ESCO 609 Exam Questions and Answers With Verified Solutions 2025
Who Must Be Certified? Any person that services Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning (MVAC) must be
certified. Servicing of motor vehicle air conditioning includes repairs, leak testing, and "topping off" of
air conditioning systems low on refrigerant, as well as any other repair to the vehicle that requires
dismantling any part of the air conditioner. NOTE: Service performed on HCFC-22 air conditioner
systems typically found on busses, is NOT covered under section 609, but rather section 608 of the Clean
Air Act. Technician certification IS required under section 608. For more information on Section 608
certification, contact The ESCO Institute at (800) 726-9696. Test Format The certification test contains 50
multiple-choice questions. All of the information necessary for the technician to achieve a passing score
on the certification test is contained within this manual. The certification test will contain a variety of qu
- ✔✔frist page
Stratospheric Ozone Depletion During the last 100 years, refrigerants such as; CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs, and
HFOs have dramatically changed our lifestyles. Little did we know that the use and release of these
compounds into the atmosphere would have devastating effects on the Earth's environment. One of
these effects is far removed from the Earth's surface, in the Stratosphere. Located between 7 and 30
miles above the Earth's surface, the Stratosphere contains the Ozone layer. The Ozone layer is the
earth's security blanket. The Ozone layer serves two important functions. Ozone protects us from
harmful Ultra Violet Radiation and helps to maintain stable Earth temperatures. Depletion of Ozone in
the Stratosphere causes: Increased eye disease Skin cancer Crop loss Deforestation Reduced marine life
Increased ground level ozone An Ozone molecule consists of three oxygen atoms (O3). When CFC's are
released into the atmosphere, t - ✔✔2nd page
Montreal Protocol The Montreal Protocol is an international agreement (treaty) regulating the
production and use of CFC's, HCFC's, halons, methyl chloroform, and carbon tetrachloride entered into
force in mid 1989. This landmark agreement initially called for a production and consumption freeze. It
currently calls for a stepwise reduction and eventual production phase out of various ozone depleting
substances. The production phase-out of CFC's was completed on December 31, 1995. At present, HFC-
134a is used by most new car manufacturers as a replacement for CFC-12 and older vehicles may be
converted to use HFC-134a by following proper retrofit procedures. Although HFC-134a is considered
ozone friendly, it is not without environmental impact. It has been found to be a greenhouse gas and
contributes to the problems of global warming. Effective November 15, 1995, HFC-134a must be
recovered. Penalty Section 609 of the Fe - ✔✔page 3
Recover/recycle equipment must be certified by an EPA approved independent standards testing
organization, i.e. UL or ETL, to extract and recycle refrigerant from a motor vehicle air conditioner to a
standard set forth by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). The equipment standards were SAE
J1990 for CFC-12 and SAE J2210 for HFC-134a. A motor vehicle air conditioning industry sponsored
research project indicated that equipment designed to meet SAE standards J2210 did not recover
Who Must Be Certified? Any person that services Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning (MVAC) must be
certified. Servicing of motor vehicle air conditioning includes repairs, leak testing, and "topping off" of
air conditioning systems low on refrigerant, as well as any other repair to the vehicle that requires
dismantling any part of the air conditioner. NOTE: Service performed on HCFC-22 air conditioner
systems typically found on busses, is NOT covered under section 609, but rather section 608 of the Clean
Air Act. Technician certification IS required under section 608. For more information on Section 608
certification, contact The ESCO Institute at (800) 726-9696. Test Format The certification test contains 50
multiple-choice questions. All of the information necessary for the technician to achieve a passing score
on the certification test is contained within this manual. The certification test will contain a variety of qu
- ✔✔frist page
Stratospheric Ozone Depletion During the last 100 years, refrigerants such as; CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs, and
HFOs have dramatically changed our lifestyles. Little did we know that the use and release of these
compounds into the atmosphere would have devastating effects on the Earth's environment. One of
these effects is far removed from the Earth's surface, in the Stratosphere. Located between 7 and 30
miles above the Earth's surface, the Stratosphere contains the Ozone layer. The Ozone layer is the
earth's security blanket. The Ozone layer serves two important functions. Ozone protects us from
harmful Ultra Violet Radiation and helps to maintain stable Earth temperatures. Depletion of Ozone in
the Stratosphere causes: Increased eye disease Skin cancer Crop loss Deforestation Reduced marine life
Increased ground level ozone An Ozone molecule consists of three oxygen atoms (O3). When CFC's are
released into the atmosphere, t - ✔✔2nd page
Montreal Protocol The Montreal Protocol is an international agreement (treaty) regulating the
production and use of CFC's, HCFC's, halons, methyl chloroform, and carbon tetrachloride entered into
force in mid 1989. This landmark agreement initially called for a production and consumption freeze. It
currently calls for a stepwise reduction and eventual production phase out of various ozone depleting
substances. The production phase-out of CFC's was completed on December 31, 1995. At present, HFC-
134a is used by most new car manufacturers as a replacement for CFC-12 and older vehicles may be
converted to use HFC-134a by following proper retrofit procedures. Although HFC-134a is considered
ozone friendly, it is not without environmental impact. It has been found to be a greenhouse gas and
contributes to the problems of global warming. Effective November 15, 1995, HFC-134a must be
recovered. Penalty Section 609 of the Fe - ✔✔page 3
Recover/recycle equipment must be certified by an EPA approved independent standards testing
organization, i.e. UL or ETL, to extract and recycle refrigerant from a motor vehicle air conditioner to a
standard set forth by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). The equipment standards were SAE
J1990 for CFC-12 and SAE J2210 for HFC-134a. A motor vehicle air conditioning industry sponsored
research project indicated that equipment designed to meet SAE standards J2210 did not recover
