EPA 608 Universal Exam ACTUAL
EXAM 2026/2027 | Verified Q&A |
Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
SECTION 1: CORE (General Knowledge) (50 Questions)
Q1: Under EPA Section 608 regulations, which of the following refrigerants is currently illegal to vent
into the atmosphere?
A. R-22 (HCFC)
B. R-134a (HFC)
C. R-410a (HFC)
D. All of the above [CORRECT]
Rationale: The EPA Section 608 venting prohibition applies to all refrigerants including CFCs, HCFCs, and
HFCs. No refrigerant may be intentionally vented during service, repair, or disposal regardless of its
ozone depletion potential. The only exceptions are de minimis releases and certain recycled
refrigerants.
Q2: What is the maximum civil penalty per day per violation for knowingly violating the Section 608
venting prohibition?
A. $1,000
B. $10,000
C. $44,539 [CORRECT]
D. $100,000
Rationale: The EPA can assess civil penalties of up to $44,539 per day per violation for knowingly
violating Section 608 regulations including the venting prohibition. Criminal penalties may also apply for
knowing violations. These fines are adjusted annually for inflation.
Q3: Which international treaty established the phase-out schedule for ozone-depleting substances
including CFCs and HCFCs?
,A. Kyoto Protocol
B. Paris Agreement
C. Montreal Protocol [CORRECT]
D. Clean Air Act
Rationale: The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987) established the
international schedule for phasing out ozone-depleting substances. It has been ratified by all UN
member states and is considered the most successful environmental treaty. The Clean Air Act
implements these requirements in the US.
Q4: What is the ozone depletion potential (ODP) of CFC-11?
A. 0
B. 0.5
C. 1.0 [CORRECT]
D. 2.0
Rationale: CFC-11 (trichlorofluoromethane) has an ozone depletion potential of 1.0, serving as the
reference standard for ODP calculations. CFC-12 has ODP of 1.0 as well. HCFC-22 has ODP of 0.055, and
HFCs have zero ODP because they contain no chlorine.
Q5: Under the AIM Act, what is the new leak repair threshold that took effect January 1, 2026, for HFC
refrigerants?
A. 50 pounds
B. 25 pounds
C. 15 pounds [CORRECT]
D. 5 pounds
Rationale: The AIM Act lowered the leak repair threshold from 50 pounds to 15 pounds for HFC
refrigerants with GWP > 53, effective January 1, 2026. This significantly expands the number of systems
subject to federal leak repair requirements.
Q6: Which of the following best describes the difference between recovery, recycling, and reclaiming?
A. They are all the same process
B. Recovery removes refrigerant, recycling cleans it for reuse in same system, reclaiming processes to
virgin specifications [CORRECT]
C. Recycling is only for CFCs, reclaiming for HFCs
D. Recovery requires EPA certification, recycling does not
,Rationale: Recovery is the removal of refrigerant from equipment. Recycling is cleaning refrigerant for
reuse in the same system (moisture/acid removal). Reclaiming is processing used refrigerant to meet
virgin specifications (AHRI 700) through distillation and chemical treatment.
Q7: What is the global warming potential (GWP) of R-134a compared to CO2?
A. 1
B. 100
C. 1,430 [CORRECT]
D. 10,000
Rationale: R-134a has a 100-year global warming potential of 1,430, meaning it traps 1,430 times more
heat than CO2 over 100 years. This high GWP is why the AIM Act is phasing down HFCs. R-1234yf has
GWP < 1.
Q8: Which refrigerant safety classification indicates a non-flammable, low-toxicity refrigerant?
A. A2L
B. A1 [CORRECT]
C. B1
D. A3
Rationale: ASHRAE Standard 34 classifies refrigerants by toxicity (A=lower, B=higher) and flammability
(1=no flame propagation, 2L=mildly flammable, 2=flammable, 3=highly flammable). A1 refrigerants like
R-134a and R-410A are non-flammable and low-toxicity.
Q9: Under Section 608, who must be certified to purchase refrigerants?
