EPA 608 HVAC CERTIFICATION – COMPREHENSIVE EXAM READY -
VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - COMPREHENSIVE LATEST
VERSION (2026/2027)
Introduction
This comprehensive study guide contains 300 questions and answers covering all
sections of the EPA Section 608 certification exam. The questions are organized
into four main sections:
• Core Section - Required for all technicians
• Type I - Small appliances (less than 5 pounds of refrigerant)
• Type II - High-pressure refrigerants (air conditioning, heat pumps)
• Type III - Low-pressure refrigerants (centrifugal chillers)
CORE Section (All Technicians)
Q1: What is the primary purpose of the EPA 608 certification?
ANSWER To ensure that technicians servicing air conditioning and refrigeration
equipment are properly trained in minimizing and preventing the release of ozone-
depleting refrigerants into the atmosphere.
Q2: Which law gives the EPA authority to regulate refrigerant use and
handling?
ANSWER The Clean Air Act, Section 608.
Q3: What international agreement phased out the production of CFCs?
ANSWER The Montreal Protocol.
Q4: What does ODP stand for?
,ANSWER Ozone Depletion Potential - a measure of a substance's ability to
destroy stratospheric ozone compared to CFC-11.
Q5: What does GWP stand for?
ANSWER Global Warming Potential - a measure of how much heat a greenhouse
gas traps in the atmosphere compared to carbon dioxide.
Q6: When did CFC production end in the United States?
ANSWER January 1, 1996.
Q7: When did HCFC production phase-down begin?
ANSWER January 1, 2010, with complete phase-out scheduled for 2020 (with
limited exceptions until 2030).
Q8: What are the three types of EPA Section 608 certification?
ANSWER Type I (small appliances), Type II (high-pressure equipment), and
Type III (low-pressure equipment), plus Universal certification (all three types).
Q9: How long is an EPA 608 certification valid?
ANSWER The certification is valid for life and does not expire.
Q10: What is the minimum passing score for each section of the EPA 608
exam?
ANSWER 70% for each section (Core and any Type sections).
Q11: What is venting?
ANSWER The release of refrigerant directly from an appliance to the
atmosphere, which is prohibited except for de minimis releases associated with
good faith attempts to recapture refrigerant.
Q12: Is venting refrigerant ever allowed?
ANSWER No, except for de minimis releases (small releases) associated with
good faith attempts to recapture and recycle or safely dispose of refrigerant.
Q13: What are the penalties for knowingly venting refrigerant?
ANSWER Fines up to $44,539 per day per violation (as of 2021, adjusted for
inflation).
Q14: What does MVAC stand for?
,ANSWER Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning.
Q15: Are MVAC systems covered under Section 608?
ANSWER No, they are covered under Section 609 of the Clean Air Act.
Q16: What must be done before disposing of appliances containing
refrigerant?
ANSWER All refrigerant must be recovered from the appliance before disposal.
Q17: What is the required evacuation level for disposal of small appliances?
ANSWER 90% of the refrigerant must be recovered when using recovery
equipment manufactured before November 15, 1993, or 80% when using
equipment manufactured on or after that date.
Q18: Who can legally purchase refrigerant?
ANSWER Only EPA-certified technicians can purchase refrigerant.
Q19: What records must be kept for refrigerant sales?
ANSWER The wholesaler/distributor must verify and keep records of the
technician's EPA certification.
Q20: What is the difference between CFCs, HCFCs, and HFCs?
ANSWER CFCs contain chlorine, fluorine, and carbon (high ODP); HCFCs
contain hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, and carbon (lower ODP); HFCs contain
hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon (no chlorine, zero ODP but have GWP).
Q21: Where is the ozone layer located?
ANSWER In the stratosphere, approximately 6 to 30 miles above Earth's surface.
Q22: What does the ozone layer protect us from?
ANSWER Harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
Q23: What causes ozone depletion?
ANSWER Chlorine and bromine atoms from refrigerants and other chemicals
break down ozone molecules in the stratosphere.
Q24: Which has higher ozone depletion potential: CFCs or HCFCs?
ANSWER CFCs have higher ozone depletion potential than HCFCs.
, Q25: Do HFCs deplete the ozone layer?
ANSWER No, HFCs contain no chlorine and do not deplete the ozone layer, but
they do have global warming potential.
Q26: What is the primary chemical in CFCs that destroys ozone?
ANSWER Chlorine.
Q27: How long can a single chlorine atom destroy ozone?
ANSWER One chlorine atom can destroy over 100,000 ozone molecules before
being deactivated.
Q28: What health problems are associated with ozone depletion?
ANSWER Increased skin cancer, cataracts, immune system suppression, and
damage to marine ecosystems and agriculture.
Q29: What is the greenhouse effect?
ANSWER The trapping of heat in Earth's atmosphere by greenhouse gases, which
helps maintain Earth's temperature but can lead to global warming when
concentrations increase.
Q30: Are refrigerants greenhouse gases?
ANSWER Yes, most refrigerants are potent greenhouse gases with high global
warming potential.
Q31: Which refrigerant has the highest global warming potential?
ANSWER Among common refrigerants, R-23 has one of the highest GWPs
(about 14,800), though many refrigerant blends also have very high GWPs.
Q32: What is the GWP of R-410A?
ANSWER Approximately 2,088.
Q33: What is an HFO refrigerant?
ANSWER Hydrofluoroolefin - a newer class of refrigerants with very low GWP
designed to replace HFCs.
Q34: Name two common HFO refrigerants.
ANSWER R-1234yf and R-1234ze.
