EPA 608 Certification Practice Test 3 Flashcards
6 cards from real EPA 608 609 practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 EPA 608 Certification Practice Test 3 flashcards as text
Under EPA Section 608, what is the primary purpose of the "safe disposal" requirements for small appliances?
Answer: To ensure refrigerant is recovered before appliances are disposed of at scrap facilities
The safe disposal requirements under Section 608 ensure that refrigerant is removed from small appliances (refrigerators, window ACs, etc.) before they are scrapped, crushed, or shredded at disposal facilities. Without these requirements, refrigerant would be released to the atmosphere as appliances are processed. The rules apply to both technicians and final disposal entities.
When verifying the identity of an unknown refrigerant in a system, a technician should first:
Answer: Use a refrigerant identifier (analyzer) before recovery
Before recovering or working with refrigerant of unknown identity, a technician should use a refrigerant identifier (electronic analyzer) to determine what refrigerant is present. This prevents cross-contamination of recovery cylinders, avoids mixing incompatible refrigerants, and ensures proper handling procedures are used. Mixing refrigerants in recovery cylinders makes them unusable.
Mixing which two refrigerants creates a mixture that is potentially flammable, even though neither is flammable alone?
Answer: R-22 and oxygen
Mixing any refrigerant with oxygen or air containing oxygen creates an extremely dangerous, potentially explosive mixture. Although R-22 itself is not flammable, when combined with oxygen under pressure (such as when improperly using oxygen to pressurize a system), the mixture becomes highly combustible. NEVER use oxygen to pressurize or test refrigerant systems — only dry nitrogen should be used.
What does the ASHRAE refrigerant safety classification "A2L" indicate?
Answer: Mildly flammable with low toxicity
ASHRAE refrigerant safety classification uses letters (A or B) for toxicity and numbers (1, 2L, 2, 3) for flammability. Class A indicates lower toxicity; Class B indicates higher toxicity. Class 2L indicates mildly flammable refrigerants with burning velocities of 10 cm/s or less. R-32 and R-1234yf are classified as A2L — low toxicity, mildly flammable.
Under what circumstances may a refrigerant recovery machine's recovery efficiency standards be waived?
Answer: When the system has a known leak that has already vented most of the refrigerant
The EPA does provide relief from recovery requirements when a system's refrigerant has already been substantially lost due to a catastrophic failure or leak. If a technician can document that the system was nearly empty due to a leak before they arrived, the normal efficiency standards may not be achievable. Documentation is critical in such cases to demonstrate compliance intent.
What is the purpose of the EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program?
Answer: To evaluate and approve substitutes for ozone-depleting substances
The SNAP program evaluates alternatives to ozone-depleting substances — including refrigerants — and lists them as acceptable or unacceptable based on environmental and safety criteria (including ODP, GWP, toxicity, and flammability). The SNAP list guides technicians and manufacturers in choosing compliant replacement refrigerants for phased-out substances.