EPA 608 Type 1 Practice Test – Small Appliances
The Type I section of the EPA Section 608 certification exam covers small appliances that contain five pounds or less of refrigerant at the factory charge. This includes household refrigerators, freezers, window air conditioners, packaged terminal air conditioners, and similar equipment. Technicians who open these systems for service must hold a valid Type I (or Universal) certification issued by an EPA-approved certifying organization.
| Exam Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of questions (Type I section) | 25 questions |
| Passing score | 70% or higher (18 of 25 correct) |
| Open book / proctored? | Type I may be taken open-book and non-proctored through EPA-approved programs (unlike Core, Type II, and Type III, which require closed-book, proctored testing) |
| Certification validity | Indefinite (does not expire) |
EPA 608 Type 1 Practice Test – 10 Questions
These are original practice questions written for study purposes. They are not real exam questions, leaked questions, or official EPA exam content.
1. Which of the following appliances is most likely classified as a “small appliance” under EPA Section 608 Type I regulations?
A. A 20-ton rooftop commercial air conditioner
B. A household refrigerator with a factory charge of three pounds of refrigerant
C. A centrifugal chiller using R-11
D. A split-system residential air conditioner with a 10-pound charge
Show answer
Answer: B. Small appliances under Type I are defined as equipment that is fully manufactured, charged, and hermetically sealed at the factory and contain five pounds or less of refrigerant. A household refrigerator with a three-pound charge fits this definition exactly.
2. Under EPA Section 608, technicians servicing small appliances must use recovery equipment that was manufactured on or after which date if the equipment was NOT manufactured by a certified equipment manufacturer?
A. November 15, 1993
B. January 1, 1996
C. July 1, 1992
D. August 12, 1988
Show answer
Answer: A. Recovery equipment used on small appliances and manufactured on or after November 15, 1993 must be tested and certified by an EPA-approved equipment testing organization to meet required efficiency standards.
3. When recovering refrigerant from a small appliance with an operative compressor, what recovery efficiency must technicians achieve?
A. 80% of the refrigerant must be recovered
B. 90% of the refrigerant must be recovered
C. 95% of the refrigerant must be recovered
D. 100% of the refrigerant must be recovered
Show answer
Answer: B. EPA regulations require that at least 90% of the refrigerant be recovered from a small appliance when the system compressor is still operative before the appliance is opened for major maintenance or disposal.
4. When recovering refrigerant from a small appliance with an inoperative compressor, what is the required minimum recovery efficiency?
A. 100%
B. 90%
C. 80%
D. 70%
Show answer
Answer: C. When the compressor of a small appliance is inoperative, the recovery efficiency requirement drops to 80%, recognizing the greater difficulty of removing refrigerant without an operational compressor to assist the process.
5. Which of the following refrigerants is commonly found in older household refrigerators classified as small appliances under Type I?
A. R-22
B. R-134a
C. R-410A
D. R-123
Show answer
Answer: B. R-134a has been the predominant refrigerant in household refrigerators and small appliances since the phase-out of R-12 (a CFC) under the Montreal Protocol, and remains common in Type I equipment today.
6. Under EPA Section 608, intentionally venting refrigerant from a small appliance into the atmosphere is:
A. Permitted if the charge is five pounds or less
B. Permitted only for HFCs but not CFCs or HCFCs
C. Prohibited for all refrigerants except small amounts released during good-faith recovery attempts
D. Permitted whenever the technician holds a valid Type I certification
Show answer
Answer: C. The Clean Air Act prohibits the knowing venting of any refrigerant—CFC, HCFC, or HFC—during service, maintenance, repair, or disposal of refrigerant-containing equipment, regardless of charge size. Only de minimis releases during good-faith recovery are allowed.
7. Which statement correctly describes EPA-approved recovery equipment used for small appliances?
A. It must reduce system pressure to a deep vacuum in all cases
B. It must be tested and certified by an EPA-approved third-party organization
C. It may be any shop vacuum adapted for refrigerant use
D. It must be recertified every two years by an EPA inspector
Show answer
Answer: B. Recovery equipment for small appliances must be tested by an EPA-approved third-party equipment testing organization and meet the recovery efficiency standards set by the EPA—technicians may not substitute unapproved equipment.
