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F-Gas Category II (IE) study materials
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F-Gas Category II (IE) practice questions

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Question 1Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

Under the F-Gas Regulation, who is regarded as the 'operator' of a refrigeration unit installed in a supermarket?

  1. The business that controls the day-to-day running of the equipment Correct answer.
  2. The person who holds legal title to the building where the unit is installed
  3. The manufacturer that supplied the unit and its original charge
  4. The engineer who performed the most recent scheduled maintenance visit

Explanation

The operator is the natural or legal person exercising actual power over the technical functioning of the equipment. This is normally the business that decides how and when the plant runs, even where the premises are leased or the equipment is financed. Legal ownership of the building is not the determining factor.

Question 2Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

At what charge level does the F-Gas Regulation begin to require periodic leak checks on stationary refrigeration equipment?

  1. Five tonnes of CO2 equivalent Correct answer.
  2. Ten tonnes of CO2 equivalent
  3. Three kilograms of refrigerant
  4. One kilogram of refrigerant

Explanation

The periodic leak-check obligation for stationary equipment applies from a charge of 5 tonnes of CO2 equivalent upwards. Below that level no scheduled leak checks are required under the Regulation. Refrigerant quantity in kilograms alone is not the trigger for HFC-based equipment.

Question 3Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

A system contains 4 kg of a refrigerant with a GWP of 1430. What charge does this represent in tonnes of CO2 equivalent?

  1. 5720 t CO2e
  2. 0.572 t CO2e
  3. 5.72 t CO2e Correct answer.
  4. 57.2 t CO2e

Explanation

The CO2 equivalent is obtained by multiplying the mass in kilograms by the GWP and dividing by 1000 to convert to tonnes. Here 4 × 1430 = 5720, which is 5.72 tonnes CO2e. The result determines which leak-check frequency band the equipment falls into.

Question 4Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

For how long must an operator retain the leak-check records for equipment containing 20 t CO2e of HFC?

  1. Until the equipment is next serviced by a certified business
  2. At least one year after the record is created
  3. At least three years after the check was carried out
  4. At least five years after the record is created Correct answer.

Explanation

Operators and the undertakings they engage must keep records of leak checks, repairs and refrigerant handling for at least five years. The records must be made available to the competent authority on request. Keeping them only until the next visit would not satisfy the retention rule.

Question 5Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

Which statement best summarises the rule on releasing F-gases to the atmosphere during service work?

  1. Release is acceptable where the charge is below 5 t CO2e
  2. Release is allowed provided the gas is reclaimed afterwards
  3. Release is allowed with the building owner's written consent
  4. Deliberate release is banned; the gas must be recovered Correct answer.

Explanation

The Regulation prohibits the deliberate venting of fluorinated greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Refrigerant must be recovered into suitable containers by certified personnel before the equipment is opened, serviced or decommissioned. Charge size and customer consent do not create an exemption.

Question 6Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

Who must hold valid F-gas certification to carry out leak checking on a stationary refrigeration system?

  1. Only the technician, because businesses are registered rather than certified
  2. Both the individual technician doing the work and the business employing them Correct answer.
  3. The equipment owner, who must countersign the completed service record
  4. Only the business that employs the technician, not the individual doing the work

Explanation

The Regulation requires both personnel and the undertakings that employ them to be certified for the activities concerned, including leak checking. A certified individual working for an uncertified business does not satisfy the rules. The owner's signature is a separate record-keeping matter.

Question 7Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

When refrigerant is added to a system, what must be shown on the updated equipment label?

  1. The date on which the next leak check falls due
  2. The name of the technician who performed the charging
  3. The charge in kilograms and the equivalent in tonnes of CO2 Correct answer.
  4. The purchase price of the refrigerant that was added

Explanation

The label must record that the equipment contains fluorinated greenhouse gases, the physical quantity in kilograms and the CO2 equivalent calculated from the GWP. The GWP value itself is also stated. Technician names and future check dates belong in the equipment records, not on the label.

Question 8Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

Which body acts as the competent authority for enforcing F-gas obligations in Ireland?

  1. The local authority for the area where the equipment is installed
  2. The Health and Safety Authority
  3. The Environmental Protection Agency Correct answer.
  4. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities

Explanation

The Environmental Protection Agency is the designated competent authority for the F-Gas and ODS Regulations in Ireland, including certification, registers and inspections. Local authorities and other agencies do not administer these obligations. Health and safety law applies in parallel but does not replace this role.

