EPA 608 Type 2 Practice Test – High-Pressure Systems
The Type II exam section covers the recovery, recycling, reclaiming, and handling of refrigerants used in high-pressure appliances — equipment whose refrigerant has a boiling point between −50 °C and 10 °C (−58 °F to 50 °F) at atmospheric pressure. Technicians who service, maintain, repair, or dispose of high-pressure equipment — including residential and commercial air conditioners and most refrigeration systems — must hold Type II certification or a Universal certification under EPA Section 608 of the Clean Air Act.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Number of questions | 25 (Type II section) |
| Passing score | 70% (18 of 25 correct) |
| Open book? | No — closed-book, proctored exam |
| Certification validity | Lifetime (no renewal required) |
EPA 608 Type 2 Practice Test — 10 Original Questions
These are original practice questions created for study purposes only. They are not real exam questions, leaked questions, or official EPA materials.
1. Which of the following refrigerants is classified as a high-pressure refrigerant under EPA Section 608?
A. R-11
B. R-123
C. R-22
D. R-113
Show answer
Answer: C. R-22 has a boiling point within the high-pressure range (between −50 °C and 10 °C), making it a high-pressure refrigerant. R-11, R-123, and R-113 are low-pressure refrigerants with boiling points above 10 °C.
2. Before opening a high-pressure system for major repairs, a technician must recover refrigerant to a required vacuum level. Which factor primarily determines that required evacuation level?
A. The age of the equipment
B. The type of recovery equipment and the system’s refrigerant charge size
C. The outdoor ambient temperature at time of service
D. The brand of manifold gauge set used
Show answer
Answer: B. EPA evacuation requirements for high-pressure appliances are based on the system’s refrigerant charge size and whether the recovery equipment was manufactured before or after November 15, 1993. Larger systems and newer recovery equipment have stricter (deeper vacuum) requirements.
3. Which of the following is the correct definition of “recycling” refrigerant as used in EPA Section 608 regulations?
A. Returning refrigerant to the manufacturer for destruction
B. Cleaning refrigerant for reuse using oil separation and single or multiple passes through filter-driers
C. Processing refrigerant to meet AHRI 700 purity standards at a certified reclamation facility
D. Venting refrigerant to the atmosphere and replacing it with virgin refrigerant
Show answer
Answer: B. Recycling means cleaning refrigerant for reuse on-site or at a service shop using oil separation and filter-driers, without meeting the full purity standards required for reclaimed refrigerant. Reclamation (option C) requires a certified facility and AHRI 700 standards.
4. A technician discovers a refrigerant leak in a commercial air conditioning system with a refrigerant charge above the regulatory threshold. Under EPA regulations, what must the equipment owner do?
A. Immediately evacuate the building and call the fire department
B. Repair the leak within the timeframe required by EPA regulations
C. Replace the entire refrigerant charge with a new refrigerant
D. File a report with the local health department within 24 hours
Show answer
Answer: B. EPA Section 608 requires that owners of equipment exceeding the applicable refrigerant charge threshold repair leaks that exceed the applicable leak rate within a specified timeframe. Failure to repair leaks in a timely manner can result in significant civil penalties.
5. Which of the following statements about refrigerant venting is correct under the Clean Air Act?
A. Small releases during minor repairs are always permitted
B. Intentional venting of CFC and HCFC refrigerants is prohibited
C. Venting is permitted if the refrigerant charge is under 5 pounds
D. HFC refrigerants may be vented freely because they do not deplete the ozone layer
Show answer
Answer: B. The Clean Air Act prohibits the knowing release (venting) of CFC and HCFC refrigerants during service, maintenance, repair, or disposal of equipment. EPA has also extended venting prohibitions to HFC and most HFO refrigerants under its enforcement authority.
6. Recovered refrigerant that will be returned to a different owner’s equipment must first be:
A. Stored in a gray cylinder with a yellow top
B. Reclaimed to AHRI 700 purity standards by a certified reclamation facility
C. Mixed with virgin refrigerant to dilute any contaminants
D. Tested with a UV dye kit before transfer
Show answer
Answer: B. Refrigerant returned to a different owner’s system must be reclaimed to AHRI 700 purity standards by an EPA-certified reclamation facility. Refrigerant can only be recycled and returned to the same owner’s equipment without full reclamation.
