EPA 608 Type III study plan
EPA 608 Type III · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Low-pressure appliance refrigerant recovery, recycling, and reclamation & Regulatory requirements under Section 608 and 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F
Distinguish recovery, recycling, and reclamation for low-pressure appliances and state which process each piece of equipment performs.
Identify the refrigerant chemistry and saturation behavior of low-pressure refrigerants and explain why they are handled differently from high-pressure refrigerants.
Locate the Section 608 requirements for low-pressure appliances in 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F and outline the rule structure by section number.
Define the terms appliance, component, opening, and evacuation as they apply to low-pressure systems.
Your checkpoint
A one-page comparison table listing recovery vs. recycling vs. reclamation with the equipment, standards, and regulatory citation for each.
Low-pressure appliance refrigerant recovery, recycling, and reclamation & Low-pressure system servicing and refrigerant handling practices
Describe the design and operating sequence of low-pressure recovery equipment, including the function of the compressor, condenser, and any purge or chiller components.
Explain the water-removal and acid-removal functions of recycling equipment and the limits of what recycling can and cannot achieve.
Demonstrate the correct valve lineup and hose connections for recovering refrigerant from a low-pressure chiller without pulling the system below the required pressure.
Calculate the recovery efficiency requirement for a low-pressure appliance and state the pressure and temperature conditions under which recovery is considered complete.
Your checkpoint
A labeled procedure sheet for a full low-pressure recovery, from hose connection through shutdown, with the required final pressure and temperature stated.
Low-pressure system servicing and refrigerant handling practices & Safe disposal and evacuation requirements for low-pressure equipment
Explain why low-pressure systems require freeze protection and describe the consequences of pulling a chiller into a vacuum.
Sequence the steps for isolating a component, evacuating it, and returning it to service on a low-pressure appliance.
Identify the safety hazards specific to low-pressure refrigerants, including asphyxiation risk, liquid contact, and pressure-vessel concerns.
Select the correct personal protective equipment and ventilation controls for servicing a low-pressure machine room.
Your checkpoint
A written hazard assessment for a low-pressure chiller service call covering at least six hazards with a control for each.
Leak detection, repair, and recordkeeping for low-pressure appliances & Regulatory requirements under Section 608 and 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F
Apply the leak rate thresholds and repair timelines that govern low-pressure appliances and identify which appliances are exempt.
Determine when a retrofit or retirement plan is required and list the elements that plan must contain.
Draft the records an owner must keep for leak repairs, refrigerant added, and disposal, including retention periods.
Explain the requirements for verifying repairs with follow-up leak testing and documenting that verification.
Your checkpoint
A sample compliance record packet for one low-pressure appliance: leak history, refrigerant added, repair verification, and retrofit or retirement plan if triggered.
Leak detection, repair, and recordkeeping for low-pressure appliances & Safe disposal and evacuation requirements for low-pressure equipment
Describe leak detection methods appropriate to low-pressure equipment, including pressure testing, electronic detection, and standing vacuum tests.
Distinguish a leak in the refrigerant circuit from an air or moisture ingress problem and state how each is diagnosed.
Outline the approved evacuation requirements for a low-pressure appliance before disposal, including the required vacuum level and the conditions for using a non-circulating recovery approach.
Explain the disposal documentation chain, including who signs, what is recorded, and why the refrigerant must be recovered before the appliance is scrapped.
Your checkpoint
A disposal checklist for a low-pressure appliance, from pre-removal leak check through signed recovery record.
Low-pressure appliance refrigerant recovery, recycling, and reclamation & Regulatory requirements under Section 608 and 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F
Compare reclamation to recycling for low-pressure refrigerant and state what test results reclaimed refrigerant must meet before resale.
Trace the refrigerant from recovery cylinder through reclamation to final disposition and identify the labeling and shipping requirements along the way.
List the prohibited practices under Section 608 relevant to low-pressure appliances, including venting, sale of used refrigerant, and technician certification requirements.
Explain how the sales restriction on refrigerant applies to a Type III certified technician.
Your checkpoint
A flow diagram of a recovered low-pressure refrigerant charge from cylinder to reclaimer, annotated with the label and record required at each step.
Low-pressure system servicing and refrigerant handling practices & Leak detection, repair, and recordkeeping for low-pressure appliances & Safe disposal and evacuation requirements for low-pressure equipment
Walk through a complete low-pressure service scenario: leak found, repaired, verified, evacuated, and recharged, stating the compliance step at each stage.
Calculate refrigerant added and leak rate from a set of service records and decide whether the repair deadline and retrofit plan requirements are triggered.
Identify common exam traps in low-pressure questions, such as confusing recovery completion criteria or misapplying high-pressure rules.
Explain the interaction between evacuation, dehydration, and refrigerant charging on a low-pressure machine.
Your checkpoint
A worked scenario with calculations, showing the leak rate math, the triggered deadlines, and the records produced.
Low-pressure appliance refrigerant recovery, recycling, and reclamation & Low-pressure system servicing and refrigerant handling practices & Leak detection, repair, and recordkeeping for low-pressure appliances & Safe disposal and evacuation requirements for low-pressure equipment & Regulatory requirements under Section 608 and 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F
Review all five domains using a self-written summary sheet of the numbers, thresholds, and citations you must recall.
Complete a timed practice set across all domains and score each domain separately to find weak areas.
Re-study the two weakest domains and re-test only those areas.
State from memory the recovery completion criteria, leak rate thresholds, and record retention periods without notes.
Your checkpoint
A timed practice score report by domain plus a one-page final recall sheet covering every threshold and citation in the exam scope.
Milestones
Week 2: Can state the low-pressure recovery completion criteria and the recovery efficiency requirement without notes, and can lay out a recovery procedure from memory.
Week 4: Can explain the leak rate thresholds, repair timelines, and retrofit or retirement plan triggers for low-pressure appliances, and name the records an owner must retain.
Week 6: Can distinguish reclamation from recycling, state the prohibited practices under Section 608, and trace a recovered charge to final disposition with correct labeling.
Week 8: Scores at least 80 percent on a timed mixed-domain practice set with no domain below 70 percent, and recites all key thresholds and citations from memory.