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EPA 608 NEC 2023

EPA 608 Core Practice Test 20

This practice test focuses on the substantial leak repair rule: the 50-pound charge threshold, the 15% and 35% yearly leak-rate limits, and the 30-day repair window. It also works through short scenarios to test whether you can apply the rule correctly, plus a full review of venting bans, recordkeeping, and cylinder safety.

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The EPA 608 certification is required by law for any technician who purchases or handles refrigerants. It covers safe handling, leak detection, recovery, and environmental regulations.

Type I covers small appliances (≤5 lbs refrigerant), Type II covers high-pressure systems, Type III covers low-pressure systems, and Universal covers all three. Most HVAC technicians pursue Universal certification.

You must score at least 70% on each section of the exam. The Universal exam has four parts: core, Type I, Type II, and Type III.

Core Exam Tip: The 15% and 35% leak-rate rules only kick in for appliances with 50 pounds or more of charge. Smaller systems are not covered by this specific threshold, even if they leak badly.

25

Questions

25 min

Time

70%

Pass

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EPA 608 Core Practice Test 20 — Question List

Question 1: In general, what is a "substantial leak" under EPA 608 rules?

Any leak at all, no matter how small
A yearly refrigerant loss that crosses a set percentage of the appliance's total charge
A leak that happens only during installation
A leak that only affects electrical wiring

Question 2: The substantial leak repair rule applies only to appliances with how much refrigerant charge?

5 pounds or more
500 pounds or more
50 pounds or more
It applies no matter the size

Question 3: What yearly leak rate triggers the repair requirement for a comfort cooling appliance with 50 pounds or more of charge?

35%
5%
15%
25%

Question 4: What yearly leak rate triggers the repair requirement for commercial or industrial process refrigeration with 50 pounds or more of charge?

15%
50%
35%
10%

Question 5: A comfort cooling system holds 100 pounds of refrigerant. Over one year, it loses 20 pounds to a leak. Does this trigger the substantial leak repair rule?

No, because the system is too small for the rule to apply
Yes, because 20 pounds out of 100 pounds is a 20% loss, above the 15% comfort cooling threshold
No, because 20 pounds is below the 35% threshold
Yes, but only because the refrigerant is an HFC

Question 6: Once a substantial leak is confirmed, how many days does the owner have to address it?

90 days
10 days
1 year
30 days

Question 7: A building owner discovers a substantial leak on a large chiller but decides fixing it is too expensive right now. What are the owner's legal options within the 30-day window?

Wait as long as needed with no deadline
Repair the leak, retrofit the appliance, or retire the appliance
Only repair is allowed, retrofitting is not permitted
Vent the remaining refrigerant and leave the appliance running

Question 8: Instead of repairing a leaking appliance, an owner decides to permanently take it out of service. What is this option called?

Retiring the appliance
Recycling the appliance
Reclaiming the appliance
Recovering the appliance

Question 9: Why do the substantial leak percentage thresholds only apply to appliances with 50 pounds or more of charge?

Larger systems can leak much more total refrigerant, even at the same percentage, so the rule targets the equipment with the greatest potential impact
Small appliances are physically incapable of leaking
It is simply a random cutoff with no reasoning behind it
Large appliances never actually leak in practice

Question 10: A small comfort cooling system holds only 40 pounds of refrigerant and loses 30% of its charge in a year. Does the substantial leak repair rule apply to it?

Yes, because 30% is above the 15% comfort cooling threshold
Yes, because all leaks must be repaired within 30 days regardless of size
No, because comfort cooling systems are always exempt
No, because the system holds less than 50 pounds of charge

Question 11: A supermarket's refrigerated display rack system, which holds 300 pounds of charge, is used for keeping food cold rather than cooling the building. Which substantial leak threshold applies to it?

15%, since it cools an enclosed space
35%, since it is commercial process refrigeration, not comfort cooling
It is exempt from all leak rules
50%, a special rate for supermarkets

Question 12: Since what date has venting CFC and HCFC refrigerant into the air been illegal?

November 15, 1995
January 1, 1990
July 1, 1987
July 1, 1992

Question 13: A technician removes refrigerant from a leaking appliance before repairing it and stores it in a cylinder without cleaning it. What is this process called?

Recovery
Recycling
Reclaiming
Retrofitting

Question 14: A technician needs to buy replacement refrigerant to top off a leaking system after a repair. At what purchase amount must this be documented?

25 pounds or more
2 pounds or more
10 pounds or more
Only purchases over 50 pounds

Question 15: How long should a service company keep its leak repair and refrigerant purchase records?

6 months
1 year
Indefinitely
3 years

Question 16: After repairing a leak, a technician cleans the recovered refrigerant on-site with a filter-drier cart before putting it back into the same system. What is this process called?

Recycling
Reclaiming
Evacuation
Venting

Question 17: What passing score is needed on the EPA 608 Core exam?

70%
50%
84%
100%

Question 18: While recovering refrigerant from a leaking system, what is the maximum a technician should fill a DOT-approved cylinder, by weight?

100% of rated capacity
80% of its rated capacity
40% of rated capacity
There is no set limit

Question 19: When a leak repair requires draining POE oil from an HFC system, how should the removed oil be stored?

In an open bucket
In a sealed plastic jug
Poured down a drain
In a sealed metal container

Question 20: A technician tries to recover refrigerant from a leaking system using system-dependent recovery equipment, but the appliance's compressor has seized. What happens?

The recovery equipment will not work, since it relies on the appliance's own compressor
The recovery equipment will work perfectly regardless
The technician should vent the refrigerant instead
System-dependent equipment does not need a compressor at all

Question 21: After retiring a leaking appliance, a company wants to sell the recovered refrigerant to another business. What must be done first?

Nothing, recovered refrigerant can always be resold
The refrigerant must be vented and replaced
The refrigerant must be reclaimed to AHRI Standard 700 purity at a certified facility
The buyer must be certified in Core only

Question 22: A leaking HFC system releases refrigerant with an ODP of 0 but a high GWP. What does the high GWP mean?

The refrigerant is completely safe to release
The refrigerant destroys ozone more than a CFC would
The refrigerant contributes significantly to global warming if released
GWP has no connection to leaks at all

Question 23: Which section of the EPA 608 exam is the only one that can be taken open-book?

Core
Type III
Universal
Type I

Question 24: A technician grabs an older recovery cylinder to store refrigerant recovered during a leak repair. What should be checked before using it?

The stamped hydrostatic retest date
The cylinder's paint color only
Whether it matches the truck's color scheme
Nothing, all cylinders are approved forever

Question 25: An industrial process refrigeration system with 500 pounds of charge loses 150 pounds over a year. Does this trigger the substantial leak repair rule?

Yes, because 30% is above the 15% comfort cooling threshold
Yes, because any system over 50 pounds must be repaired regardless of leak rate
No, because 150 out of 500 pounds is a 30% loss, which is below the 35% threshold for process refrigeration
No, because process refrigeration systems are always exempt from this rule

Study Tip: The EPA 608 exam is closed book. Memorize: recovery is required before opening any refrigerant system. Venting refrigerant is illegal. Know the ODP and GWP values for R-22, R-410A, R-134a, R-32, and R-454B.

EXAM CARD EPA 608

Questions25

Time limit25 min

Pass score70%

RegulationEPA Section 608

DifficultyIntermediate

Last reviewedJun 2026

Timer starts immediately. Progress is auto-saved.

Source: EPA Section 608 (40 CFR Part 82)