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EPA 608 HVAC CERTIFICATION PRACTICE
EXAM: 150 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS &
RATIONALES | 2026 UPDATE | CORE, TYPE I, II,
III
## Exam Structure
- **Core (40 questions)** – General regulations, ozone depletion, safety
- **Type I (30 questions)** – Small appliances (5–15 lbs charge)
- **Type II (40 questions)** – High-pressure appliances (except small
appliances & chillers)
- **Type III (40 questions)** – Low-pressure chillers
---
## CORE SECTION (40 Questions)
**1. Which refrigerant has the highest ozone depletion potential
(ODP)?**
a) R-410A
b) R-134a
c) R-12
d) R-123
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**Answer: c) R-12**
*Rationale: R-12 is a CFC with ODP = 1.0. R-410A and R-134a have
zero ODP. R-123 (HCFC) ODP ~0.02.*
**2. The Clean Air Act of 1990 prohibits venting:**
a) Only CFCs
b) Only HCFCs
c) Only HFCs
d) All refrigerants
**Answer: d) All refrigerants**
*Rationale: Venting any refrigerant (CFC, HCFC, HFC, or blends) is
illegal under Section 608.*
**3. What is the EPA required evacuation level for recovery of R-410A
from a unit with a normal charge >200 lbs?**
a) 0 psig
b) 4 inches Hg vacuum
c) 10 inches Hg vacuum
d) 15 inches Hg vacuum
**Answer: c) 10 inches Hg vacuum**
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*Rationale: For high-pressure appliances >200 lbs charge, required
vacuum is 10 in Hg (for recovery using recovery machine).*
**4. An ozone molecule contains:**
a) 1 oxygen atom
b) 2 oxygen atoms
c) 3 oxygen atoms
d) 4 oxygen atoms
**Answer: c) 3 oxygen atoms**
*Rationale: Ozone = O₃. O₂ is oxygen gas.*
**5. Which international treaty phased out CFCs?**
a) Kyoto Protocol
b) Paris Agreement
c) Montreal Protocol
d) Clean Air Act
**Answer: c) Montreal Protocol**
*Rationale: Montreal Protocol (1987) phased out CFCs; amended to
include HCFCs and HFCs (Kigali Amendment).*
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**6. The term “ozone depletion potential” (ODP) compares a refrigerant
to:**
a) R-11
b) R-12
c) R-22
d) R-134a
**Answer: a) R-11**
*Rationale: ODP scale: R-11 = 1.0 reference.*
**7. Which of the following is NOT a high-pressure refrigerant?**
a) R-404A
b) R-410A
c) R-123
d) R-134a
**Answer: c) R-123**
*Rationale: R-123 is a low-pressure chiller refrigerant (boiling point
~82°F, operates below atmospheric pressure).*
**8. Recovered refrigerant that is contaminated with other refrigerants
or oil:**
a) Can be sold as used refrigerant
EPA 608 HVAC CERTIFICATION PRACTICE
EXAM: 150 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS &
RATIONALES | 2026 UPDATE | CORE, TYPE I, II,
III
## Exam Structure
- **Core (40 questions)** – General regulations, ozone depletion, safety
- **Type I (30 questions)** – Small appliances (5–15 lbs charge)
- **Type II (40 questions)** – High-pressure appliances (except small
appliances & chillers)
- **Type III (40 questions)** – Low-pressure chillers
---
## CORE SECTION (40 Questions)
**1. Which refrigerant has the highest ozone depletion potential
(ODP)?**
a) R-410A
b) R-134a
c) R-12
d) R-123
,2|Page
**Answer: c) R-12**
*Rationale: R-12 is a CFC with ODP = 1.0. R-410A and R-134a have
zero ODP. R-123 (HCFC) ODP ~0.02.*
**2. The Clean Air Act of 1990 prohibits venting:**
a) Only CFCs
b) Only HCFCs
c) Only HFCs
d) All refrigerants
**Answer: d) All refrigerants**
*Rationale: Venting any refrigerant (CFC, HCFC, HFC, or blends) is
illegal under Section 608.*
**3. What is the EPA required evacuation level for recovery of R-410A
from a unit with a normal charge >200 lbs?**
a) 0 psig
b) 4 inches Hg vacuum
c) 10 inches Hg vacuum
d) 15 inches Hg vacuum
**Answer: c) 10 inches Hg vacuum**
,3|Page
*Rationale: For high-pressure appliances >200 lbs charge, required
vacuum is 10 in Hg (for recovery using recovery machine).*
**4. An ozone molecule contains:**
a) 1 oxygen atom
b) 2 oxygen atoms
c) 3 oxygen atoms
d) 4 oxygen atoms
**Answer: c) 3 oxygen atoms**
*Rationale: Ozone = O₃. O₂ is oxygen gas.*
**5. Which international treaty phased out CFCs?**
a) Kyoto Protocol
b) Paris Agreement
c) Montreal Protocol
d) Clean Air Act
**Answer: c) Montreal Protocol**
*Rationale: Montreal Protocol (1987) phased out CFCs; amended to
include HCFCs and HFCs (Kigali Amendment).*
, 4|Page
**6. The term “ozone depletion potential” (ODP) compares a refrigerant
to:**
a) R-11
b) R-12
c) R-22
d) R-134a
**Answer: a) R-11**
*Rationale: ODP scale: R-11 = 1.0 reference.*
**7. Which of the following is NOT a high-pressure refrigerant?**
a) R-404A
b) R-410A
c) R-123
d) R-134a
**Answer: c) R-123**
*Rationale: R-123 is a low-pressure chiller refrigerant (boiling point
~82°F, operates below atmospheric pressure).*
**8. Recovered refrigerant that is contaminated with other refrigerants
or oil:**
a) Can be sold as used refrigerant
