CCT Safety Standards & Regulatory Compliance 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under EPA Section 608, which activity requires EPA-certified technicians even when no refrigerant is expected to be released?
- Attaching manifold gauges to a system containing a regulated refrigerant (Correct answer)
- Replacing a thermostat on a split-system air conditioner
- Changing a fan motor on a condenser unit with the refrigerant isolated
- Cleaning condenser coil fins with a pressure washer
Correct answer: Attaching manifold gauges to a system containing a regulated refrigerant
Attaching gauges constitutes opening an appliance and is considered refrigerant handling, requiring EPA Section 608 certification even if no release is planned.
Question 2: Which standard establishes refrigerant concentration limits in occupied spaces to protect against asphyxiation and toxicity?
- ASHRAE Standard 34 (Correct answer)
- ASHRAE Standard 15
- NFPA 70E
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910.94
Correct answer: ASHRAE Standard 34
ASHRAE Standard 34 establishes refrigerant safety classifications and exposure limits including ATEL and RCL values used to protect occupants.
Question 3: A technician working in a confined space must perform an atmospheric test before entry. Which gases must be checked at minimum?
- Oxygen level, flammable gases, and toxic contaminants (Correct answer)
- Carbon dioxide and refrigerant concentration only
- Nitrogen and carbon monoxide only
- Temperature and humidity levels only
Correct answer: Oxygen level, flammable gases, and toxic contaminants
OSHA's permit-required confined space standard (29 CFR 1910.146) requires testing for oxygen content, flammable gases, and toxic atmospheres before entry.
Question 4: Which organization administers the EPA Section 608 technician certification examinations through approved testing organizations?
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Correct answer)
- OSHA directly
- ASHRAE certification board
- The Department of Energy (DOE)
Correct answer: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The EPA administers the Section 608 certification program by approving third-party testing organizations to administer the exams and issue certification cards.
Question 5: When disposing of a small appliance such as a household refrigerator, which EPA Section 608 rule applies?
- Refrigerant must be recovered by a certified technician or the appliance must go to an approved recycler (Correct answer)
- Small appliances under 5 pounds of charge are exempt from all recovery requirements
- The homeowner may vent the refrigerant if done outdoors in a well-ventilated area
- Recovery is only required if the refrigerant is a CFC; HFCs may be vented from small appliances
Correct answer: Refrigerant must be recovered by a certified technician or the appliance must go to an approved recycler
Even small appliances require refrigerant recovery either by a certified technician or by a retailer/landfill using approved recovery equipment before disposal.
Question 6: What is the key difference between refrigerant 'recovery,' 'recycling,' and 'reclaiming' as defined by EPA Section 608?
- Recovery removes refrigerant from equipment; recycling cleans it on-site for reuse; reclaiming restores it to ARI 700 purity standards at a certified facility (Correct answer)
- Recovery and recycling are identical processes; reclaiming is done on-site
- Reclaiming simply means reusing refrigerant in the same equipment it was removed from
- Recycling requires sending refrigerant to an EPA facility; recovery and reclaiming are field processes
Correct answer: Recovery removes refrigerant from equipment; recycling cleans it on-site for reuse; reclaiming restores it to ARI 700 purity standards at a certified facility
EPA distinguishes the three: recovery (removing from equipment), recycling (cleaning for on-site reuse), and reclaiming (restoring to ARI 700 virgin purity at a certified reclaimer).
Question 7: Which labeling requirement applies to refrigerant cylinders used for refrigerant recovery under DOT regulations?
- Cylinders must be labeled with refrigerant type, DOT specification, hydrostatic test date, and working pressure (Correct answer)
- Only the refrigerant type needs to be labeled on recovery cylinders
- Recovery cylinders are exempt from DOT labeling since they are for temporary storage only
- Cylinders must show only the gross weight and the technician's certification number
Correct answer: Cylinders must be labeled with refrigerant type, DOT specification, hydrostatic test date, and working pressure
DOT requires recovery cylinders to display the refrigerant identification, DOT specification, hydrostatic test date, and maximum allowable working pressure for safe transport.
CCT Safety Standards & Regulatory Compliance 5
Under EPA Section 608, which activity requires EPA-certified technicians even when no refrigerant is expected to be released?