EPA 608 Refrigerant Recovery, Recycling & Reclamation 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary difference between refrigerant recycling and reclamation?
- Recycling is done on-site and reused by the same owner; reclamation is done at an EPA-certified facility to meet ARI 700 standards (Correct answer)
- Recycling removes moisture only; reclamation removes all contaminants including oil
- Recycling requires EPA certification; reclamation does not
- Recycling is permitted for CFC refrigerants only; reclamation is for HFCs
Correct answer: Recycling is done on-site and reused by the same owner; reclamation is done at an EPA-certified facility to meet ARI 700 standards
Recycling cleans refrigerant on-site for reuse in the same or similar equipment owned by the same customer, while reclamation is performed at an EPA-certified facility to meet ARI 700 purity standards before resale.
Question 2: What is the primary goal of refrigerant recovery under EPA Section 608?
- To increase refrigeration system efficiency before repairs
- To remove refrigerant from a system and store it without releasing it into the atmosphere (Correct answer)
- To test the refrigerant purity before recharging
- To recycle the refrigerant for immediate reuse in a different system
Correct answer: To remove refrigerant from a system and store it without releasing it into the atmosphere
Recovery captures refrigerant from a system and stores it in an approved cylinder to prevent atmospheric release, as required by the Clean Air Act.
Question 3: Which type of recovery equipment does NOT have its own compressor and instead relies on the system being serviced?
- Self-contained recovery unit
- Push-pull recovery unit
- System-dependent (passive) recovery unit (Correct answer)
- Vapor-recovery only unit
Correct answer: System-dependent (passive) recovery unit
System-dependent recovery equipment has no internal compressor and relies on the system's own compressor or pressure to move refrigerant into the recovery cylinder.
Question 4: For a small appliance (Type I) with a functional compressor, what is the minimum refrigerant recovery efficiency required by EPA 608?
- 80%
- 85%
- 90% (Correct answer)
- 95%
Correct answer: 90%
EPA 608 requires 90% recovery efficiency for small appliances containing 5 lbs or less of refrigerant when the system compressor is operational.
Question 5: What is the required color coding for DOT-approved refrigerant recovery cylinders?
- All red
- Gray body with a yellow top (Correct answer)
- All yellow
- Blue body with a white top
Correct answer: Gray body with a yellow top
DOT-approved refrigerant recovery cylinders must be gray with a yellow top to distinguish them from other compressed gas cylinders and ensure safe identification.
Question 6: Which description best defines 'recycled' refrigerant under EPA 608 terminology?
- Refrigerant processed to ARI 700 purity standards at a certified reclamation facility
- Refrigerant cleaned on-site through oil separation and filter-driers for reuse by the same equipment owner (Correct answer)
- Virgin refrigerant that has never been used in any system
- Refrigerant chemically reprocessed to restore original molecular structure
Correct answer: Refrigerant cleaned on-site through oil separation and filter-driers for reuse by the same equipment owner
Recycling reduces contaminants through oil separation and filter-driers on-site; it does not need to meet ARI 700 standards and is intended for reuse by the same equipment owner.
Question 7: Under EPA 608 regulations, when must a certified technician recover refrigerant?
- Only when servicing appliances with more than 50 lbs of refrigerant
- Only when servicing commercial refrigeration systems
- Before opening the refrigerant circuit for service on any appliance containing refrigerant (Correct answer)
- Only when the refrigerant is a Class I ozone-depleting substance
Correct answer: Before opening the refrigerant circuit for service on any appliance containing refrigerant
EPA Section 608 requires certified technicians to recover refrigerant before opening the refrigerant circuit on any appliance, regardless of system size or refrigerant type.
EPA 608 Refrigerant Recovery, Recycling & Reclamation 1
What is the primary difference between refrigerant recycling and reclamation?