Q35: What is the typical GWP of HFO refrigerants?
VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - COMPREHENSIVE LATEST
VERSION (2026/2027)
Introduction
This comprehensive study guide contains 300 questions and answers covering all
sections of the EPA Section 608 certification exam. The questions are organized
into four main sections:
• Core Section - Required for all technicians
• Type I - Small appliances (less than 5 pounds of refrigerant)
• Type II - High-pressure refrigerants (air conditioning, heat pumps)
• Type III - Low-pressure refrigerants (centrifugal chillers)
CORE Section (All Technicians)
Q1: What is the primary purpose of the EPA 608 certification?
ANSWER To ensure that technicians servicing air conditioning and refrigeration
equipment are properly trained in minimizing and preventing the release of ozone-
depleting refrigerants into the atmosphere.
Q2: Which law gives the EPA authority to regulate refrigerant use and
handling?
ANSWER The Clean Air Act, Section 608.
Q3: What international agreement phased out the production of CFCs?
ANSWER The Montreal Protocol.
Q4: What does ODP stand for?
,ANSWER Ozone Depletion Potential - a measure of a substance's ability to
destroy stratospheric ozone compared to CFC-11.
Q5: What does GWP stand for?
ANSWER Global Warming Potential - a measure of how much heat a greenhouse
gas traps in the atmosphere compared to carbon dioxide.
Q6: When did CFC production end in the United States?
ANSWER January 1, 1996.
Q7: When did HCFC production phase-down begin?
ANSWER January 1, 2010, with complete phase-out scheduled for 2020 (with
limited exceptions until 2030).
Q8: What are the three types of EPA Section 608 certification?
ANSWER Type I (small appliances), Type II (high-pressure equipment), and
Type III (low-pressure equipment), plus Universal certification (all three types).
Q9: How long is an EPA 608 certification valid?
ANSWER The certification is valid for life and does not expire.
Q10: What is the minimum passing score for each section of the EPA 608
exam?
ANSWER 70% for each section (Core and any Type sections).
Q11: What is venting?
ANSWER The release of refrigerant directly from an appliance to the
atmosphere, which is prohibited except for de minimis releases associated with
good faith attempts to recapture refrigerant.
Q12: Is venting refrigerant ever allowed?
ANSWER No, except for de minimis releases (small releases) associated with
good faith attempts to recapture and recycle or safely dispose of refrigerant.
Q13: What are the penalties for knowingly venting refrigerant?
ANSWER Fines up to $44,539 per day per violation (as of 2021, adjusted for
inflation).
Q14: What does MVAC stand for?
,ANSWER Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning.
Q15: Are MVAC systems covered under Section 608?
ANSWER No, they are covered under Section 609 of the Clean Air Act.
Q16: What must be done before disposing of appliances containing
refrigerant?
ANSWER All refrigerant must be recovered from the appliance before disposal.
Q17: What is the required evacuation level for disposal of small appliances?
ANSWER 90% of the refrigerant must be recovered when using recovery
equipment manufactured before November 15, 1993, or 80% when using
equipment manufactured on or after that date.
Q18: Who can legally purchase refrigerant?
ANSWER Only EPA-certified technicians can purchase refrigerant.
Q19: What records must be kept for refrigerant sales?
ANSWER The wholesaler/distributor must verify and keep records of the
technician's EPA certification.
Q20: What is the difference between CFCs, HCFCs, and HFCs?
ANSWER CFCs contain chlorine, fluorine, and carbon (high ODP); HCFCs
contain hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, and carbon (lower ODP); HFCs contain
hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon (no chlorine, zero ODP but have GWP).
Q21: Where is the ozone layer located?
ANSWER In the stratosphere, approximately 6 to 30 miles above Earth's surface.
Q22: What does the ozone layer protect us from?
ANSWER Harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
Q23: What causes ozone depletion?
ANSWER Chlorine and bromine atoms from refrigerants and other chemicals
break down ozone molecules in the stratosphere.
Q24: Which has higher ozone depletion potential: CFCs or HCFCs?
ANSWER CFCs have higher ozone depletion potential than HCFCs.
, Q25: Do HFCs deplete the ozone layer?
ANSWER No, HFCs contain no chlorine and do not deplete the ozone layer, but
they do have global warming potential.
Q26: What is the primary chemical in CFCs that destroys ozone?
ANSWER Chlorine.
Q27: How long can a single chlorine atom destroy ozone?
ANSWER One chlorine atom can destroy over 100,000 ozone molecules before
being deactivated.
Q28: What health problems are associated with ozone depletion?
ANSWER Increased skin cancer, cataracts, immune system suppression, and
damage to marine ecosystems and agriculture.
Q29: What is the greenhouse effect?
ANSWER The trapping of heat in Earth's atmosphere by greenhouse gases, which
helps maintain Earth's temperature but can lead to global warming when
concentrations increase.
Q30: Are refrigerants greenhouse gases?
ANSWER Yes, most refrigerants are potent greenhouse gases with high global
warming potential.
Q31: Which refrigerant has the highest global warming potential?
ANSWER Among common refrigerants, R-23 has one of the highest GWPs
(about 14,800), though many refrigerant blends also have very high GWPs.
Q32: What is the GWP of R-410A?
ANSWER Approximately 2,088.
Q33: What is an HFO refrigerant?
ANSWER Hydrofluoroolefin - a newer class of refrigerants with very low GWP
designed to replace HFCs.
Q34: Name two common HFO refrigerants.
ANSWER R-1234yf and R-1234ze.
Q35: What is the typical GWP of HFO refrigerants?
