EPA 608 CORE Exam Guide Questions and
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales
Question 1
Which type of refrigerant is the most harmful to the stratospheric ozone?
Correct Answer
Refrigerants containing Bromine.
Question 2
To obtain an accurate vacuum reading during system evacuation, the system vacuum
gauge should be located:
Correct Answer
As far from the vacuum pump as possible.
Question 3
To scrap a disposable cylinder, the internal cylinder pressure should be reduced to at
least what?
Correct Answer
0 psig
Page 1 of 348
,Question 4
Which gas(es) would cause the LEAST damage to the environment during a leak
check?
Correct Answer
Dry Nitrogen
Question 1: According to EPA Section 608 regulations, what is the primary purpose of
the refrigerant recovery certification program?
A. To train technicians in advanced sales and marketing of HVAC equipment
B. To minimize refrigerant emissions into the atmosphere and protect the
stratospheric ozone layer
C. To regulate electrical wiring standards in residential heat pumps
D. To establish uniform pricing structures for refrigerant cylinders
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To minimize refrigerant emissions into the atmosphere and
protect the stratospheric ozone layer
Rationale: The EPA Section 608 technician certification program was established
under the Clean Air Act to ensure that technicians properly recover, recycle, and
reclaim refrigerants to prevent their release into the stratosphere.
Question 2: Which international environmental treaty served as the primary catalyst
for the phase-out of ozone-depleting substances such as CFCs and HCFCs?
A. The Kyoto Protocol
B. The Montreal Protocol
C. The Paris Agreement
D. The Helsinki Declaration
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The Montreal Protocol
Rationale: The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty agreed upon in 1987
designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production and
consumption of ozone-depleting substances, including chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).
Question 3: What chemical component is primarily responsible for the destruction of
stratospheric ozone molecules when CFC or HCFC refrigerants are released into the
atmosphere?
Page 2 of 348
,A. Hydrogen
B. Carbon
C. Chlorine
D. Fluorine
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Chlorine
Rationale: When CFCs and HCFCs migrate to the stratosphere, ultraviolet radiation
breaks them apart, releasing free chlorine atoms. A single chlorine atom can
catalytically destroy thousands of ozone molecules.
Question 4: Which class of refrigerants contains chlorine, fluorine, and carbon, has an
Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) greater than zero, and has been completely phased
out of production in the United States?
A. HFCs (Hydrofluorocarbons)
B. CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons)
C. HFOs (Hydrofluoroolefins)
D. HCFCs (Hydrochlorofluorocarbons)
CORRECT ANSWER: B. CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons)
Rationale: CFCs contain chlorine, fluorine, and carbon without any hydrogen atoms,
making them chemically stable and extremely potent ozone-depleting substances
with high ODP values.
Question 5: How does the Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) of
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) generally compare to that of Chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs)?
A. HCFCs have a much higher ODP than CFCs
B. HCFCs have an ODP of zero
C. HCFCs have a significantly lower ODP than CFCs because the hydrogen atom
makes them more reactive and shorter-lived in the lower atmosphere
D. HCFCs and CFCs have identical ODP values
CORRECT ANSWER: C. HCFCs have a significantly lower ODP than CFCs because the
hydrogen atom makes them more reactive and shorter-lived in the lower atmosphere
Page 3 of 348
, Rationale: Because HCFC molecules contain hydrogen, they tend to break down
more readily in the troposphere before reaching the stratosphere, resulting in a
lower (though non-zero) Ozone Depletion Potential compared to CFCs.
Question 6: Which refrigerant classification has an Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP)
of zero because it contains no chlorine atoms, although many have high Global
Warming Potentials (GWPs)?
A. CFCs
B. HCFCs
C. HFCs (Hydrofluorocarbons)
D. Halons
CORRECT ANSWER: C. HFCs (Hydrofluorocarbons)
Rationale: HFCs consist of hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon. Because they lack
chlorine, their ODP is zero; however, many HFCs possess high global warming
potentials, leading to subsequent phasedowns.
Question 7: What type of recovery equipment must be certified by an EPA-approved
laboratory under Section 608?
A. Manifold gauge sets
B. Refrigerant recovery and recycling equipment manufactured after November 15,
1993
C. Vacuum pumps used for system evacuation
D. Nitrogen pressure regulators
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Refrigerant recovery and recycling equipment manufactured
after November 15, 1993
Rationale: EPA regulations mandate that all refrigerant recovery and recycling
equipment manufactured after November 15, 1993, must be certified by an EPA-
approved testing organization to meet specific evacuation rate and performance
standards.
Question 8: Under EPA Section 608 regulations, what is the legal definition of
"recovery" when servicing refrigeration and air conditioning equipment?
A. To process refrigerant to new product specifications using chemical analysis
B. To remove refrigerant from a system in any condition and store it in an external
container without necessarily testing or processing it
Page 4 of 348
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales
Question 1
Which type of refrigerant is the most harmful to the stratospheric ozone?
