EPA 608 HVAC Certification Exam 2026 |
200+ Practice Questions, Verified Answers &
Rationales Study Guide
• This study guide contains 200 practice questions with verified answers and
EXPERT RATIONALE to help you prepare confidently for the EPA 608 HVAC
Certification Exam covering all four sections.
• Read each question carefully, attempt an answer before revealing the correct
option, and use the EXPERT RATIONALE to reinforce your understanding of the
underlying concept.
1. What is the primary purpose of the EPA Section 608 regulations?
A. To regulate the sale of HVAC equipment
B. To set energy efficiency standards for refrigeration systems
C. To reduce the emission of ozone-depleting refrigerants into the atmosphere
D. To certify HVAC technicians in electrical safety
E. To establish refrigerant pricing standards
Correct Answer: C. To reduce the emission of ozone-depleting refrigerants
into the atmosphere
EXPERT RATIONALE: EPA Section 608 was enacted under the Clean Air Act to prevent the
release of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) during the servicing, maintenance, repair,
and disposal of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment.
2. Who is required to be certified under EPA Section 608?
A. Anyone who sells refrigerants
B. Anyone who purchases refrigerant cylinders
C. Anyone who purchases or works on HVAC equipment
D. Technicians who purchase and handle refrigerants while servicing refrigeration
and AC equipment
,E. Only technicians who work on commercial refrigeration systems
Correct Answer: D. Technicians who purchase and handle refrigerants
while servicing refrigeration and AC equipment
EXPERT RATIONALE: EPA 608 certification is required for technicians who buy or handle
refrigerants during the maintenance, service, repair, or disposal of appliances containing
refrigerants.
3. Which of the following refrigerants is classified as an ozone-depleting
substance (ODS)?
A. R-410A
B. R-134a
C. R-32
D. R-22
E. R-744
Correct Answer: D. R-22
EXPERT RATIONALE: R-22 (chlorodifluoromethane) is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)
that contains chlorine, which depletes the ozone layer. R-410A and R-134a are HFCs and
do not contain chlorine.
4. What does the ozone layer protect the Earth from?
A. Infrared radiation
B. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation
C. Gamma radiation
D. Cosmic rays
E. Microwave radiation
Correct Answer: B. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation
,EXPERT RATIONALE: The stratospheric ozone layer absorbs and blocks harmful UV-B
radiation from the sun, protecting living organisms from radiation-related damage
including skin cancer and cataracts.
5. The Montreal Protocol is an international agreement that addresses which
issue?
A. Carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles
B. Refrigerant pricing regulations worldwide
C. The phase-out of ozone-depleting substances globally
D. Energy efficiency standards for appliances
E. Global warming potential of all greenhouse gases
Correct Answer: C. The phase-out of ozone-depleting substances globally
EXPERT RATIONALE: The Montreal Protocol, signed in 1987, is an international treaty
designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production and use of ozone-
depleting substances such as CFCs and HCFCs.
6. What is the ozone depletion potential (ODP) of R-11?
A. 0.05
B. 0.5
C. 1.0
D. 2.0
E. 0.0
Correct Answer: C. 1.0
EXPERT RATIONALE: R-11 (trichlorofluoromethane) is the reference compound for ODP
measurements, given an ODP of 1.0. All other refrigerants are measured relative to R-11.
, 7. Which refrigerant has an ozone depletion potential (ODP) of zero?
A. R-12
B. R-22
C. R-502
D. R-410A
E. R-11
Correct Answer: D. R-410A
EXPERT RATIONALE: R-410A is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) blend containing no chlorine
or bromine, giving it an ODP of zero. However, it does have a high global warming
potential (GWP).
8. What is the global warming potential (GWP) used to measure?
A. The ability of a substance to destroy the ozone layer
B. The heat-trapping ability of a gas relative to carbon dioxide
C. The energy efficiency of refrigerants
D. The flammability rating of a refrigerant
E. The toxicity level of a substance in the atmosphere
Correct Answer: B. The heat-trapping ability of a gas relative to carbon
dioxide
EXPERT RATIONALE: GWP measures how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the
atmosphere over a specific time period, relative to CO₂ which has a GWP of 1. A higher
GWP means a greater contribution to global warming.
