EPA 608 Certification Study Guide
Complete study guide for EPA Section 608 Technician Certification. Required for anyone who purchases, handles, or works with refrigerants.
What is EPA Section 608?
Section 608 of the Clean Air Act regulates the handling of refrigerants to protect the stratospheric ozone layer. It requires technicians who maintain, service, repair, or dispose of equipment containing regulated refrigerants to be certified.
The regulation covers both ozone-depleting substances (ODS) like CFCs and HCFCs, as well as substitute refrigerants like HFCs.
Who Needs Certification?
- HVAC/R technicians
- Refrigeration mechanics
- Appliance repair technicians
- Anyone purchasing regulated refrigerants
Exam Information
Certification Types
Type I
Small Appliances
≤5 lbs refrigerant charge
Covers:
- • Refrigerators
- • Freezers
- • Window AC units
- • PTAC units
- • Dehumidifiers
- • Vending machines
Exam: Core + Type I (50 questions)
Type II
High-Pressure Equipment
Uses high-pressure refrigerants
Covers:
- • Residential AC systems
- • Commercial AC systems
- • Heat pumps
- • Walk-in coolers (HP)
- • Supermarket cases
- • Ice machines
Exam: Core + Type II (50 questions)
Type III
Low-Pressure Equipment
Uses low-pressure refrigerants
Covers:
- • Chillers (centrifugal)
- • Large AC systems
- • R-11 equipment
- • R-123 equipment
- • Commercial cooling
Exam: Core + Type III (50 questions)
Universal
All Equipment Types
Complete certification
Covers:
- • All Type I equipment
- • All Type II equipment
- • All Type III equipment
- • Any refrigerant
- • Any system size
Exam: Core + I + II + III (100 questions)
Recommendation: Most HVAC technicians should obtain Universal Certification to work on all equipment types without restrictions.
Core Exam Topics
1 Ozone Depletion
- • Stratospheric ozone layer protects from UV-B radiation
- • CFCs and HCFCs deplete ozone (contain chlorine)
- • HFCs do not deplete ozone but have high GWP
- • Montreal Protocol phases out ODS globally
- • Clean Air Act Section 608 - US implementation
2 Clean Air Act Requirements
- • Technician certification required
- • Recovery of refrigerant before opening system
- • Proper refrigerant handling and storage
- • Record keeping requirements
- • Leak repair requirements
- • Safe disposal of refrigerant equipment
3 Refrigerant Classifications
- • CFC (Class I): R-11, R-12, R-113, R-114, R-115
- • HCFC (Class II): R-22, R-123, R-141b
- • HFC: R-134a, R-404A, R-410A, R-407C
- • HFO: R-1234yf, R-1234ze (low GWP)
- • ODP = Ozone Depleting Potential
- • GWP = Global Warming Potential
4 Safety Practices
- • Refrigerants displace oxygen - suffocation hazard
- • Never heat refrigerant cylinders above 125°F
- • Never use oxygen to pressurize systems
- • Use nitrogen for leak testing
- • Wear safety glasses and gloves
- • Phosgene gas produced when refrigerant contacts flame
5 Recovery Equipment
- • Must be certified (AHRI 740)
- • Self-contained vs system-dependent
- • Recovery cylinders: gray body, yellow top
- • Never fill cylinder beyond 80% capacity
- • Check for non-condensables
- • Weigh refrigerant during recovery
6 Key Regulations
- • Must recover before opening system
- • Venting prohibited (except exempt refrigerants)
- • Sales restriction - only to certified technicians
- • Proper disposal of equipment
- • AIM Act - HFC phase-down (2024+)
- • Leak rate thresholds and repair deadlines
Recovery Requirements
| Equipment Type | Charge Size | Recovery Level (Operating) | Recovery Level (Non-Op) |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-Pressure Equipment (Type II) | |||
| High-Pressure Appliances | < 200 lbs | 0 psig | 0 psig |
| High-Pressure Appliances | ≥ 200 lbs | 0 psig | 0 psig |
| Low-Pressure Equipment (Type III) | |||
| Low-Pressure Appliances | All sizes | 25" Hg vacuum | 25" Hg vacuum |
| Small Appliances (Type I) | |||
| Small Appliances | ≤ 5 lbs | 90% or 4" Hg vacuum | 80% or 4" Hg vacuum |
Important Notes
- • If recovery equipment was manufactured before Nov 15, 1993, recovery may be to 80% of required level
- • System-dependent recovery only allowed on appliances with operating compressor
- • Self-contained recovery required when compressor is non-operational
Exceptions to Recovery
- • De minimis releases during normal service operations
- • Releases during repair that would not be reasonable to prevent
- • Nitrogen used for leak testing
- • Exempt refrigerants (CO2, ammonia in certain applications)
Key Facts to Remember
Recovery Cylinder Fill
Never fill recovery cylinder above 80% capacity
Cylinder Colors
Recovery: Gray body, Yellow top
Maximum Cylinder Temp
Never heat cylinder above 125°F
Leak Detection
Use nitrogen or approved refrigerant detectors. Never use oxygen or acetylene
Small Appliance Definition
Appliances manufactured with 5 lbs or less refrigerant
Record Keeping
Must keep records for 3 years
Leak Repair (Commercial)
Comfort cooling: 30 days (≥50 lbs charge)
Disposal
Must recover refrigerant before disposing of appliance
Phosgene Gas
Formed when refrigerant contacts open flame - toxic
Certification Transfer
Certification is personal - not transferable
R-22 Status
Production/import ended January 1, 2020
SNAP Program
Significant New Alternatives Policy - approves refrigerant substitutes
Leak Rate Thresholds
Industrial Process Refrigeration
Must repair within 30 days of discovery. Extensions available with approved retrofit/retirement plan.
Commercial Refrigeration
Includes supermarket systems, cold storage. Must repair within 30 days.
Comfort Cooling
Residential and commercial AC systems. Must repair within 30 days if charge ≥50 lbs.
Note: Leak rate = (refrigerant added / full charge) × (365 / days between charges) × 100%
Penalties for Violations
Civil Penalties
Penalties are adjusted annually for inflation. EPA can assess penalties without going to court.
Criminal Penalties
For knowing violations. Organizations may face fines up to $500,000 per violation.
Common Violations Include:
- • Intentionally venting refrigerant
- • Failing to recover refrigerant
- • Working without certification
- • Selling refrigerant to uncertified individuals
- • Failing to repair leaks within required timeframe
- • Improper record keeping
- • Disposing of appliances with refrigerant
- • Using non-certified recovery equipment
Study Tips
Before the Exam
- Review all certification types, even if only testing for one
- Memorize recovery requirements and leak rate thresholds
- Understand the difference between CFCs, HCFCs, and HFCs
- Know the penalty amounts (they're often asked)
- Take practice tests to identify weak areas
During the Exam
- Read each question carefully - look for keywords
- Eliminate obviously wrong answers first
- Watch for "NEVER" and "ALWAYS" statements
- Don't overthink - go with your first instinct
- You need 70% to pass - that's 18 out of 25