Type III Refrigeration: Low-Pressure
Chillers, Leak Regulations, and EPA
Compliance ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
What is Type III certification for? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅It is for technicians working
with low-pressure appliances.
What defines a low-pressure appliance? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅An appliance that uses
a refrigerant with a liquid-phase saturation pressure below 30.3 psig at 104°F.
Which refrigerants are considered low-pressure? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅R-11, R-123,
R-113, R-245ca, and R-245fa.
What type of certification is required for chillers using R-22 or R-134a? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅Type II certification.
What is the primary use of chillers? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅They are generally used
for comfort cooling.
When is a chiller considered industrial process refrigeration equipment? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅If 50% or more of its capacity is used for industrial process refrigeration.
What happens when low-pressure chillers experience leaks? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅Air and other contaminants leak into the system.
Where do leaks typically occur in low-pressure chillers? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅From
areas with gaskets or fittings, particularly the shaft seal on open-drive compressors.
What does continuous excessive moisture in the purge unit indicate? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅It typically means the water-cooled condenser or chiller barrel tubes are
leaking.
, According to ASHRAE Guideline 3, what should be done if pressure rises above 2.5 mm Hg
during a vacuum test? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅The unit should be checked for leaks.
What are the EPA regulations for chillers containing 50 or more pounds of ozone-depleting
refrigerant? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅They must be repaired when the leak rate exceeds
10% per year for comfort cooling, 20% for commercial refrigeration, and 30% for industrial
process refrigeration.
What must be done when refrigerant is added to a system containing 50 or more pounds of
ozone-depleting refrigerant? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅The leak rate must be calculated.
What actions must an owner/operator take if the threshold leak rate is exceeded? -
CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Repair the appliance, retrofit, or retire the appliance.
How long does an owner/operator have to retrofit or retire a unit after exceeding the threshold
leak rate? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅18 months if the new refrigerant is exempt from
venting, otherwise 12 months.
What is the maximum test pressure when leak testing a low-pressure centrifugal with
nitrogen? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅10 psig.
What is an EPA-suggested method for leak testing? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Warming
the system to pressurize it.
What is a hydrostatic tube test used for? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅To determine if tubes
in the evaporator or condenser are leaking.
How can you check for leaks in the evaporator or condenser of a chiller? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅Drain the water from the water box and place the refrigerant detector at
access fittings or drain plugs.
What should be done before recovering refrigerant from a low-pressure chiller suspected of
tube leaks? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Drain the water sides of the evaporator and
condenser.
Chillers, Leak Regulations, and EPA
Compliance ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
What is Type III certification for? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅It is for technicians working
with low-pressure appliances.
What defines a low-pressure appliance? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅An appliance that uses
a refrigerant with a liquid-phase saturation pressure below 30.3 psig at 104°F.
Which refrigerants are considered low-pressure? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅R-11, R-123,
R-113, R-245ca, and R-245fa.
What type of certification is required for chillers using R-22 or R-134a? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅Type II certification.
What is the primary use of chillers? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅They are generally used
for comfort cooling.
When is a chiller considered industrial process refrigeration equipment? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅If 50% or more of its capacity is used for industrial process refrigeration.
What happens when low-pressure chillers experience leaks? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅Air and other contaminants leak into the system.
Where do leaks typically occur in low-pressure chillers? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅From
areas with gaskets or fittings, particularly the shaft seal on open-drive compressors.
What does continuous excessive moisture in the purge unit indicate? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅It typically means the water-cooled condenser or chiller barrel tubes are
leaking.
, According to ASHRAE Guideline 3, what should be done if pressure rises above 2.5 mm Hg
during a vacuum test? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅The unit should be checked for leaks.
What are the EPA regulations for chillers containing 50 or more pounds of ozone-depleting
refrigerant? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅They must be repaired when the leak rate exceeds
10% per year for comfort cooling, 20% for commercial refrigeration, and 30% for industrial
process refrigeration.
What must be done when refrigerant is added to a system containing 50 or more pounds of
ozone-depleting refrigerant? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅The leak rate must be calculated.
What actions must an owner/operator take if the threshold leak rate is exceeded? -
CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Repair the appliance, retrofit, or retire the appliance.
How long does an owner/operator have to retrofit or retire a unit after exceeding the threshold
leak rate? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅18 months if the new refrigerant is exempt from
venting, otherwise 12 months.
What is the maximum test pressure when leak testing a low-pressure centrifugal with
nitrogen? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅10 psig.
What is an EPA-suggested method for leak testing? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Warming
the system to pressurize it.
What is a hydrostatic tube test used for? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅To determine if tubes
in the evaporator or condenser are leaking.
How can you check for leaks in the evaporator or condenser of a chiller? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅Drain the water from the water box and place the refrigerant detector at
access fittings or drain plugs.
What should be done before recovering refrigerant from a low-pressure chiller suspected of
tube leaks? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Drain the water sides of the evaporator and
condenser.
