EPA Core Certification (All Technician Types) Study Guide Newest
Version 2026
This section covers the foundational knowledge required of every technician, regardless
of specialization. It includes regulations, the refrigeration cycle, and the properties of
refrigerants and oils.
1. What is the primary environmental consequence of releasing CFCs and HCFCs
into the atmosphere?
ANSWER ✓ The chlorine atoms in these refrigerants rise to the stratosphere and destroy
ozone molecules, depleting the protective ozone layer and allowing more harmful UV
radiation to reach the earth .
2. Which international treaty mandated the phase-out of ozone-depleting
refrigerants?
ANSWER ✓ The Montreal Protocol .
3. Under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act, what is the penalty for knowingly
venting refrigerants?
ANSWER ✓ Technicians can face significant fines, which can exceed $45,000 per day, per
violation .
4. What are the "Three R's" of refrigeration?
ANSWER ✓ Recover, Recycle, and Reclaim .
5. What is the difference between recycling and reclaiming refrigerant?
ANSWER ✓ Recycling is cleaning the refrigerant for reuse in the same owner's
equipment without laboratory analysis. Reclaiming is reprocessing it to the purity
standard of new refrigerant (ARI 700), which allows it to be sold for use in any system .
6. What are the four main components of the basic refrigeration cycle, in order?
ANSWER ✓ Compressor, Condenser, Metering Device, Evaporator .
, 7. In which component does the refrigerant absorb heat, and in which does it
reject heat?
ANSWER ✓ The refrigerant absorbs heat in the evaporator. The refrigerant rejects
heat in the condenser .
8. What is the function of the compressor?
ANSWER ✓ It draws in low-pressure, low-temperature vapor and compresses it,
discharging high-pressure, high-temperature, superheated vapor .
9. What does the metering device do?
ANSWER ✓ It creates a pressure drop, separating the high and low sides of the system
and metering the flow of liquid refrigerant into the evaporator .
10. What color is the low-pressure gauge on a manifold set, and what does it
measure?
ANSWER ✓ It is typically blue and measures the low-side (suction) pressure in psig and
vacuum in inches of Mercury (inHg) .
11. What is the difference between CFCs, HCFCs, and HFCs?
ANSWER ✓ CFCs (e.g., R-12) have the highest Ozone Depletion Potential
(ODP). HCFCs (e.g., R-22) have a lower ODP and are transitional. HFCs (e.g., R-134a)
have zero ODP but can have high Global Warming Potential (GWP) .
12. What type of oil is typically used with CFCs and HCFCs like R-12 and R-22?
ANSWER ✓ Mineral oil is typically used with CFCs, and Alkylbenzene oil is commonly
used with HCFCs .
13. What type of oil is required for HFC refrigerants like R-134a?
ANSWER ✓ Polyol Ester (POE) oil is required, as mineral oil is not miscible with HFCs .
14. What does it mean if an oil is "hygroscopic"?
ANSWER ✓ It means the oil readily absorbs moisture from the air .
15. What is a "zeotropic" refrigerant blend?
Version 2026
This section covers the foundational knowledge required of every technician, regardless
of specialization. It includes regulations, the refrigeration cycle, and the properties of
refrigerants and oils.
1. What is the primary environmental consequence of releasing CFCs and HCFCs
into the atmosphere?
ANSWER ✓ The chlorine atoms in these refrigerants rise to the stratosphere and destroy
ozone molecules, depleting the protective ozone layer and allowing more harmful UV
radiation to reach the earth .
2. Which international treaty mandated the phase-out of ozone-depleting
refrigerants?
ANSWER ✓ The Montreal Protocol .
3. Under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act, what is the penalty for knowingly
venting refrigerants?
ANSWER ✓ Technicians can face significant fines, which can exceed $45,000 per day, per
violation .
4. What are the "Three R's" of refrigeration?
ANSWER ✓ Recover, Recycle, and Reclaim .
5. What is the difference between recycling and reclaiming refrigerant?
ANSWER ✓ Recycling is cleaning the refrigerant for reuse in the same owner's
equipment without laboratory analysis. Reclaiming is reprocessing it to the purity
standard of new refrigerant (ARI 700), which allows it to be sold for use in any system .
6. What are the four main components of the basic refrigeration cycle, in order?
ANSWER ✓ Compressor, Condenser, Metering Device, Evaporator .
, 7. In which component does the refrigerant absorb heat, and in which does it
reject heat?
ANSWER ✓ The refrigerant absorbs heat in the evaporator. The refrigerant rejects
heat in the condenser .
8. What is the function of the compressor?
ANSWER ✓ It draws in low-pressure, low-temperature vapor and compresses it,
discharging high-pressure, high-temperature, superheated vapor .
9. What does the metering device do?
ANSWER ✓ It creates a pressure drop, separating the high and low sides of the system
and metering the flow of liquid refrigerant into the evaporator .
10. What color is the low-pressure gauge on a manifold set, and what does it
measure?
ANSWER ✓ It is typically blue and measures the low-side (suction) pressure in psig and
vacuum in inches of Mercury (inHg) .
11. What is the difference between CFCs, HCFCs, and HFCs?
ANSWER ✓ CFCs (e.g., R-12) have the highest Ozone Depletion Potential
(ODP). HCFCs (e.g., R-22) have a lower ODP and are transitional. HFCs (e.g., R-134a)
have zero ODP but can have high Global Warming Potential (GWP) .
12. What type of oil is typically used with CFCs and HCFCs like R-12 and R-22?
ANSWER ✓ Mineral oil is typically used with CFCs, and Alkylbenzene oil is commonly
used with HCFCs .
13. What type of oil is required for HFC refrigerants like R-134a?
ANSWER ✓ Polyol Ester (POE) oil is required, as mineral oil is not miscible with HFCs .
14. What does it mean if an oil is "hygroscopic"?
ANSWER ✓ It means the oil readily absorbs moisture from the air .
15. What is a "zeotropic" refrigerant blend?
