EPA 608 Certification

Exam blueprint

Sourced from U.S. EPA Section 608 Technician Certification Programs (40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F)

• Core — environmental science + regulations30%
• Core — recovery, recycling, reclaim10%
• Core — safety + leak detection10%
• Type I — small appliances (≤5 lb)15%
• Type II — high-pressure appliances20%
• Type III — low-pressure appliances15%

1. 01Core — environment, regulations, ODP

   ~75min

   Why Section 608 exists. Ozone depletion, GWP, the phaseout schedule for CFCs/HCFCs, and the AIM Act phasedown for HFCs. Every Type I/II/III candidate takes Core first.

   • Ozone depletion potential (ODP) and global warming potential (GWP)

     ODP is a measure of how much a substance damages stratospheric ozone, indexed to CFC-11 = 1.0. GWP is how much it warms the atmosphere over 100 years, indexed to CO₂ = 1. CFCs have high ODP. HCFCs have lower ODP but still some. HFCs have zero ODP but often very high GWP — which is why the AIM Act of 2020 set a phasedown of HFC production by 85% over 15 years.

     Reference: AIM Act of 2020 EPA HFC Phasedown

   • Section 608 ban on knowing venting

     It has been illegal since July 1, 1992 to knowingly release Class I (CFC) or Class II (HCFC) refrigerants during service, maintenance, repair, or disposal. The same prohibition was extended to most HFCs and HFC blends. De minimis releases that occur during good-faith service practices are not violations, but releasing refrigerant on purpose — including the practice of "topping off" without first leak-checking — is.

     Reference: 40 CFR 82.154(a)

   • Required recovery levels by appliance type

     Before opening an appliance for service, the technician must recover refrigerant to specific vacuum levels. Small appliances (≤5 lb): 90% recovery if the compressor runs, 80% if it does not. High-pressure systems (>5 lb): vacuum levels in inches of mercury depend on charge size and refrigerant class. Low-pressure: 25 mmHg absolute. Recovery equipment must be EPA-certified and tested annually.

     Reference: 40 CFR 82.156, Appendix A

   • Leak repair thresholds (industrial / commercial / comfort cooling)

     Owners of appliances ≥50 lb of refrigerant must repair leaks when the annual leak rate exceeds: 30% for industrial process refrigeration, 20% for commercial refrigeration, and 10% for comfort cooling. Repairs must be completed within 30 days of discovery. Records must be kept for 3 years.

     Reference: 40 CFR 82.157

   Practice questions (3)

   1. 1. A residential AC technician finds R-410A topping-off has been routine. Is the practice legal?

      • A.Yes — R-410A is HFC and not regulated under Section 608
      • B.No — knowingly venting refrigerant during service is illegal regardless of class
      • C.Yes — but only if the system is under 50 lb
      • D.Only with written customer consent

      Pick an answer to see the explanation.

   2. 2. Owner of a 100-lb commercial refrigeration system measures an annual leak rate of 22%. Required action?

      • A.No action required below 30%
      • B.Repair within 30 days of discovery
      • C.Replace the equipment immediately
      • D.Notify EPA in writing

      Pick an answer to see the explanation.

   3. 3. A small refrigerator (<5 lb) has a working compressor. What recovery level does Section 608 require?

      • A.80%
      • B.90%
      • C.99%
      • D.25 mmHg absolute

      Pick an answer to see the explanation.

2. 02Type I — Small appliances (≤5 lb)

   ~45min

   Domestic refrigerators, window AC units, dehumidifiers, vending machines, packaged terminal AC. Type I is the most-taken track because it gates Best Buy / appliance-repair work.

   • What counts as a Type I appliance

     A small appliance is hermetically sealed, factory-charged with five pounds or less of refrigerant, and manufactured for end-use. Examples: residential refrigerators and freezers, room air conditioners (window units), packaged terminal AC, dehumidifiers, under-the-counter ice makers, and vending machines. Once a system needs more than 5 lb to charge it, you are out of Type I and into Type II.

     Reference: 40 CFR 82.152

   • Saddle valves and access ports

     Most domestic refrigerators ship without a service port. To recover, the tech installs a self-piercing 'saddle' or 'tap' valve. Always use a valve rated for the refrigerant you're working with; the saddle must be permanent or removed before disposal so the system stays sealed during recovery and the appliance is left empty per disposal rules.

   Practice questions (1)

   1. 1. A residential refrigerator with a non-operating compressor needs to be disposed of. Recovery level required?

      • A.80% of nameplate charge
      • B.90% of nameplate charge
      • C.No recovery if compressor is dead
      • D.25 in. Hg vacuum

      Pick an answer to see the explanation.

3. 03Type II — High-pressure systems

   ~60min

   Residential central air, heat pumps, supermarket refrigeration, light commercial AC. Most HVAC techs need Type II to do residential / light commercial service.

   • High-pressure refrigerants and the 5-lb threshold

     High-pressure systems use refrigerants with boiling points below -50°F at atmospheric pressure. Common Type II refrigerants today: R-410A (HFC blend used in modern residential AC), R-22 (phased-out HCFC, still common in older systems), R-134a, R-407C, R-454B (the next-gen low-GWP successor).

   • Recovery vacuum levels by charge size

     For systems containing more than 200 lb of refrigerant, recovery to 10 in. Hg vacuum is required (older equipment) or 0 mm Hg gauge for newer recovery devices. For 0–200 lb systems, the targets vary by HCFC vs HFC. The exam tests the table — bring it up in your prep, screenshot it, memorize the columns.

     Reference: 40 CFR 82.156, Appendix A

   Practice questions (1)

   1. 1. A 3-ton residential heat pump uses R-410A. Which type certification covers servicing it?

      • A.Type I
      • B.Type II
      • C.Type III
      • D.Universal only

      Pick an answer to see the explanation.

4. 04Type III — Low-pressure systems

   ~30min

   Centrifugal chillers using R-11, R-123, R-1233zd. Less common than Type II — large commercial / institutional cooling tower systems.

   • Low-pressure refrigerants and rupture discs

     Low-pressure systems run BELOW atmospheric pressure on the suction side, which means a leak draws AIR INTO the system instead of refrigerant out. Air contamination and moisture are the main service issues. Rupture discs protect the chiller barrel from over-pressure during shutdown — never disable them.

   • Required final vacuum

     Low-pressure recovery target: 25 mm Hg absolute pressure for newer recovery devices, or 25 in. Hg vacuum for pre-1993 equipment. The number stays — write it on a sticky note above your study desk: TWENTY-FIVE.

     Reference: 40 CFR 82.156, Appendix A

   Practice questions (1)

   1. 1. A chiller using R-123 is being decommissioned. Required final recovery vacuum?

      • A.25 in. Hg vacuum
      • B.25 mm Hg absolute
      • C.10 in. Hg vacuum
      • D.0 mm Hg gauge

      Pick an answer to see the explanation.

External resources

• Official
  EPA Section 608 Stationary Refrigeration Page ↗

  EPA homepage for the program. Links to the regulation text, list of approved certifying organizations, and the technician database.

• Official
  40 CFR Part 82 Subpart F — Recycling and Emissions Reduction ↗

  The actual regulation. Read 82.152 (definitions), 82.154 (prohibitions), 82.156 (servicing), and 82.157 (leak rates) — that's 80% of the Core exam.

• Official
  EPA HFC Phasedown under the AIM Act ↗

  Background on the 85%-over-15-years HFC production phasedown. Helps you reason about WHY the leak/repair rules now apply to HFCs.