CFC EPA Regulations & Safety Compliance 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which refrigerant was phased out of production in the United States for NEW equipment use on January 1, 2010, under the Montreal Protocol obligations?
- R-11
- R-22 (Correct answer)
- R-134a
- R-502
Correct answer: R-22
R-22 (HCFC-22) was banned from use in new equipment manufactured after January 1, 2010, as part of the U.S. phase-out schedule under the Montreal Protocol.
Question 2: Under EPA regulations, who may purchase refrigerants in containers larger than 2 pounds?
- Any licensed HVAC contractor regardless of certification
- Only Section 608-certified technicians or businesses employing them (Correct answer)
- Any business registered with the EPA refrigerant registry
- Only EPA-approved distributors and wholesalers
Correct answer: Only Section 608-certified technicians or businesses employing them
EPA regulations restrict the sale of refrigerant in containers larger than 2 pounds to Section 608-certified technicians or companies that employ them.
Question 3: A technician is recovering refrigerant from a system with a 3-pound charge. Which EPA Section 608 exemption may apply?
- Small appliance exemption allowing direct venting
- No exemption — recovery is always required (Correct answer)
- Technician exemption for systems under 5 pounds
- The de minimis exemption for systems under 1 pound
Correct answer: No exemption — recovery is always required
There is no exemption from recovery requirements for systems with a 3-pound charge; all refrigerant-containing appliances (except truly small systems with under specific conditions) require recovery.
Question 4: Under the AIM Act (American Innovation and Manufacturing Act), the EPA is authorized to phase down which class of refrigerants?
- CFCs
- HCFCs
- HFCs (Correct answer)
- Natural refrigerants
Correct answer: HFCs
The AIM Act of 2020 authorizes the EPA to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) because they are potent greenhouse gases, even though they do not deplete the ozone layer.
Question 5: What is the EPA's definition of 'knowingly venting' a refrigerant, which is a violation of Section 608?
- Accidentally releasing refrigerant during equipment malfunction
- Intentionally releasing refrigerant during servicing, maintenance, or repair (Correct answer)
- Releasing refrigerant only in quantities exceeding 100 pounds
- Releasing refrigerant from equipment that is being permanently retired
Correct answer: Intentionally releasing refrigerant during servicing, maintenance, or repair
Knowingly venting means the deliberate, intentional release of refrigerant during servicing, maintenance, or repair operations, which is prohibited under Section 608.
Question 6: Which Section 608 certification type covers technicians who work on motor vehicle air conditioning (MVAC) systems?
- Type I
- Type II
- Type III
- Section 609 certification (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Section 609 certification
Motor vehicle air conditioning systems are regulated separately under Section 609 of the Clean Air Act, which has its own certification requirement distinct from Section 608 Types I-III.
Question 7: If an EPA-certified technician transfers their business to a new owner, what happens to the technician's Section 608 certification?
- Certification transfers automatically with the business license
- Certification is personal and stays with the individual technician (Correct answer)
- Certification must be reissued in both names by the EPA
- Certification expires and must be retaken within 90 days
Correct answer: Certification is personal and stays with the individual technician
Section 608 certification is issued to the individual technician, not to a business entity, so it remains with the technician regardless of business ownership changes.
CFC EPA Regulations & Safety Compliance 3
Which refrigerant was phased out of production in the United States for NEW equipment use on January 1, 2010, under the Montreal Protocol obligations?