9. Which of the following is a CFC refrigerant?
A. R-410A
200+ Practice Questions, Verified Answers &
Rationales Study Guide
• This study guide contains 200 practice questions with verified answers and
EXPERT RATIONALE to help you prepare confidently for the EPA 608 HVAC
Certification Exam covering all four sections.
• Read each question carefully, attempt an answer before revealing the correct
option, and use the EXPERT RATIONALE to reinforce your understanding of the
underlying concept.
1. What is the primary purpose of the EPA Section 608 regulations?
A. To regulate the sale of HVAC equipment
B. To set energy efficiency standards for refrigeration systems
C. To reduce the emission of ozone-depleting refrigerants into the atmosphere
D. To certify HVAC technicians in electrical safety
E. To establish refrigerant pricing standards
Correct Answer: C. To reduce the emission of ozone-depleting refrigerants
into the atmosphere
EXPERT RATIONALE: EPA Section 608 was enacted under the Clean Air Act to prevent the
release of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) during the servicing, maintenance, repair,
and disposal of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment.
2. Who is required to be certified under EPA Section 608?
A. Anyone who sells refrigerants
B. Anyone who purchases refrigerant cylinders
C. Anyone who purchases or works on HVAC equipment
D. Technicians who purchase and handle refrigerants while servicing refrigeration
and AC equipment
,E. Only technicians who work on commercial refrigeration systems
Correct Answer: D. Technicians who purchase and handle refrigerants
while servicing refrigeration and AC equipment
EXPERT RATIONALE: EPA 608 certification is required for technicians who buy or handle
refrigerants during the maintenance, service, repair, or disposal of appliances containing
refrigerants.
3. Which of the following refrigerants is classified as an ozone-depleting
substance (ODS)?
A. R-410A
B. R-134a
C. R-32
D. R-22
E. R-744
Correct Answer: D. R-22
EXPERT RATIONALE: R-22 (chlorodifluoromethane) is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)
that contains chlorine, which depletes the ozone layer. R-410A and R-134a are HFCs and
do not contain chlorine.
4. What does the ozone layer protect the Earth from?
A. Infrared radiation
B. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation
C. Gamma radiation
D. Cosmic rays
E. Microwave radiation
Correct Answer: B. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation
,EXPERT RATIONALE: The stratospheric ozone layer absorbs and blocks harmful UV-B
radiation from the sun, protecting living organisms from radiation-related damage
including skin cancer and cataracts.
5. The Montreal Protocol is an international agreement that addresses which
issue?
A. Carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles
B. Refrigerant pricing regulations worldwide
C. The phase-out of ozone-depleting substances globally
D. Energy efficiency standards for appliances
E. Global warming potential of all greenhouse gases
Correct Answer: C. The phase-out of ozone-depleting substances globally
EXPERT RATIONALE: The Montreal Protocol, signed in 1987, is an international treaty
designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production and use of ozone-
depleting substances such as CFCs and HCFCs.
6. What is the ozone depletion potential (ODP) of R-11?
A. 0.05
B. 0.5
C. 1.0
D. 2.0
E. 0.0
Correct Answer: C. 1.0
EXPERT RATIONALE: R-11 (trichlorofluoromethane) is the reference compound for ODP
measurements, given an ODP of 1.0. All other refrigerants are measured relative to R-11.
, 7. Which refrigerant has an ozone depletion potential (ODP) of zero?
A. R-12
B. R-22
C. R-502
D. R-410A
E. R-11
Correct Answer: D. R-410A
EXPERT RATIONALE: R-410A is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) blend containing no chlorine
or bromine, giving it an ODP of zero. However, it does have a high global warming
potential (GWP).
8. What is the global warming potential (GWP) used to measure?
A. The ability of a substance to destroy the ozone layer
B. The heat-trapping ability of a gas relative to carbon dioxide
C. The energy efficiency of refrigerants
D. The flammability rating of a refrigerant
E. The toxicity level of a substance in the atmosphere
Correct Answer: B. The heat-trapping ability of a gas relative to carbon
dioxide
EXPERT RATIONALE: GWP measures how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the
atmosphere over a specific time period, relative to CO₂ which has a GWP of 1. A higher
GWP means a greater contribution to global warming.
9. Which of the following is a CFC refrigerant?
A. R-410A
