R-600a is natural
- Recover with the same equipment used for HFCs
- Handle with flammability precautions due to R-600a's combustible nature (Correct answer)
- Vent it to atmosphere since it has no ozone depletion potential
Correct answer: Handle with flammability precautions due to R-600a's combustible nature
R-600a is a flammable hydrocarbon refrigerant, requiring spark-free equipment and flammability precautions during recovery.
Question 7: When performing a visual quality control check on a dehumidifier, which finding would cause an immediate rejection from the standard recycling stream?
- Missing knobs or dials
- Visible PCB-containing capacitors in damaged condition (Correct answer)
- Faded exterior paint
- Missing drain hose
Correct answer: Visible PCB-containing capacitors in damaged condition
Damaged PCB-containing capacitors are a hazardous waste requiring special handling and cannot enter the standard recycling stream.
CAR Inspection & Quality Control 2
When inspecting a refrigerator for recycling, which component must be checked for CFC content before processing?