Question 9Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

A system holds 120 t CO2e of HFC and has a functioning leak detection system installed. How often must it be checked for leaks?

  1. Every twenty-four months
  2. Every three months
  3. Every twelve months Correct answer.
  4. Every six months

Explanation

Equipment in the 50 to 500 t CO2e band normally requires checks every six months. Where an approved leak detection system is fitted and verified, that interval is doubled to twelve months. Twenty-four months applies only to the lower 5 to 50 t CO2e band with detection.

Question 10Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

Where an extended interval is claimed because a leak detection system is fitted, how often must that system itself be verified?

  1. Only when it triggers a gas alarm
  2. Every three months
  3. At least once every twelve months Correct answer.
  4. Every five years

Explanation

The extended leak-check intervals may only be relied on while the detection system is working and verified. The Regulation requires the system to be checked at least once every twelve months. If the system is faulty, the standard inspection frequency applies until it is repaired.

Question 11Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

A leak has been repaired on equipment containing 80 t CO2e. What does the Regulation require next?

  1. No further action once the repair has been successful
  2. A new leak check within the following twelve months
  3. A verification check within one month of the repair Correct answer.
  4. A full pressure test before the system is restarted

Explanation

After a leak is repaired, the operator must ensure a follow-up check confirms the repair was effective. That verification must take place within one month. The repair and the verification are both recorded.

Question 12Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

Which item must be entered in the records each time refrigerant is recovered from a system?

  1. The outdoor temperature at the time of recovery
  2. The quantity recovered and the type of refrigerant Correct answer.
  3. The pressure rating of the recovery cylinder used
  4. The name of the gas supplier's delivery driver

Explanation

Records must identify the quantity and type of refrigerant recovered and the dates of the work. They must also identify the certified undertaking that carried out the recovery and the certificate details. Environmental conditions and cylinder specifications are not mandatory record entries.

Question 13Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

R-22 is recovered from an old system that is being replaced. How must it be handled?

  1. It is an ozone-depleting substance, so it must be destroyed rather than reused Correct answer.
  2. It may be reused to service any R-22 system that is still in operation
  3. It may be vented slowly if the system is being dismantled
  4. It may be converted into an HFC blend by adding R-32 on site

Explanation

R-22 is an HCFC controlled under the ODS Regulation rather than the F-Gas Regulation. Its use for maintaining equipment has been phased out, so recovered material must be recovered and destroyed. Venting is prohibited and on-site blending is not a lawful disposal route.

Question 14Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

Under the ODS Regulation, stationary equipment containing ozone-depleting substances needs scheduled leak checks once the charge reaches:

  1. 5 kg
  2. 1 kg
  3. 3 kg Correct answer.
  4. 10 kg

Explanation

For equipment containing ozone-depleting substances, the leak-check threshold is expressed in mass and is set at 3 kg. Because ODS have very high ozone-depleting potential, the trigger is lower than the CO2e-based threshold used for HFC equipment. Records must be kept for the equipment above that level.

Question 15Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

Since 1 January 2020, which activity has been prohibited for refrigeration equipment with a charge of 40 t CO2e or more?

  1. Retrofitting the system to a refrigerant with a lower GWP
  2. Carrying out leak checks with an electronic detector
  3. Using virgin refrigerant with a GWP of 2500 or more to service it Correct answer.
  4. Using reclaimed refrigerant of any GWP to service it

Explanation

The servicing ban prohibits the use of virgin F-gases with a GWP of 2500 or more in refrigeration equipment of 40 t CO2e and above. Reclaimed or recycled gas of the same GWP may still be used for a limited period under the derogation. Retrofitting to a lower-GWP refrigerant is encouraged, not prohibited.

Question 16Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

A wholesaler sells a cylinder of HFC refrigerant directly to a company that services refrigeration systems. What must the wholesaler check before supply?

  1. That the buyer holds the relevant F-gas certification Correct answer.
  2. That the gas will be used only in equipment above 5 t CO2e
  3. That the company holds adequate public liability insurance
  4. That the cylinder will be returned within twelve months

Explanation

Undertakings that sell F-gases to end users must confirm that the purchaser, or the personnel who will handle the gas, hold the relevant certification. Supplying gas to an uncertified buyer undermines the control system and is not permitted. The other conditions are commercial matters with no basis in the Regulation.

Question 17Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

A commercial refrigeration unit is being permanently scrapped. Who is responsible for ensuring the refrigerant is recovered?

