EPA 608 Universal flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Type I appliance threshold

Type I certification covers small appliances containing 5 pounds or less of refrigerant, such as household refrigerators, window air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and vending machines, but not motor vehicle air conditioners.

Small appliance recovery: 90 percent

When the compressor of a small appliance is operating, the technician must recover at least 90 percent of the refrigerant charge before opening, servicing, or disposing of the appliance.

Small appliance recovery: 80 percent

If a small appliance's compressor is not functioning, at least 80 percent of the refrigerant charge must be recovered before the appliance is opened or discarded.

System-dependent recovery device

A recovery device that relies on the appliance's own compressor, gravity, or applied heat to move refrigerant; it may be used on small appliances only while the compressor operates.

Leak repair rule scope

The mandatory 30-day leak repair and verification requirements apply only to appliances containing 50 or more pounds of refrigerant, so small appliances are exempt from those rules.

Recycling versus reclaiming

Recycling cleans refrigerant on site for reuse, often in the same appliance; reclaiming reprocesses refrigerant to AHRI 700 purity at a certified facility and is required before the refrigerant changes ownership.

Line-piercing service valve

Many small appliances are factory-sealed with no service ports, so technicians install a line-piercing valve to recover refrigerant, then leak-check the access point after service.

Type II appliance examples

Type II certification covers high-pressure and very-high-pressure equipment other than small appliances and motor vehicle air conditioners, for example R-22, R-134a, R-404A, and R-410A systems.

Post-1993 evacuation level

High-pressure appliances manufactured after November 15, 1993 must be evacuated to 10 inches of mercury vacuum before being opened for service or disposal.

Pre-1993 R-22 evacuation

For high-pressure appliances built before November 15, 1993 that contain HCFC-22, technicians must evacuate to 0 inches of mercury vacuum, meaning atmospheric pressure.

Pre-1993 other refrigerant evacuation

High-pressure appliances manufactured before November 15, 1993 that use refrigerants other than HCFC-22 must be evacuated to 4 inches of mercury vacuum before opening.

R-410A pressure class

R-410A is a near-azeotropic blend of R-32 and R-125 that operates at pressures roughly 50 to 70 percent higher than R-22, so only R-410A-rated gauges, hoses, and recovery equipment may be used.

Eighty percent cylinder limit

A recovery cylinder must never be filled beyond 80 percent of its capacity by weight, because liquid refrigerant expands as it warms and an overfilled cylinder can rupture.

Nitrogen leak testing

Dry nitrogen is the approved pressurizing gas for leak testing; oxygen, compressed air, and acetylene must never be used because they can cause fire, explosion, or oil breakdown.

Fifty-pound leak repair rule

Appliances holding 50 or more pounds of refrigerant must have leaks repaired within 30 days of discovery, followed by an initial verification test and a follow-up verification test.

Micron gauge dehydration

A vacuum pump and micron gauge dehydrate an opened high-pressure system; pulling to about 500 microns and holding a stable vacuum shows the system is dry and leak-free.

Type III appliances

Type III certification covers low-pressure appliances such as centrifugal chillers using CFC-11 or HCFC-123, refrigerants that boil below atmospheric pressure so the machine operates in a vacuum.

Low-pressure evacuation level

Low-pressure appliances must be evacuated to 25 millimeters of mercury absolute, about 29.6 inches of mercury vacuum, before opening; the same level applies to pre-1993 and post-1993 equipment.

Air and moisture ingress

Because low-pressure systems run below atmospheric pressure, any leak or open line pulls air and moisture in, which raises condensing pressure and forms acids that damage the system.

Low-pressure rupture disc

Low-pressure chillers are protected by a rupture disc, usually set near 15 psig, instead of a reseating relief valve; the system must never be pressurized above that setpoint.

Purge unit function

A purge unit removes air and other non-condensables that collect in a low-pressure chiller's condenser, restoring efficiency; excessive purging wastes refrigerant and signals a leak.

Freeze-up from moisture

Moisture carried into a low-pressure chiller can freeze at the evaporator and restrict refrigerant flow, so the system uses filter-driers and is never left open to the atmosphere.

R-11 versus R-123

CFC-11 has an ozone depletion potential of 1.0, while HCFC-123 is a lower-ODP replacement; both are low-pressure refrigerants that must be recovered and never vented.

Low-pressure recovery sequence

Recovering a low-pressure chiller usually means removing liquid first, then vapor with a recovery machine able to pull from a vacuum; cooling the recovery cylinder speeds the transfer.

Venting prohibition

Since July 1, 1992, knowingly venting ozone-depleting refrigerant to the atmosphere during service, maintenance, repair, or disposal has been prohibited; recovered refrigerant must be recycled, reclaimed, or destroyed.

Ozone depletion potential values

CFC-11 and CFC-12 have an ozone depletion potential of 1.0, HCFC-22 is about 0.05, and HFCs such as R-134a and R-410A have a value of zero.

Final disposal responsibility

Refrigerant must be recovered before an appliance is scrapped, and the last person in the disposal chain must verify that recovery and keep the documentation for three years.

Section 609 versus 608

Motor vehicle air conditioners are governed by Section 609 and require a separate certification; Section 608 covers stationary refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment only.

Never braze charged lines

Heating a line that still contains refrigerant can decompose halogenated refrigerant into toxic, corrosive gas; recover the charge and purge with dry nitrogen before brazing.

No mixed refrigerants

Never mix different refrigerants in one recovery cylinder; the mixture cannot be reclaimed to specification and must be destroyed, and each cylinder must be labeled with its refrigerant.

Cylinder requalification

DOT recovery cylinders must be pressure-tested and requalified on a set schedule, and cylinders that are damaged, corroded, or past their test date must not be filled.

De minimis release

Small releases that occur during good-faith attempts to recover refrigerant, such as residual vapor left in hoses, are de minimis and are not violations of the venting prohibition.