7. What color are the cylinders used to store recovered (used) refrigerant, as designated by the industry standard?
A. Green with a white top
B. Blue with a red top
C. Gray with a yellow top
D. White with a blue top
Show answer
Answer: C. Industry standards designate gray cylinders with yellow tops for recovered or recycled refrigerant. This color-coding helps prevent recovered refrigerant from being confused with virgin refrigerant and alerts handlers to potential contamination.
8. A technician is servicing a high-pressure appliance and finds that the recovery machine has malfunctioned. Which of the following actions is acceptable under EPA Section 608?
A. Vent the refrigerant to the atmosphere to allow the repair to proceed
B. Proceed with opening the system without recovering the refrigerant
C. Stop the job, obtain a working recovery machine, and then recover the refrigerant before opening the system
D. Transfer the refrigerant to the suction side of the system and open the discharge side only
Show answer
Answer: C. Technicians are required to recover refrigerant before opening a system; venting is prohibited. If recovery equipment is unavailable or malfunctions, the technician must obtain functioning equipment before proceeding with the repair.
9. Which of the following refrigerants is an HFC commonly found in high-pressure residential and light commercial air conditioning equipment manufactured after the R-22 phaseout?
A. R-11
B. R-410A
C. R-123
D. R-717
Show answer
Answer: B. R-410A is an HFC blend widely used as the dominant refrigerant in residential and light commercial air conditioning systems after the phasedown of R-22. R-11 and R-123 are low-pressure refrigerants, and R-717 is ammonia.
10. Under EPA Section 608, which entity is responsible for ensuring that technicians who service refrigerant-containing equipment are properly certified?
A. The equipment manufacturer
B. The local building department
C. The employer or contractor who employs the technician
D. The refrigerant distributor who sells the refrigerant
Show answer
Answer: C. EPA Section 608 places responsibility on employers and contractors to ensure that only certified technicians purchase regulated refrigerants and perform work on refrigerant-containing equipment. Selling refrigerants in containers over two pounds to uncertified individuals is also prohibited.
Key Facts to Memorize
- High-pressure refrigerant definition: Boiling point between −50 °C and 10 °C (−58 °F to 50 °F) at atmospheric pressure. Common examples include R-22, R-410A, R-404A, and R-134a.
- Venting prohibition: Intentional release of CFC, HCFC, HFC, and most HFO refrigerants is illegal under the Clean Air Act. There is no minimum charge exemption for venting.
- Recycling vs. reclamation: Recycling cleans refrigerant for reuse at the same owner’s equipment; reclamation processes refrigerant to AHRI 700 purity standards and requires a certified facility.
- Recovered refrigerant cylinders: Must be gray with a yellow top — never fill recovery cylinders beyond 80% of their capacity by weight.
- Evacuation requirements: Required recovery vacuum levels for high-pressure appliances depend on system charge size and the manufacture date of recovery equipment (before or after November 15, 1993).
- Leak repair obligation: Owners of equipment above the applicable refrigerant charge threshold must repair leaks exceeding EPA’s applicable leak rate within required timeframes.
- Refrigerant sales restriction: Refrigerants in containers larger than two pounds may only be sold to EPA Section 608 certified technicians.
- Type II exam format: Closed-book, proctored — no reference materials permitted during the exam, unlike the Type I small-appliance exam.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who needs to take the EPA 608 Type 2 exam?
Any technician who services, maintains, repairs, or disposes of high-pressure refrigerant-containing appliances — such as residential central air conditioners, heat pumps, and most commercial refrigeration equipment using refrigerants like R-22 or R-410A — must pass the Type II exam or hold a Universal certification. Working on this equipment without certification can result in federal civil penalties.
What is the difference between Type II and Universal EPA 608 certification?
Type II certification authorizes a technician to work only on high-pressure appliances. Universal certification covers all three equipment types — Type I (small appliances), Type II (high-pressure), and Type III (low-pressure) — and requires passing all three section exams plus the Core exam. Technicians who work across multiple equipment categories often pursue Universal certification for maximum flexibility.
Is the Type II exam open book?
No. The Type II exam must be taken closed-book at a proctored testing location — no reference materials, notes, or electronic devices are permitted during the exam. This is unlike the Type I small-appliance exam, which may be offered in a non-proctored, open-book format through some approved programs.
Does EPA 608 certification expire?
EPA Section 608 certification does not expire and is valid for the lifetime of the certified technician — there is no renewal requirement. However, technicians are responsible for staying current with any regulatory changes affecting refrigerant handling practices, as the rules themselves may be updated by EPA over time.