EPA 608 609 - EPA Refrigerant Handling Section 609 MVAC Systems Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under Section 609 of the Clean Air Act, who is required to be certified to service a motor vehicle air conditioning (MVAC) system for any form of compensation?
- Only technicians working at a dealership.
- Any person who services an MVAC system for consideration. (Correct answer)
- Only technicians who work on vehicles using HFO-1234yf.
- Technicians who also hold a Section 608 certification.
Correct answer: Any person who services an MVAC system for consideration.
Section 609 of the Clean Air Act requires that any person who repairs or services an MVAC system for any form of payment or barter (consideration) must be properly trained and certified by an EPA-approved program. This applies regardless of the type of refrigerant used or the technician's place of employment.
Question 2: A technician is recovering refrigerant from an MVAC system. According to EPA regulations, what must be done with the recovered refrigerant before it can be recharged into any vehicle?
- It must be filtered through a screen to remove large debris.
- It can be immediately returned to the same vehicle without any processing.
- It must be properly recycled or reclaimed. (Correct answer)
- It must be stored for 24 hours to allow oil to separate.
Correct answer: It must be properly recycled or reclaimed.
The EPA requires that recovered refrigerant from an MVAC system must be either recycled on-site using approved equipment or sent off-site to a certified reclamation facility before it can be reused in any MVAC system, including the one from which it was removed. This ensures the refrigerant meets purity standards.
Question 3: Which of the following is a key requirement for refrigerant recovery and/or recycling equipment used for servicing MVAC systems under Section 609?
- The equipment must be replaced every five years.
- The equipment must be certified by an EPA-approved organization like UL or Intertek. (Correct answer)
- The equipment must be capable of handling at least ten different types of refrigerants.
- The equipment must be painted yellow for safety identification.
Correct answer: The equipment must be certified by an EPA-approved organization like UL or Intertek.
Section 609 requires that refrigerant handling equipment be certified by an EPA-approved independent standards testing organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Intertek, to ensure it meets specific SAE standards for refrigerant recovery and/or recycling.
Question 4: A technician discovers that an MVAC system contains an unknown or contaminated refrigerant. What is the proper procedure?
- Vent the unknown refrigerant to the atmosphere in a well-ventilated area.
- Use standard R-134a recovery equipment to remove the refrigerant.
- Recover the refrigerant using a dedicated recover-only unit and store it in a separate, clearly marked tank. (Correct answer)
- Mix the contaminated refrigerant with the shop's used R-134a and send it for reclamation.
Correct answer: Recover the refrigerant using a dedicated recover-only unit and store it in a separate, clearly marked tank.
Technicians must recover contaminated or unfamiliar refrigerants and are prohibited from venting them. The best practice is to use a separate, dedicated recovery machine and tank to prevent contamination of other equipment and refrigerants. The recovered contaminated refrigerant must be stored in a DOT-approved tank, properly labeled, and disposed of correctly.
Question 5: The sale of CFC-12 (R-12) in containers smaller than 20 pounds is restricted to whom?
- Anyone, as long as it is for personal use.
- Only technicians who are certified under Section 608.
- Technicians who are certified under Section 609. (Correct answer)
- Only licensed automotive repair shops.
Correct answer: Technicians who are certified under Section 609.
EPA regulations specifically state that the sale of ozone-depleting substances like CFC-12 in containers of less than 20 pounds is restricted to technicians who have been certified under an EPA-approved Section 609 program. Sellers are required to verify the purchaser's certification.
Question 6: A service shop begins working on MVAC systems for the first time. What one-time action must the shop owner take regarding their refrigerant handling equipment?
- Certify to their EPA Regional Office that they have acquired and are properly using approved equipment. (Correct answer)
- Publish an announcement in a local newspaper about their new A/C service.
- Register each piece of equipment with the equipment manufacturer.
- Submit training certificates for all technicians to the local government.
Correct answer: Certify to their EPA Regional Office that they have acquired and are properly using approved equipment.
New service shops or shops servicing MVAC systems for the first time are required to certify to their respective EPA Regional Office that they have obtained and are properly using approved refrigerant recovery/recycling equipment. This is a one-time requirement per shop.
EPA 608 609 - EPA Refrigerant Handling Section 609 MVAC Systems Questions and Answers 1
Under Section 609 of the Clean Air Act, who is required to be certified to service a motor vehicle air conditioning (MVAC) system for any form of compensation?