  1. The scrap merchant, who may vent the gas if no recovery unit is available
  2. The refrigerant manufacturer, under producer responsibility rules
  3. Nobody, provided the unit has been switched off for 30 days beforehand
  4. The operator, who must ensure a certified business carries out the recovery Correct answer.

Explanation

The operator of the equipment remains responsible for ensuring that F-gases are recovered before the equipment is dismantled or disposed of. Recovery must be carried out by certified personnel working for a certified undertaking. The scrap merchant cannot lawfully vent the charge.

Question 18Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

A technician charges a system with reclaimed refrigerant instead of virgin gas. What additional detail must the records capture?

  1. That the refrigerant is reclaimed and where it came from Correct answer.
  2. The cylinder tare weight before and after charging
  3. The address of the laboratory that analysed the gas
  4. The ambient temperature during the charging process

Explanation

Where reclaimed or recycled gas is used, the records must show that it is reclaimed or recycled and identify the undertaking that supplied it. This allows traceability of the gas through the supply chain. Cylinder weights and laboratory addresses are not mandatory entries.

Question 19Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

The HFC phase-down quota under the Regulation applies primarily to which activity?

  1. The installation of equipment that is already pre-charged
  2. The final destruction of recovered refrigerant
  3. Each service visit at which a system is topped up
  4. Placing bulk HFCs on the market by producers and importers Correct answer.

Explanation

The quota limits the total CO2e of bulk HFCs that producers and importers may place on the market each year. Service visits and destruction do not consume quota. Pre-charged equipment is addressed separately through its own placing-on-market requirements.

Question 20Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

An engineer is due to install a split system that uses a flammable A2L refrigerant. What does the F-gas framework require?

  1. Certification or training that specifically covers flammable refrigerants Correct answer.
  2. A second engineer on site whenever the system is charged
  3. Nothing extra, because A2L refrigerants fall outside the Regulation
  4. A licence from the gas supplier for each individual installation

Explanation

Personnel handling flammable refrigerants must hold certification or training that covers the additional fire and explosion risks. Generic HFC certification alone does not cover this hazard. The requirement sits alongside the relevant safety standards for flammable refrigerants.

Question 21Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

What applies under the placing-on-market rules to small single split air-conditioning systems charged with less than 3 kg of HFC from 2025?

  1. They must display the quota authorisation number on the unit
  2. Those containing HFC with a GWP of 750 or more may not be placed on the market Correct answer.
  3. They may be placed on the market where the charge is below 5 t CO2e
  4. They may be supplied only for use in domestic premises

Explanation

The Regulation bans the placing on the market of small split air-conditioning systems charged with HFCs having a GWP of 750 or more. The ban operates on GWP rather than on the CO2e charge of the individual unit. Existing installed equipment may continue to be operated and serviced.

Question 22Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

In 2027 a technician proposes to service a refrigeration system with a 60 t CO2e charge using reclaimed R-404A. Is this permitted?

  1. No, reclaimed gas may never be used in equipment above 40 t CO2e
  2. Yes, but only where the system is less than five years old
  3. No, any refrigerant with a GWP above 2500 is banned from servicing without exception
  4. Yes, reclaimed refrigerant may still be used for servicing until 1 January 2030 Correct answer.

Explanation

The ban on using high-GWP gas to service refrigeration equipment of 40 t CO2e and above applies to virgin refrigerant. A time-limited derogation allows reclaimed or recycled refrigerant to be used for servicing until 1 January 2030. The system's age and charge do not affect that derogation.

Question 23Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

A company imports air-conditioning units that arrive pre-charged with HFC from outside the EU. Which obligation applies to that import?

  1. A separate report must be submitted to the Commission for each unit
  2. Only the eventual installer needs to hold quota for the contained gas
  3. The importer must ensure the contained gas is covered by quota authorisation Correct answer.
  4. The units are exempt because the refrigerant was charged outside the EU

Explanation

HFCs contained in pre-charged equipment placed on the market must be accounted for within the HFC quota system. The importer is responsible for holding or obtaining the necessary quota authorisation and for the related declaration. Where the gas was charged makes no difference to this duty.

Question 24Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

Since which date has recycled HCFC been barred from use in maintaining refrigeration equipment in the EU?

  1. 1 January 2015 Correct answer.
  2. 1 January 2010
  3. 1 January 2020
  4. 1 January 2030

Explanation

The ODS Regulation allowed recycled or reclaimed HCFCs to be used for maintenance only until the end of 2014. Since 1 January 2015 no HCFC may be used for that purpose, so recovered HCFC must be destroyed. Any remaining HCFC plant must therefore be replaced or converted.