A. Only contractors
B. Any person purchasing any amount
C. Technicians purchasing for resale or use in service [CORRECT]
D. Only Type III technicians
Rationale: Section 608 requires that anyone purchasing refrigerants for use in service, maintenance, or
resale must be Section 608 certified. This applies to all refrigerant types. Retail sales to uncertified
individuals are prohibited.
Q10: What is the primary purpose of the "chronically leaking" appliance reporting requirement?
, A. To identify technicians for retraining
B. To track appliances leaking 125% or more of full charge annually [CORRECT]
C. To collect taxes on refrigerant
D. To identify manufacturers for recall
Rationale: Appliances leaking 125% or more of their full charge annually are classified as chronically
leaking and must be reported to EPA by March 1 of the following year. This helps EPA identify systems
with poor integrity and tracks industry leak rates.
Q11: Which of the following is TRUE about refrigerant cylinder safety?
A. Cylinders can be filled to 100% capacity
B. Cylinders must never exceed 80% capacity by weight to allow for expansion [CORRECT]
C. Cylinders do not require pressure relief valves
D. Cylinders can be stored at any temperature
Rationale: Refrigerant cylinders must never be filled beyond 80% of capacity by weight to allow for
thermal expansion and prevent hydrostatic pressure buildup that could rupture the cylinder. Cylinders
require pressure relief valves and must be stored away from heat sources.
Q12: What is the required evacuation level for recovery equipment used on appliances with less than
200 pounds of refrigerant?
A. 0 inches of Hg
B. 10 inches of Hg
C. 15 inches of Hg [CORRECT]
D. 25 mm Hg absolute
Rationale: EPA requires recovery equipment to achieve 15 inches of Hg vacuum for appliances with less
than 200 pounds of refrigerant. This ensures 80-90% of refrigerant is recovered. Different levels apply
for larger systems and different appliance types.
Q13: Which of the following is an acceptable method for leak detection?
A. Soap bubble solution
B. Electronic leak detector
C. Ultrasonic leak detector
D. All of the above [CORRECT]
EXAM 2026/2027 | Verified Q&A |
Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
SECTION 1: CORE (General Knowledge) (50 Questions)
Q1: Under EPA Section 608 regulations, which of the following refrigerants is currently illegal to vent
into the atmosphere?
A. R-22 (HCFC)
B. R-134a (HFC)
C. R-410a (HFC)
D. All of the above [CORRECT]
Rationale: The EPA Section 608 venting prohibition applies to all refrigerants including CFCs, HCFCs, and
HFCs. No refrigerant may be intentionally vented during service, repair, or disposal regardless of its
ozone depletion potential. The only exceptions are de minimis releases and certain recycled
refrigerants.
Q2: What is the maximum civil penalty per day per violation for knowingly violating the Section 608
venting prohibition?
A. $1,000
B. $10,000
C. $44,539 [CORRECT]
D. $100,000
Rationale: The EPA can assess civil penalties of up to $44,539 per day per violation for knowingly
violating Section 608 regulations including the venting prohibition. Criminal penalties may also apply for
knowing violations. These fines are adjusted annually for inflation.
Q3: Which international treaty established the phase-out schedule for ozone-depleting substances
including CFCs and HCFCs?
,A. Kyoto Protocol
B. Paris Agreement
C. Montreal Protocol [CORRECT]
D. Clean Air Act
Rationale: The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987) established the
international schedule for phasing out ozone-depleting substances. It has been ratified by all UN
member states and is considered the most successful environmental treaty. The Clean Air Act
implements these requirements in the US.
Q4: What is the ozone depletion potential (ODP) of CFC-11?
A. 0
B. 0.5
C. 1.0 [CORRECT]
D. 2.0
Rationale: CFC-11 (trichlorofluoromethane) has an ozone depletion potential of 1.0, serving as the
reference standard for ODP calculations. CFC-12 has ODP of 1.0 as well. HCFC-22 has ODP of 0.055, and
HFCs have zero ODP because they contain no chlorine.
