EPA 608 Certification Core: Recovery, Recycling, Reclamation and Safety Syllabus

Core: Recovery, Recycling, Reclamation and Safety syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Core: Recovery, Recycling, Reclamation and Safety in EPA 608 Certification, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Recovery, Recycling, and Reclamation Distinctions

   4 topics

   • Three R Definitions
     • Recovery: removing refrigerant from a system into a container
     • Recycling: cleaning refrigerant on-site by oil separation and filtration
     • Reclamation: reprocessing to ARI/AHRI 700 purity standard
   • AHRI 700 Purity Specification for Reclaimed Refrigerant
   • Certified Reclaimers and the Sale of Reclaimed Refrigerant
   • Restrictions on Selling Used Refrigerant Between Owners
2. 2

   Recovery Equipment Standards and Certification

   4 topics

   • Equipment Certification Requirements
     • EPA-approved equipment manufactured after November 15, 1993
     • Self-contained versus system-dependent recovery equipment
   • Required Recovery Efficiency Levels by Equipment Date
   • Recovery Cylinder (DOT) Requirements and Color Coding (gray with yellow top)
   • 80 Percent Fill Limit and Overfill Hazards
3. 3

   Refrigerant Handling Safety

   4 topics

   • Personal Protective Equipment and Exposure Hazards
     • Eye and skin protection against frostbite from liquid refrigerant
     • Ventilation and asphyxiation/oxygen-displacement risks
   • Pressurized Cylinder Safety
     • Hydrostatic testing and DOT cylinder requirements
     • Never heating cylinders above 125 degrees F
     • Phosgene gas formation when refrigerant contacts open flame
   • SCBA and Self-Contained Breathing for High-Concentration Areas
   • Safe Transport and Storage of Refrigerant Cylinders
4. 4

   Shipping, Disposal, and Recordkeeping

   4 topics

   • Disposal of Appliances
     • Final disposal venting and labeling requirements
     • Signed statement requirement when last person in disposal chain
   • DOT Shipping Regulations for Recovered Refrigerant
   • Recordkeeping for Recovery, Sales, and Disposal
   • Section 608 Technician Certification Recordkeeping and Permanence

Core: Recovery, Recycling, Reclamation and Safety flashcards for EPA 608 Certification

20 of 50 cards from the Core: Recovery, Recycling, Reclamation and Safety deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What do the "Three Rs" stand for in EPA 608 refrigerant handling?

   Recover, Recycle, and Reclaim.

2. Define "Recover" in the context of refrigerant management.

   To remove refrigerant in any condition from a system and store it in an external container, without necessarily testing or processing it.

3. Define "Recycle" in the context of refrigerant management.

   To clean refrigerant for reuse by oil separation and single or multiple passes through devices (such as filter-driers) that reduce moisture, acidity, and particulate matter; typically done on-site or at a local service shop.

4. Define "Reclaim" in the context of refrigerant management.

   To reprocess refrigerant to meet the AHRI 700 purity specification and verify it by chemical analysis; reclamation can only be done by an EPA-certified reclaimer.

5. Which of the Three Rs requires laboratory chemical analysis to verify purity?

   Reclaim — reclaimed refrigerant must be chemically analyzed and verified to meet AHRI 700.

6. What purity standard must reclaimed refrigerant meet?

   The AHRI Standard 700 purity specification (the industry standard for refrigerant purity).

7. What minimum purity percentage does AHRI 700 generally require for reclaimed refrigerant?

   99.5% purity (the refrigerant must be at least 99.5% pure).

8. What organization sets the standard (700) used to verify reclaimed refrigerant purity?

   AHRI — the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute.

9. Who is allowed to reclaim refrigerant and certify it to AHRI 700?

   Only an EPA-certified reclaimer.

10. Can recycled (but not reclaimed) refrigerant be sold to a new owner on the open market?

    No. Refrigerant sold to a different owner must be reclaimed to AHRI 700 by a certified reclaimer; recycled refrigerant can only be reused by the same owner.

11. Under what condition may used refrigerant be reused without being reclaimed?

    When it is recycled and returned to equipment owned by the same owner (charged back into the same or another system belonging to that owner).

12. What is the rule for selling used refrigerant between different equipment owners?

    Used refrigerant transferred to a new owner must first be reclaimed to AHRI 700 purity by an EPA-certified reclaimer before it can be resold/used.

13. If a technician recovers refrigerant from one customer's unit, can it be charged into a different customer's unit without reclamation?

    No. Because ownership changes, the refrigerant must be reclaimed to AHRI 700 first.

14. What must recovery/recycling equipment manufactured be certified by to meet EPA requirements?

    It must be certified by an EPA-approved equipment-testing organization (such as UL or AHRI) to meet EPA standards.

15. What standard must self-contained recovery equipment meet for evacuation performance?

    It must be certified to achieve the required recovery vacuum levels specified by EPA based on the appliance type and the equipment's manufacture date.

16. For recovery/recycling equipment manufactured on or after November 15, 1993, what must it be?

    It must be certified by an EPA-approved equipment testing organization to meet the applicable recovery efficiency standards.

17. For a high-pressure appliance with a charge of 200 lbs or more (recovery equipment made on/after Nov 15, 1993), what recovery vacuum level is required?

    15 inches of mercury (in. Hg) vacuum.

18. For a high-pressure appliance with less than 200 lbs of charge (recovery equipment made on/after Nov 15, 1993), what recovery vacuum level is required?

    10 inches of mercury (in. Hg) vacuum.

19. For a very high-pressure appliance, what recovery level must be achieved?

    0 psig (atmospheric pressure).

20. For recovery equipment manufactured before November 15, 1993, what vacuum is required for high-pressure appliances?

    4 inches of mercury (in. Hg) vacuum, regardless of charge size.

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