LATEST EPA SECTION 608 TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION EXAM OFFERED BY U.S. EPA |
Q&A WITH RATIONALES
1. Under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act, when was
the venting prohibition extended to cover HFCs?
A) July 1, 1992
B) November 15, 1993
C) November 15, 1995
D) January 1, 2000
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The venting prohibition for HFCs became
effective on November 15, 1995. The 1992 date
covers CFCs and HCFCs, and the 1993 date applies
to recovery equipment manufacture standards.
Technicians often mistakenly choose the earlier
dates because they memorized only one key year.
2. What does a high global warming potential (GWP)
indicate about a refrigerant?
A) It has a high ozone depletion potential
B) It is highly flammable
,C) It traps more heat in the atmosphere than carbon
dioxide over a given time period
D) It is toxic to humans and animals
Correct answer: C
Rationale: GWP is a measure of how much heat a
greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere relative to
carbon dioxide. High-GWP refrigerants, such as
many HFCs, have a strong heat‑trapping effect and
contribute significantly to climate change. Ozone
depletion potential (ODP) is a separate measure for
harm to the ozone layer.
3. A technician removes refrigerant from a system
and stores it in a recovery cylinder without further
processing. What is this called?
A) Reclamation
B) Recycling
C) Recovery
D) Reprocessing
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Recovery is the act of removing
refrigerant from a system and storing it in an
external cylinder without any processing or testing.
,Recycling involves cleaning the refrigerant (e.g., oil
separation, filter‑drier passes), while reclamation
means reprocessing to ARI‑700 purity at an
EPA‑certified facility.
4. According to the EPA, which of the following does
NOT contribute to global warming?
A) CFCs
B) HCFCs
C) HFCs
D) Carbon dioxide
Correct answer: A
Rationale: CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons), along with
HCFCs and HFCs, are all greenhouse gases with
significant global warming potential. Carbon dioxide
is the baseline greenhouse gas. None of these are
exempt; the question's wording in some study
materials is designed to test awareness that all
listed refrigerants have GWP.
5. Which refrigerant has the lowest ozone depletion
potential (ODP)?
A) R‑11
, B) R‑12
C) R‑22
D) R‑113
Correct answer: C
Rationale: R‑22 (HCFC) has a low ODP of
approximately 0.055 because it contains chlorine
but also hydrogen, which reduces its stability in the
stratosphere. R‑11, R‑12, and R‑113 are fully
halogenated CFCs with high ODPs ranging from 0.73
to 1.0.
6. What is the term used to describe the fact that a
refrigerant blend has a range of boiling or
condensing points at a constant pressure?
A) Temperature glide
B) Bubble point
C) Dew point
D) Fractionation
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Temperature glide occurs in zeotropic
refrigerant blends because their components have
different boiling points. As the mixture evaporates or
CERTIFICATION EXAM OFFERED BY U.S. EPA |
Q&A WITH RATIONALES
1. Under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act, when was
the venting prohibition extended to cover HFCs?
A) July 1, 1992
B) November 15, 1993
C) November 15, 1995
D) January 1, 2000
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The venting prohibition for HFCs became
effective on November 15, 1995. The 1992 date
covers CFCs and HCFCs, and the 1993 date applies
to recovery equipment manufacture standards.
Technicians often mistakenly choose the earlier
dates because they memorized only one key year.
2. What does a high global warming potential (GWP)
indicate about a refrigerant?
A) It has a high ozone depletion potential
B) It is highly flammable
,C) It traps more heat in the atmosphere than carbon
dioxide over a given time period
D) It is toxic to humans and animals
Correct answer: C
Rationale: GWP is a measure of how much heat a
greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere relative to
carbon dioxide. High-GWP refrigerants, such as
many HFCs, have a strong heat‑trapping effect and
contribute significantly to climate change. Ozone
depletion potential (ODP) is a separate measure for
harm to the ozone layer.
3. A technician removes refrigerant from a system
and stores it in a recovery cylinder without further
processing. What is this called?
A) Reclamation
B) Recycling
C) Recovery
D) Reprocessing
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Recovery is the act of removing
refrigerant from a system and storing it in an
external cylinder without any processing or testing.
,Recycling involves cleaning the refrigerant (e.g., oil
separation, filter‑drier passes), while reclamation
means reprocessing to ARI‑700 purity at an
EPA‑certified facility.
4. According to the EPA, which of the following does
NOT contribute to global warming?
A) CFCs
B) HCFCs
C) HFCs
D) Carbon dioxide
Correct answer: A
Rationale: CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons), along with
HCFCs and HFCs, are all greenhouse gases with
significant global warming potential. Carbon dioxide
is the baseline greenhouse gas. None of these are
exempt; the question's wording in some study
materials is designed to test awareness that all
listed refrigerants have GWP.
5. Which refrigerant has the lowest ozone depletion
potential (ODP)?
A) R‑11
, B) R‑12
C) R‑22
D) R‑113
Correct answer: C
Rationale: R‑22 (HCFC) has a low ODP of
approximately 0.055 because it contains chlorine
but also hydrogen, which reduces its stability in the
stratosphere. R‑11, R‑12, and R‑113 are fully
halogenated CFCs with high ODPs ranging from 0.73
to 1.0.
6. What is the term used to describe the fact that a
refrigerant blend has a range of boiling or
condensing points at a constant pressure?
A) Temperature glide
B) Bubble point
C) Dew point
D) Fractionation
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Temperature glide occurs in zeotropic
refrigerant blends because their components have
different boiling points. As the mixture evaporates or
