Section 608 Technician Certification Test Topics
Technicians must pass an EPA-approved test to earn Section 608 technician certification.
Below are some of the topics covered on the tests for each of the four types of technician certification. (Note that universal certification involves topics pertaining to the other three types of certification).
Ozone Depletion
- Destruction of ozone by chlorine
- Presence of chlorine in chlorofluorocarbon
chlorofluorocarbonA compound consisting of chlorine, fluorine, and carbon. CFCs are very stable in the troposphere. They move to the stratosphere and are broken down by strong ultraviolet (UV) light, where they release chlorine atoms that then deplete the ozone layer. CFCs are commonly used as refrigerants, solvents, and foam blowing agents. The most common CFCs are CFC-11, CFC-12, CFC-113, CFC-114, and CFC-115. The ozone depletion potential (ODP) for each CFC is, respectively, 1, 1, 0.8, 1, and 0.6. A table of all ozone-depleting substances (http://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/ods/index.html) shows their ODPs, global warming potentials (GWPs), and CAS numbers. CFCs are numbered according to a standard scheme (http://www.epa.gov/ozone/geninfo/numbers.html). (CFC) and hydrochlorofluorocarbon
hydrochlorofluorocarbonA compound consisting of hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, and carbon. The HCFCs are one class of chemicals being used to replace the CFCs. They contain chlorine and thus deplete stratospheric ozone, but to a much lesser extent than CFCs. HCFCs have ozone depletion potentials (ODPs) ranging from 0.01 to 0.1. Production of HCFCs with the highest ODPs are being phased out first, followed by other HCFCs. A table of ozone-depleting substances (http://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/ods/classtwo.html) shows their ODPs, GWPs, and CAS numbers. HCFCs are numbered according to a standard scheme (http://www.epa.gov/ozone/geninfo/numbers.html). (HCFC) refrigerants
- Identification of CFC, HCFC, and hydrofluorocarbon
hydrofluorocarbonA compound consisting of hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon. The HFCs are a class of replacements for CFCs. Because they do not contain chlorine or bromine, they do not deplete the ozone layer. All HFCs have an ozone depletion potential of 0. Some HFCs have high GWPs. HFCs are numbered according to a standard scheme (http://www.epa.gov/ozone/geninfo/numbers.html). (HFC) refrigerants (not chemical formulas, but idea that R-12 is a CFC, R-22 is an HCFC, R-134 is an HFC, etc.)
- Idea that CFCs have higher ozone-depletion potential (ODP
ODPA number that refers to the amount of ozone depletion caused by a substance. The ODP is the ratio of the impact on ozone of a chemical compared to the impact of a similar mass of CFC-11. Thus, the ODP of CFC-11 is defined to be 1.0. Other CFCs and HCFCs have ODPs that range from 0.01 to 1.0. The halons have ODPs ranging up to 10. Carbon tetrachloride has an ODP of 1.2, and methyl chloroform's ODP is 0.11. HFCs have zero ODP because they do not contain chlorine. A table of all ozone-depleting substances (http://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/ods/index.html) shows their ODPs, GWPs, and CAS numbers.) than HCFCs, which in turn have higher ODP than HFCs
- Health and environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion
- Evidence of stratospheric ozone depletion and role of CFCs and HCFCs
Clean Air Act and Montreal Protocol
- CFC phaseout date
- Venting prohibition at servicing
- Venting prohibition at disposal
- Venting prohibition on substitute refrigerants
- Maximum penalty under the Clean Air Act
Clean Air ActA law amended by Congress in 1990. Title VI of the CAA (http://www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/index.html) directs EPA to protect the ozone layer through several regulatory and voluntary programs. Sections within Title VI cover production of ozone-depleting substances (ODS), the recycling and handling of ODS, the evaluation of substitutes, and efforts to educate the public.
- Montreal Protocol
Montreal ProtocolThe international treaty governing the protection of stratospheric ozone. The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer and its amendments control the phaseout of ODS production and use. Under the Montreal Protocol, several international organizations report on the science of ozone depletion, implement projects to help move away from ODS, and provide a forum for policy discussions. In addition, the Multilateral Fund provides resources to developing nations to promote the transition to ozone-safe technologies. The full text of the Montreal Protocol (http://ozone.unep.org/Publications/MP_Handbook/Section_1.1_The_Montreal_Protocol/) is available from the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). (the international agreement to phase out production of ozone-depleting substances)
Section 608 Regulations
- Definition/identification of high and low-pressure refrigerants
- Definition of system-dependent versus self-contained recovery/recycling equipment
- Identification of equipment covered by the rule (all air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment containing CFCs or HCFCs except motor vehicle air conditioners)
- Need for third-party certification of recycling and recovery equipment
- Standard for reclaimed refrigerant [Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) Standard 700-1995]
Substitute Refrigerants and oils
- Absence of "drop-in" replacements
- Incompatibility of substitute refrigerants with many lubricants used with CFC and HCFC refrigerants and incompatibility of CFC and HCFC refrigerants with many new lubricants (includes identification of lubricants for given refrigerants, such as esters with R-134; alkylbenzenes for HCFCs)
- Fractionation problem--tendency of different components of blends to leak at different rates
Refrigeration
- Refrigerant states (vapor versus liquid) and pressures at different points of refrigeration cycle; how/when cooling occurs
- Refrigeration gauges (color codes, ranges of different types, proper use)
Three R Definitions
- Recover
- Recycle
- Reclaim
Recovery Techniques
- Need to avoid mixing refrigerants
- Factors affecting speed of recovery (ambient temperature, size of recycling or recovery equipment, hose length and diameter, etc.)
Dehydration Evacuation
- Need to evacuate system to eliminate air and moisture at the end of service
Safety
- Risks of exposure to refrigerant (e.g., oxygen deprivation, cardiac effects, frost bite, long-term hazards)
- Personal protective equipment [gloves, goggles, self-contained breathing apparatus (SBCA)-in extreme cases, etc.]
- Reusable (or "recovery") cylinders versus disposable cylinders [ensure former Department of Transportation (DOT) approved, know former's yellow and gray color code, never refill latter]
- Risks of filling cylinders more than 80 percent full
- Use of nitrogen rather than oxygen or compressed air for leak detection
- Use of pressure regulator and relief valve with nitrogen
Shipping
- Labels required for refrigerant cylinders (refrigerant identification, DOT classification tag)