Q5: Under the AIM Act, what is the new leak repair threshold that took effect January 1, 2026, for HFC
refrigerants?
A. 50 pounds
B. 25 pounds
C. 15 pounds [CORRECT]
D. 5 pounds
Rationale: The AIM Act lowered the leak repair threshold from 50 pounds to 15 pounds for HFC
refrigerants with GWP > 53, effective January 1, 2026. This significantly expands the number of systems
subject to federal leak repair requirements.
Q6: Which of the following best describes the difference between recovery, recycling, and reclaiming?
A. They are all the same process
B. Recovery removes refrigerant, recycling cleans it for reuse in same system, reclaiming processes to
virgin specifications [CORRECT]
C. Recycling is only for CFCs, reclaiming for HFCs
D. Recovery requires EPA certification, recycling does not
,Rationale: Recovery is the removal of refrigerant from equipment. Recycling is cleaning refrigerant for
reuse in the same system (moisture/acid removal). Reclaiming is processing used refrigerant to meet
virgin specifications (AHRI 700) through distillation and chemical treatment.
Q7: What is the global warming potential (GWP) of R-134a compared to CO2?
A. 1
B. 100
C. 1,430 [CORRECT]
D. 10,000
Rationale: R-134a has a 100-year global warming potential of 1,430, meaning it traps 1,430 times more
heat than CO2 over 100 years. This high GWP is why the AIM Act is phasing down HFCs. R-1234yf has
GWP < 1.
Q8: Which refrigerant safety classification indicates a non-flammable, low-toxicity refrigerant?
A. A2L
B. A1 [CORRECT]
C. B1
D. A3
Rationale: ASHRAE Standard 34 classifies refrigerants by toxicity (A=lower, B=higher) and flammability
(1=no flame propagation, 2L=mildly flammable, 2=flammable, 3=highly flammable). A1 refrigerants like
R-134a and R-410A are non-flammable and low-toxicity.
Q9: Under Section 608, who must be certified to purchase refrigerants?
A. Only contractors
B. Any person purchasing any amount
C. Technicians purchasing for resale or use in service [CORRECT]
D. Only Type III technicians
Rationale: Section 608 requires that anyone purchasing refrigerants for use in service, maintenance, or
resale must be Section 608 certified. This applies to all refrigerant types. Retail sales to uncertified
individuals are prohibited.
Q10: What is the primary purpose of the "chronically leaking" appliance reporting requirement?
, A. To identify technicians for retraining
B. To track appliances leaking 125% or more of full charge annually [CORRECT]
C. To collect taxes on refrigerant
D. To identify manufacturers for recall
Rationale: Appliances leaking 125% or more of their full charge annually are classified as chronically
leaking and must be reported to EPA by March 1 of the following year. This helps EPA identify systems
with poor integrity and tracks industry leak rates.
Q11: Which of the following is TRUE about refrigerant cylinder safety?
A. Cylinders can be filled to 100% capacity
B. Cylinders must never exceed 80% capacity by weight to allow for expansion [CORRECT]
C. Cylinders do not require pressure relief valves
D. Cylinders can be stored at any temperature
Rationale: Refrigerant cylinders must never be filled beyond 80% of capacity by weight to allow for
thermal expansion and prevent hydrostatic pressure buildup that could rupture the cylinder. Cylinders
require pressure relief valves and must be stored away from heat sources.
Q12: What is the required evacuation level for recovery equipment used on appliances with less than
200 pounds of refrigerant?
A. 0 inches of Hg
B. 10 inches of Hg
C. 15 inches of Hg [CORRECT]
D. 25 mm Hg absolute
Rationale: EPA requires recovery equipment to achieve 15 inches of Hg vacuum for appliances with less
than 200 pounds of refrigerant. This ensures 80-90% of refrigerant is recovered. Different levels apply
for larger systems and different appliance types.
Q13: Which of the following is an acceptable method for leak detection?
A. Soap bubble solution
B. Electronic leak detector
C. Ultrasonic leak detector
D. All of the above [CORRECT]