Correct Answer
Refrigerants containing Bromine.
Question 2
To obtain an accurate vacuum reading during system evacuation, the system vacuum
gauge should be located:
Correct Answer
As far from the vacuum pump as possible.
Question 3
To scrap a disposable cylinder, the internal cylinder pressure should be reduced to at
least what?
Correct Answer
0 psig
Page 1 of 348
,Question 4
Which gas(es) would cause the LEAST damage to the environment during a leak
check?
Correct Answer
Dry Nitrogen
Question 1: According to EPA Section 608 regulations, what is the primary purpose of
the refrigerant recovery certification program?
A. To train technicians in advanced sales and marketing of HVAC equipment
B. To minimize refrigerant emissions into the atmosphere and protect the
stratospheric ozone layer
C. To regulate electrical wiring standards in residential heat pumps
D. To establish uniform pricing structures for refrigerant cylinders
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To minimize refrigerant emissions into the atmosphere and
protect the stratospheric ozone layer
Rationale: The EPA Section 608 technician certification program was established
under the Clean Air Act to ensure that technicians properly recover, recycle, and
reclaim refrigerants to prevent their release into the stratosphere.
Question 2: Which international environmental treaty served as the primary catalyst
for the phase-out of ozone-depleting substances such as CFCs and HCFCs?
A. The Kyoto Protocol
B. The Montreal Protocol
C. The Paris Agreement
D. The Helsinki Declaration
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The Montreal Protocol
Rationale: The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty agreed upon in 1987
designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production and
consumption of ozone-depleting substances, including chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).
Question 3: What chemical component is primarily responsible for the destruction of
stratospheric ozone molecules when CFC or HCFC refrigerants are released into the
atmosphere?
Page 2 of 348
,A. Hydrogen
B. Carbon
C. Chlorine
D. Fluorine
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Chlorine
Rationale: When CFCs and HCFCs migrate to the stratosphere, ultraviolet radiation
breaks them apart, releasing free chlorine atoms. A single chlorine atom can
catalytically destroy thousands of ozone molecules.
Question 4: Which class of refrigerants contains chlorine, fluorine, and carbon, has an
Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) greater than zero, and has been completely phased
out of production in the United States?
A. HFCs (Hydrofluorocarbons)
B. CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons)
C. HFOs (Hydrofluoroolefins)
D. HCFCs (Hydrochlorofluorocarbons)
CORRECT ANSWER: B. CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons)
Rationale: CFCs contain chlorine, fluorine, and carbon without any hydrogen atoms,
making them chemically stable and extremely potent ozone-depleting substances
with high ODP values.
Question 5: How does the Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) of
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) generally compare to that of Chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs)?
A. HCFCs have a much higher ODP than CFCs
B. HCFCs have an ODP of zero
C. HCFCs have a significantly lower ODP than CFCs because the hydrogen atom
makes them more reactive and shorter-lived in the lower atmosphere
D. HCFCs and CFCs have identical ODP values
CORRECT ANSWER: C. HCFCs have a significantly lower ODP than CFCs because the
hydrogen atom makes them more reactive and shorter-lived in the lower atmosphere
Page 3 of 348
, Rationale: Because HCFC molecules contain hydrogen, they tend to break down
more readily in the troposphere before reaching the stratosphere, resulting in a
lower (though non-zero) Ozone Depletion Potential compared to CFCs.
Question 6: Which refrigerant classification has an Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP)
of zero because it contains no chlorine atoms, although many have high Global
Warming Potentials (GWPs)?
A. CFCs
B. HCFCs
C. HFCs (Hydrofluorocarbons)
D. Halons
CORRECT ANSWER: C. HFCs (Hydrofluorocarbons)
Rationale: HFCs consist of hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon. Because they lack
chlorine, their ODP is zero; however, many HFCs possess high global warming
potentials, leading to subsequent phasedowns.
Question 7: What type of recovery equipment must be certified by an EPA-approved
laboratory under Section 608?
A. Manifold gauge sets
B. Refrigerant recovery and recycling equipment manufactured after November 15,
1993
C. Vacuum pumps used for system evacuation
D. Nitrogen pressure regulators
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Refrigerant recovery and recycling equipment manufactured
after November 15, 1993
Rationale: EPA regulations mandate that all refrigerant recovery and recycling
equipment manufactured after November 15, 1993, must be certified by an EPA-
approved testing organization to meet specific evacuation rate and performance
standards.
Question 8: Under EPA Section 608 regulations, what is the legal definition of
"recovery" when servicing refrigeration and air conditioning equipment?
A. To process refrigerant to new product specifications using chemical analysis
B. To remove refrigerant from a system in any condition and store it in an external
container without necessarily testing or processing it
Page 4 of 348