Question 25Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

A system contains 30 kg of R-410A, which has a GWP of 2088. Which leak-check regime applies?

  1. Every three months
  2. Every six months Correct answer.
  3. Every twelve months
  4. Every twenty-four months

Explanation

The charge is 30 × 2088 = 62 640 kg CO2e, that is about 62.6 t CO2e. That falls in the 50 to 500 t CO2e band, for which checks are required every six months. Twelve months would only apply if a verified leak detection system were fitted.

Question 26Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

Under the F-gas Regulation, from what charge does stationary refrigeration equipment first become subject to periodic leak checks?

  1. 50 tonnes of CO2 equivalent
  2. 5 tonnes of CO2 equivalent Correct answer.
  3. 10 tonnes of CO2 equivalent
  4. 500 tonnes of CO2 equivalent

Explanation

Article 4 requires operators of stationary equipment containing 5 tonnes CO2e or more of fluorinated gases to have it checked for leaks at set intervals. Below that level, no periodic leak check obligation arises for that equipment.

Question 27Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

What is the legal position on releasing HFC refrigerant to the atmosphere when a system is opened for repair?

  1. It is prohibited and the refrigerant must be recovered Correct answer.
  2. It is permitted where less than 1 kg escapes
  3. It is permitted where the system is being scrapped
  4. It is permitted for blends but not for single-component gases

Explanation

Article 3 prohibits deliberate release of fluorinated greenhouse gases where it is not technically necessary, and requires recovery during servicing, maintenance and before disposal. The prohibition applies whatever the quantity and whatever type of refrigerant is involved.

Question 28Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

For how long must an operator keep F-gas records such as leak check reports available for inspection?

  1. One year
  2. Five years Correct answer.
  3. Ten years
  4. Three years

Explanation

Article 6 requires operators subject to record-keeping duties to retain their records for at least five years. The records must be made available on request to the competent authority or the Commission.

Question 29Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

Which of the following is a fluorinated greenhouse gas controlled by the F-gas Regulation?

  1. Carbon dioxide (R-744)
  2. Anhydrous ammonia (R-717)
  3. HFC-134a (R-134a) Correct answer.
  4. Propane (R-290)

Explanation

The Regulation covers hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride and preparations containing them. HFC-134a is a hydrofluorocarbon and therefore within scope, whereas ammonia, propane and carbon dioxide are not fluorinated gases.

Question 30Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

In the F-gas Regulation, who is treated as the "operator" of a refrigeration system?

  1. The technician who last serviced the equipment
  2. The company that manufactured the equipment
  3. The owner of the building where the equipment is installed
  4. The party with actual power over the technical functioning Correct answer.

Explanation

Article 2 defines the operator as the natural or legal person exercising actual power over the technical functioning of the equipment. That may be the owner or another party given control by agreement, but it is not automatically the building owner or the manufacturer.

Question 31Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

A hermetically sealed refrigeration circuit is labelled as such and contains 7 tonnes CO2e of HFC. What does the Regulation require for this unit?

  1. A leak detection system to be fitted
  2. No periodic leak checks Correct answer.
  3. Leak checks every 24 months
  4. Leak checks every 12 months

Explanation

Article 4 exempts hermetically sealed equipment that is labelled and holds less than 10 tonnes CO2e from periodic leak checks. At 7 tonnes CO2e the unit falls within that exemption.

Question 32Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

At what charge must stationary refrigeration equipment be fitted with a leak detection system?

  1. 50 tonnes CO2e
  2. 100 tonnes CO2e
  3. 500 tonnes CO2e Correct answer.
  4. 5 000 tonnes CO2e

Explanation

Article 4 requires equipment containing 500 tonnes CO2e or more of fluorinated gases to be equipped with a leak detection system that alerts the operator to any leakage. Lower thresholds affect the frequency of manual checks only.

Question 33Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

What must a refrigeration contracting firm hold before it carries out installation or servicing of F-gas equipment for customers?

  1. An ISO 14001 certificate
  2. A tax clearance certificate
  3. A company certification issued by a certified body Correct answer.
  4. A waste collection permit

Explanation

Article 10 requires undertakings performing installation, servicing, maintenance, leak checking or recovery to hold a company certificate. This is separate from, and additional to, the personal certificates held by individual technicians.