8. Refrigerant recovered from small appliances that will be returned to the same system or a system owned by the same owner must meet which standard?
A. AHRI 700 purity standard
B. No purity standard is required in this case
C. ASHRAE 15 leak rate standard
D. EPA’s refrigerant reclamation standard for sale on the open market
Show answer
Answer: B. Refrigerant that is recovered and returned to the same system or another system owned by the same customer does not need to meet the AHRI 700 standard; that purity standard applies to refrigerant sold or transferred to a new owner.
9. A technician is disposing of a window air conditioner. Before the unit is sent to a landfill or scrap dealer, what must happen to the refrigerant?
A. Nothing—small appliance refrigerant may be vented during disposal
B. The refrigerant must be recovered by a certified technician or verified as already removed
C. The refrigerant must be reclaimed to AHRI 700 standards before disposal
D. The unit must be sent to an EPA-licensed destruction facility
Show answer
Answer: B. EPA regulations require that refrigerant be recovered from small appliances prior to final disposal. The recovery must be performed by a certified technician, or the final disposer must verify the refrigerant was previously evacuated.
10. Which of the following is a characteristic of refrigerants found in Type I small appliances, as opposed to Type II or Type III equipment?
A. They always have a boiling point above 10°C (50°F)
B. They are always low-pressure refrigerants
C. They are contained in hermetically sealed, factory-charged systems with five pounds or less of charge
D. They must be HFCs only—no CFCs or HCFCs are permitted in Type I equipment
Show answer
Answer: C. The defining characteristic of Type I equipment is not the refrigerant type or pressure class, but the fact that the appliance is hermetically sealed, fully factory-charged, and contains five pounds or less of refrigerant.
Key Facts to Memorize
- Small appliance definition: Fully manufactured, hermetically sealed at the factory, and containing five pounds or less of refrigerant (Type I equipment).
- Recovery efficiency – operative compressor: At least 90% of refrigerant must be recovered before opening or disposing of the system.
- Recovery efficiency – inoperative compressor: At least 80% of refrigerant must be recovered when the compressor is not working.
- Venting prohibition: Intentional venting of any refrigerant—CFC, HCFC, or HFC—is illegal under the Clean Air Act regardless of charge size.
- Type I exam format: Unlike Core, Type II, and Type III (which are closed-book and proctored), Type I may be taken open-book and non-proctored through an EPA-approved certifying organization.
- AHRI 700 standard: Required for refrigerant sold or transferred to a new owner; not required for refrigerant returned to the same system or same owner’s equipment.
- Recovery equipment certification: Equipment manufactured on or after November 15, 1993 must be tested and approved by an EPA-recognized third-party organization.
- Certification never expires: EPA Section 608 technician certifications, including Type I, do not have an expiration date once earned.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What equipment does the EPA 608 Type I certification cover?
Type I certification covers small appliances—equipment that is hermetically sealed at the factory and contains five pounds or less of refrigerant. Common examples include household refrigerators, freezers, window air conditioners, and packaged terminal air conditioners (PTACs). Technicians who open these systems for service or recovery must hold a Type I or Universal certification. For full regulatory details, visit the EPA’s official Section 608 page.
Can I take the Type I exam open-book?
Yes. Type I is unique among the Section 608 exam sections in that it may be administered open-book and without a proctor through EPA-approved certifying organizations. Core, Type II, and Type III exams must be taken closed-book under proctored conditions. Always confirm the specific rules with your chosen certifying organization before exam day.
How many questions are on the Type I exam and what score do I need to pass?
The Type I section consists of 25 questions, and you must answer at least 70%—18 questions—correctly to pass. If you are pursuing Universal certification, you must pass the Core section plus all three type-specific sections (Type I, II, and III), each scored independently.
Does my EPA 608 Type I certification expire?
No. EPA Section 608 technician certifications, including Type I, are valid indefinitely and do not require renewal or continuing education to remain active. However, if the EPA significantly updates its refrigerant handling regulations in the future, staying current with those changes is your professional responsibility even if no formal recertification is required.