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EPA 608 NEC 2023

EPA 608 Core Exam Practice Test 4

Free Online EPA 608 Core Exam Practice Test 4This free 25-question practice test covers the EPA 608 Core exam section that all refrigerant technicians must pass. Topics include ASHRAE refrigerant safety classifications (toxicity and flammability), ozone depletion mechanics, Clean Air Act penalties, hygroscopic materials, system dehydration, composite refrigerant disposal, small appliance definitions, compressor burnout identification, system flushing procedures, pre-evacuation recovery requirements, cylinder storage rules, and sight glass maintenance.

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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.

Key facts for this test: ASHRAE toxicity categories are A (lower) and B (higher) — there is NO C or D. Chlorine atoms from CFCs destroy ozone in a chain reaction. The current EPA 608 violation fine is $44,539 per day. POE oil is highly hygroscopic — store in sealed metal containers. Heating a system during dehydration speeds moisture removal. Mixed/contaminated refrigerant CANNOT be reclaimed. Small appliances = ≤5 lbs, factory-sealed. Strong odor during recovery usually means compressor burnout. Always RECOVER refrigerant before pulling vacuum. Never store cylinders in hot areas (max 125°F/52°C).

25

Questions

45 min

Time

70%

Pass

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EPA 608 Core Exam Practice Test 4 — Question List

Question 1: Refrigerants in the ___________ category have higher toxicity under ASHRAE Standard 34.

A
B
C
D

Question 2: Which atom of CFC damages the ozone layer?

chlorine
carbon
fluoride
Fluorine

Question 3: What is the maximum civil penalty per day for knowingly venting refrigerant in violation of the Clean Air Act Section 608?

$44,539 per day
$25,000 per day
$10,000 per day
$5,000 per day

Question 4: The ability of a substance to absorb moisture easily from the surrounding air is called ___________.

hygroscopic
Azeotropic
Zeotropic
absorbent

Question 5: If a refrigerant system is gently heated during dehydration (evacuation), it ___________.

speeds up moisture removal
speeds up dust removal
speeds up hydrogen removal
speeds up oxygen removal

Question 6: Can refrigerant that has been contaminated or mixed with another type of refrigerant be reclaimed to meet AHRI Standard 700?

Yes
No

Question 7: Under EPA Section 608, a "small appliance" is defined as a factory-sealed hermetic system with ___________ pounds or less of refrigerant.

Five
Six
Eight
Nine

Question 8: During recovery if you smell strong odor, the most likely problem is ...........

compressor burnout
evaporator burnout
condenser burnout
metering device burnout

Question 9: If there are contaminants in oil what should be done?

The oil should be removed
The oil should be purified
The system need to be flushed
The refrigerant needs to recovered

Question 10: It is important to ___________ all refrigerant before evacuating a system.

Recover
Recycle
Dispose
Reclaim

Question 11: Refrigerant cylinders must never be stored in ___________ areas.

very cold
very hot
dust
sub cooled

Question 12: Ice that forms on sight glasses during service must be removed by using ___________.

alcohol spray
nitrogen spray
heater
screw driver

Question 13: In a zeotropic refrigerant blend, the refrigerant does NOT boil and condense at a single fixed temperature. This difference between the start and finish temperatures of evaporation is called ___________.

Fractionation
Temperature glide
Subcooling
Superheat

Question 14: Under the Clean Air Act, Class I ozone-depleting substances include ___________.

HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons)
CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons)
HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons)
HFOs (hydrofluoroolefins)

Question 15: The Montreal Protocol is an international agreement signed in 1987 that requires countries to phase out ___________.

Carbon dioxide emissions
Ozone-depleting substances (CFCs and HCFCs)
HFC refrigerants only
All industrial chemical production

Question 16: Starting January 1, 2010, new residential and commercial air conditioners in the United States were no longer allowed to use R-22. Which refrigerant replaced R-22 in most new equipment?

R-134a
R-410A
R-404A
R-407C

Question 17: The AIM Act (American Innovation and Manufacturing Act), signed in 2020, requires a phasedown of which class of refrigerants because of their high global warming potential?

CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons)
HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons)
HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons)
HFOs (hydrofluoroolefins)

Question 18: For pulling a deep vacuum on refrigerant systems, a two-stage vacuum pump is preferred over a single-stage pump because it ___________.

Is safer because it uses less electricity
Achieves a deeper vacuum (lower micron level)
Can recover refrigerant without a separate machine
Does not require oil changes

Question 19: In EPA and Clean Air Act regulations, the abbreviation "ODS" stands for ___________.

Oxygen Distribution System
Ozone Depleting Substance
Oil Desiccant Separator
Outdoor System Design

Question 20: True or False: There are some service situations where it is legal for a certified technician to intentionally vent regulated refrigerant into the atmosphere.

True
False

Question 21: Refrigerant cylinders must not be stored in environments where the temperature exceeds ___________.

75°F (24°C)
100°F (38°C)
125°F (52°C)
200°F (93°C)

Question 22: In a refrigeration system, the "liquid line" is the pipe that carries refrigerant between ___________.

The evaporator outlet and the compressor inlet
The condenser outlet and the expansion valve inlet
The compressor outlet and the condenser inlet
The expansion valve outlet and the evaporator inlet

Question 23: If vacuum pump oil turns milky white during or after system evacuation, what does this indicate?

The oil has too much refrigerant lubricant mixed in
Moisture has entered the vacuum pump oil
The pump is overheating
The oil is at the correct level

Question 24: "ODP" stands for ___________, and it measures how damaging a substance is to the stratospheric ozone layer compared to R-11.

Oxygen Displacement Percentage
Ozone Depletion Potential
Oil Decomposition Point
Operating Design Pressure

Question 25: "GWP" stands for ___________, and it compares how much heat a gas traps in the atmosphere relative to carbon dioxide (CO₂ = 1).

Gas Waste Percentage
Global Warming Potential
Ground Water Purity
General Working Pressure

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 limit45 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)