Question 34Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

A technician holding a valid certificate from another EU Member State comes to work on equipment in Ireland. What does the Regulation require?

  1. The certificate is valid in Ireland for six months only
  2. The technician must retake the full Irish assessment
  3. The technician may work only under direct supervision
  4. The certificate must be recognised without any Irish certificate Correct answer.

Explanation

Article 10 requires Member States to recognise certificates issued by other Member States. A valid certificate from another Member State is therefore sufficient evidence of competence and duplicate assessment cannot be demanded.

Question 35Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

A company intends to import bulk HFCs into the EU from outside the Union. What is required before the gas is placed on the market?

  1. Nothing, provided the gas is reclaimed rather than virgin
  2. An import licence issued by the Irish EPA
  3. A customs bond equal to the value of the gas
  4. Registration in the EU F-gas portal with sufficient quota Correct answer.

Explanation

Article 16 requires producers and importers placing bulk HFCs on the market to be registered in the Commission's F-gas portal and to hold sufficient quota for the quantities concerned. Registration must be in place before the goods are released for free circulation.

Question 36Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

What restriction applies to domestic refrigerators and freezers placed on the EU market since 1 January 2015?

  1. They must carry a flammability warning label
  2. They may not contain HFCs with a GWP of 150 or more Correct answer.
  3. They must be charged with reclaimed refrigerant only
  4. They may not use any refrigerant at all

Explanation

Article 13 bans placing on the market domestic refrigerators and freezers containing HFCs with a global warming potential of 150 or more from 1 January 2015. This is why hydrocarbon refrigerants such as R-600a dominate the sector.

Question 37Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

What does the ODS Regulation require when refrigeration equipment containing HCFCs reaches end of life?

  1. The equipment may be exported with the ODS still in place
  2. The ODS must be converted into an HFC on site
  3. The ODS may be vented where the charge is below 3 kg
  4. The ODS must be recovered and then destroyed or reclaimed Correct answer.

Explanation

Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009 requires ozone-depleting substances to be recovered during maintenance and before equipment is dismantled, and then destroyed or reclaimed. Deliberate release is prohibited.

Question 38Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

An operator runs five separate refrigeration units on one site, each containing 90 tonnes CO2e. How are the leak check obligations applied?

  1. Each unit is assessed separately, so each is checked every 12 months
  2. Each unit is assessed separately, so each is checked every six months Correct answer.
  3. The charges are added together, so a leak detection system is required
  4. The combined charge requires checks every three months

Explanation

The thresholds in Article 4 apply to each piece of equipment individually, not to the total charge on a site. A 90-tonne CO2e unit falls in the 50 to 500 tonnes band, which requires a check every six months.

Question 39Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

What proportion of the baseline does the HFC quota allow from 2030 onwards?

  1. 24%
  2. 31%
  3. 45%
  4. 21% Correct answer.

Explanation

The phase-down schedule in the Regulation reduces the maximum quantity of HFCs placed on the market in steps. The quota stands at 24% for 2027 to 2029 and falls to 21% from 2030 onwards.

Question 40Legislation and obligations under F-Gas and ODS regulations

How is the CO2 equivalent of a refrigerant blend calculated under the Regulation?

  1. By using the GWP of the highest-GWP component only
  2. By the mass-weighted average of the component GWPs Correct answer.
  3. By using the GWP of the lowest-boiling component
  4. By the unweighted average of the component GWPs

Explanation

For a preparation, the CO2 equivalent is obtained by multiplying each component's mass fraction by its GWP and summing the results, which is a mass-weighted average. The GWP values to be used are those listed in the annexes to the Regulation.

Question 41Environmental impact of fluorinated greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances

Which gas provides the reference against which the global warming potentials (GWPs) of fluorinated gases are expressed?

  1. Carbon dioxide Correct answer.
  2. Sulfur hexafluoride
  3. Nitrous oxide
  4. Methane

Explanation

GWP compares the warming effect of 1 kg of a gas with 1 kg of carbon dioxide over a fixed time horizon, and carbon dioxide is fixed at a value of 1 by definition. Methane, nitrous oxide and sulfur hexafluoride all have GWPs well above 1.

Question 42Environmental impact of fluorinated greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances

What does the ozone depletion potential (ODP) of a substance describe?

