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

The Core: Recovery, Recycling, Reclamation and Safety syllabus for EPA 608 Certification in full: 4 chapters, 16 topics and 12 sub-topics, every one listed below, plus 50 Core: Recovery, Recycling, Reclamation and Safety flashcards with answers.

4Chapters
16Topics
12Sub-topics
50Flashcards

Core: Recovery, Recycling, Reclamation and Safety syllabus: all 4 chapters

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics.

  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. 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. 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. 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

EPA 608 Certification Core: Recovery, Recycling, Reclamation and Safety flashcards — 50 questions with 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.

Show the other 30 Core: Recovery, Recycling, Reclamation and Safety flashcards

  1. Why are required recovery vacuum levels lower for older (pre-Nov 15, 1993) equipment?

    Older recovery equipment was less efficient, so EPA set less stringent (lower vacuum) recovery requirements for it.

  2. What color scheme identifies a DOT-approved refrigerant recovery cylinder?

    Gray body with a yellow top (yellow shoulder).

  3. What does the gray-with-yellow-top color coding on a cylinder indicate?

    It identifies a recovery cylinder used to hold recovered/used refrigerant (as opposed to a virgin refrigerant cylinder).

  4. What agency's approval must a refrigerant recovery cylinder carry?

    DOT (Department of Transportation) — cylinders must be DOT-approved.

  5. How often must DOT recovery cylinders be requalified (hydrostatically retested)?

    Every 5 years.

  6. To what maximum percentage of capacity may a refrigerant recovery cylinder be filled?

    80% of its capacity (the 80% fill limit).

  7. Why must a recovery cylinder not be filled beyond 80% of capacity?

    To leave room for liquid expansion as temperature rises; overfilling can cause hydrostatic (liquid) expansion that ruptures the cylinder.

  8. What is the hazard of overfilling a refrigerant cylinder past the 80% limit?

    Liquid refrigerant expands with temperature; with no vapor space, pressure rises sharply and the cylinder can explode/rupture violently.

  9. What device or method is used to ensure a recovery cylinder is not overfilled?

    A scale to weigh the cylinder, or a float/electronic level device that stops filling at 80% capacity.

  10. What two pieces of PPE are essential when handling refrigerant to protect skin and eyes?

    Chemical-resistant gloves and safety goggles/glasses (to prevent frostbite and eye injury from liquid refrigerant).

  11. What injury can occur if liquid refrigerant contacts skin or eyes?

    Frostbite (freezing of tissue), because liquid refrigerant evaporates rapidly and is extremely cold.

  12. What breathing hazard does refrigerant pose in an enclosed, poorly ventilated space?

    Refrigerant is heavier than air and displaces oxygen, which can cause asphyxiation/suffocation.

  13. What breathing equipment is required when entering an area with a high concentration of refrigerant or an oxygen-deficient atmosphere?

    Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).

  14. Why is an ordinary dust mask or cartridge respirator inadequate in a high-refrigerant-concentration area?

    They do not supply oxygen; in an oxygen-displaced atmosphere only an SCBA (self-contained air supply) protects against asphyxiation.

  15. What toxic gas can form when refrigerant contacts an open flame or very hot surface?

    Phosgene gas (and other toxic decomposition products such as hydrofluoric/hydrochloric acid), which is poisonous.

  16. Why should you never use compressed air or oxygen to pressure-test a system that may contain refrigerant?

    Mixing oxygen (or air) with refrigerant under pressure can form a combustible/explosive mixture; use dry nitrogen instead.

  17. What inert gas is recommended for pressure-testing or purging refrigerant systems?

    Dry nitrogen (often with a trace of refrigerant for leak detection).

  18. When transporting refrigerant cylinders in a vehicle, how should they be secured and positioned?

    Secured upright and restrained (e.g., strapped) to prevent rolling/tipping, and kept in a ventilated area, away from heat sources.

  19. At what maximum temperature should refrigerant cylinders be stored?

    Below 125°F (cylinders should never be exposed to temperatures above 125°F).

  20. Why must refrigerant cylinders be kept away from heat and direct sunlight during storage?

    Heat raises internal pressure, which can exceed the cylinder's pressure-relief setting and cause rupture or venting.

  21. Before disposing of an appliance, what must be done with its refrigerant?

    The refrigerant must be fully recovered to the required EPA recovery level before the appliance is disposed of or scrapped.

  22. Who is responsible for ensuring refrigerant is recovered from appliances being disposed of (e.g., at a scrap yard)?

    The final person in the disposal chain (e.g., the scrap recycler) must verify recovery, but anyone who takes the final step of disposal must ensure the refrigerant was removed.

  23. What signed statement must accompany small appliances sent for disposal under EPA rules?

    A signed statement (or label) verifying that the refrigerant has been properly recovered from the appliance.

  24. How must recovered refrigerant be classified for DOT shipping purposes?

    As hazardous material; it must be shipped in DOT-approved cylinders with proper labeling, marking, and shipping papers.

  25. What information must DOT shipping labels/papers identify for a cylinder of recovered refrigerant?

    The proper shipping name, hazard class, identification (UN) number, and the contents of the cylinder.

  26. Recordkeeping: what must technicians/owners keep regarding recovery and disposal of refrigerant?

    Records (invoices, logs) documenting the quantity of refrigerant recovered, recycled, reclaimed, sold, or disposed of, and the names/locations involved.

  27. How long must records of refrigerant disposal/recovery and sales generally be retained?

    At least 3 years.

  28. What must a reclaimer maintain records of?

    The names and addresses of suppliers of used refrigerant and the quantity of refrigerant received, reclaimed, and sold.

  29. How long is a Section 608 technician certification valid?

    It is valid for life (it does not expire).

  30. What must a Section 608 certified technician keep on file as proof of certification, and for how long?

    A copy of the certification card/record must be kept at the technician's place of business for as long as the technician remains employed there (proof must be retained and available for EPA inspection).

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

What is in the EPA 608 Certification Core: Recovery, Recycling, Reclamation and Safety syllabus?

EPA 608 Certification Core: Recovery, Recycling, Reclamation and Safety is split into 4 chapters: Recovery, Recycling, and Reclamation Distinctions, Recovery Equipment Standards and Certification, Refrigerant Handling Safety and Shipping, Disposal, and Recordkeeping. Together they contain 16 topics and 12 sub-topics.

How many chapters are in EPA 608 Certification Core: Recovery, Recycling, Reclamation and Safety?

4 chapters, containing 16 topics and 12 sub-topics. The largest chapter is Recovery, Recycling, and Reclamation Distinctions, with 4 topics.

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

Yes — a 50-card Core: Recovery, Recycling, Reclamation and Safety deck, printed in full in the flashcards section of this page and available in the Examius app with spaced repetition. The free plan covers one exam of your choice, including its flashcards; Examius Pro, a one-time purchase, unlocks every other exam and deck.