  1. Its flammability compared with that of propane
  2. Its contribution to global warming relative to carbon dioxide over 100 years
  3. Its ozone-destroying capacity relative to CFC-11 Correct answer.
  4. Its atmospheric lifetime compared with that of methane

Explanation

ODP is a ratio expressing how much stratospheric ozone a substance can destroy compared with CFC-11, which is assigned an ODP of 1. It is a separate measure from GWP, atmospheric lifetime and flammability.

Question 43Environmental impact of fluorinated greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances

Which of these refrigerants is an ozone-depleting substance?

  1. R-32
  2. R-410A
  3. R-134a
  4. R-22 (HCFC-22) Correct answer.

Explanation

R-22 is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon and the chlorine in its molecule allows it to destroy stratospheric ozone, so it is controlled as an ozone-depleting substance. R-134a, R-410A and R-32 contain no chlorine or bromine and have an ODP of zero.

Question 44Environmental impact of fluorinated greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances

Which of these common refrigerants has the lowest 100-year GWP?

  1. R-404A
  2. R-410A
  3. R-32 Correct answer.
  4. R-134a

Explanation

Using the GWP values applied for F-gas compliance, R-404A is about 3922, R-410A about 2088, R-134a about 1430 and R-32 about 675. R-32 therefore has the lowest climate impact per kilogram of the four.

Question 45Environmental impact of fluorinated greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances

The EU F-gas phase-down places a cap on the quantity placed on the market of which group of substances?

  1. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
  2. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) Correct answer.
  3. Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)
  4. Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)

Explanation

The phase-down caps HFCs placed on the market, expressed in tonnes of CO2 equivalent, and reduces the cap in steps towards 21% of the baseline. CFCs and HCFCs are controlled separately as ozone-depleting substances and PFCs are not part of the HFC phase-down.

Question 46Environmental impact of fluorinated greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances

A stationary refrigeration system contains 60 tonnes CO2e of HFC refrigerant and has no leak detection system. How often must a leak check be carried out?

  1. Every 24 months
  2. Every 3 months
  3. Every 12 months
  4. Every 6 months Correct answer.

Explanation

Systems containing 50 tonnes CO2e or more but less than 500 tonnes CO2e must be checked for leaks at least every six months. The 12-month interval applies from 5 tonnes CO2e and the three-month interval from 500 tonnes CO2e.

Question 47Environmental impact of fluorinated greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances

A system contains 10 kg of R-134a, which has a GWP of 1430. What charge does this represent in tonnes of CO2 equivalent?

  1. 0.143 tonnes CO2e
  2. 1.43 tonnes CO2e
  3. 14.3 tonnes CO2e Correct answer.
  4. 143 tonnes CO2e

Explanation

CO2 equivalent is calculated as refrigerant mass in kilograms multiplied by the GWP and divided by 1000, so 10 × 1430 ÷ 1000 = 14.3 tonnes CO2e. The division by 1000 converts kilograms of CO2 equivalent into tonnes.

Question 48Environmental impact of fluorinated greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances

What must happen to refrigerant removed from a system that is being decommissioned?

  1. It may be released slowly after dilution with nitrogen
  2. Venting is permitted if the system is hermetically sealed
  3. It must be recovered and then reclaimed, recycled or destroyed Correct answer.
  4. Venting is permitted if the charge is below 5 tonnes CO2e

Explanation

The F-gas rules require refrigerant to be recovered before equipment is serviced, dismantled or disposed of, and then reclaimed, recycled or destroyed by an authorised route. Deliberate release to atmosphere is prohibited whatever the size or type of system.

Question 49Environmental impact of fluorinated greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances

What is the principal objective of the Montreal Protocol?

  1. Phase down HFCs worldwide
  2. Phase out ozone-depleting substances Correct answer.
  3. Limit sulphur in transport fuels
  4. Reduce PFC emissions from aluminium smelting

Explanation

The Montreal Protocol, agreed in 1987, requires parties to phase out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances such as CFCs, halons and HCFCs. It protects the stratospheric ozone layer and is widely regarded as one of the most effective environmental treaties.

Question 50Environmental impact of fluorinated greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances

What is the Kigali Amendment?

  1. A Montreal Protocol amendment phasing down HFCs Correct answer.
  2. A European Directive on refrigerant leak checks
  3. A UN treaty restricting PFCs in fire extinguishers
  4. An amendment to the Kyoto Protocol that bans CFC production

Explanation

The Kigali Amendment adds a global phase-down of HFCs to the Montreal Protocol because of their high global warming potential. It entered into force in 2019 and sets reduction steps for parties rather than an immediate ban.