EPA 608 Type 2 Practice Test: 50 Free Questions

Answer: C. Pressurize it with dry nitrogen through a regulator and leak test the new joints.
Why: EPA's Type II topic list includes the need to leak test before charging or recharging equipment. Dry nitrogen, fed through a pressure regulator with a relief valve downstream, is the standard way to pressurize an empty system for that test. Evacuation and charging come after the joints are proven tight.
Why not the others: Pulling a vacuum is dehydration, not the leak test EPA lists before charging. Charging first skips the leak test EPA lists and risks losing the new charge. Pressurizing with a full load of refrigerant just to test uses refrigerant as the test gas, which is the least preferred choice.
Source: EPA Test Topics, Type 2 → Leak Detection · Mainstream 608 manual, p. 45 (nitrogen with regulator and relief valve)
Review topic: Leak detection

Answer: A. A small amount of R-22, then pressurize the rest of the way with dry nitrogen.
Why: An electronic refrigerant detector senses refrigerant, so it needs some in the test gas. EPA's Type II topic list ranks nitrogen with a trace of R-22 ahead of pure refrigerant. A few ounces of the system's own refrigerant, topped up with dry nitrogen, gives the detector something to find without using a full charge as the test gas.
Why not the others: Nitrogen alone is EPA's first choice in general, but an electronic refrigerant detector can't sense it; with this tool, a trace of refrigerant is what makes the test work. Pure R-22 is the least preferred leak-test gas on EPA's list. Shop air brings in moisture and oxygen and isn't on EPA's list at all.
Source: EPA Test Topics, Type 2 → Leak Detection (order of preference) · Mainstream 608 manual, pp. 23–24 (trace gas used with an electronic detector)
Review topic: Leak detection

Answer: B. The system is short of refrigerant from a leak; find and repair the leak before recharging.
Why: Excessive superheat is one of the signs of leakage EPA lists for high-pressure systems. A short charge starves the evaporator, so the vapor leaving it picks up more superheat. Repeated top-offs point to a leak that was never fixed. The useful move is to locate and repair it, then recharge.
Why not the others: A metering problem can raise superheat too, but the repeated refrigerant additions make a leak the most likely cause, and replacing parts before looking for a leak skips the obvious evidence. Weather doesn't explain two seasons of lost refrigerant. An overcharge doesn't fit a system that keeps needing more refrigerant.
Source: EPA Test Topics, Type 2 → Leak Detection (excessive superheat) · Mainstream 608 manual, pp. 35–36 (what superheat is)
Review topic: Leak detection

Answer: D. Going over the joints with an electronic or ultrasonic leak detector.
Why: Under EPA's definition, a leak inspection determines the location of leaks. Ultrasonic tests, bubble tests where appropriate, and properly maintained leak detection devices are listed examples.
Why not the others: Sight-glass checks, charging charts, and receiver levels can tell you a system is losing refrigerant, but not where. EPA's definition says those methods must be paired with one that finds the location.
Source: 40 CFR 82.152, definition of "leak inspection"
Review topic: Leak detection

Answer: C. 45.6%; the 20% commercial-refrigeration threshold is exceeded, so the leaks must be identified and repaired within 30 days.
Why: Annualizing method: (30 ÷ 400) ÷ (60 ÷ 365) × 100 ≈ 45.6%. Section 608's current leak-repair rule applies to appliances with 50 lb or more of a Class I or Class II refrigerant. Commercial refrigeration triggers at 20%, and the normal repair period is 30 days.
Why not the others: 7.5% is only 30 ÷ 400; it does not annualize the 60-day loss. The commercial threshold is 20%, not 50%.
Source: 40 CFR 82.152, leak-rate annualizing method · 40 CFR 82.157(a), (c)(2)(i), (d)
Review topic: Leak repair requirements

Answer: B. 8.1%, under the 10% comfort-cooling threshold, so no repair deadline is triggered (the owner still calculates and records the rate).
Why: (3 ÷ 75) ÷ (180 ÷ 365) × 100 = 0.04 ÷ 0.4932 × 100 ≈ 8.1%. R-22 is an ozone-depleting refrigerant and the charge is over 50 lb, so 40 CFR 82.157 applies. Comfort cooling triggers at 10%. At 8.1%, the repair clock doesn't start, but the owner must calculate the leak rate every time refrigerant is added.
Why not the others: 4.0% is 3 ÷ 75 without annualizing. There is no 5% threshold. The rule is triggered by exceeding the applicable leak rate, not by any loss at all.
Source: 40 CFR 82.157(a), (b), (c)(2)(iii) · 40 CFR 82.152, leak rate
Review topic: Leak repair requirements

Answer: C. 21.3%, under the 30% industrial-process-refrigeration threshold.
Why: Rolling average: (12 + 20) ÷ 150 × 100 ≈ 21.3%. Industrial process refrigeration has a 30% trigger rate under 40 CFR 82.157, so this result is below the trigger.
Why not the others: 13.3% counts only the 20-lb addition. Twenty percent is the commercial-refrigeration threshold, not the industrial-process threshold. The 32 lb total must be divided by the 150-lb full charge.
Source: 40 CFR 82.152, rolling-average method · 40 CFR 82.157(c)(2)(ii)
Review topic: Leak repair requirements

Answer: B. Repair the leaks because 12% exceeds the 10% comfort-cooling threshold.
Why: The appliance contains at least 50 lb of an HCFC refrigerant, so 40 CFR 82.157 applies. Comfort cooling and other covered appliances trigger at a 10% leak rate. A 12% rate is therefore over the threshold.
Why not the others: Twenty percent is the commercial-refrigeration threshold. The 200-lb figure belongs to evacuation-table distinctions, not leak-repair applicability. Exceeding the threshold does not automatically require immediate retirement; repair or a compliant retrofit/retirement path is available.
Source: 40 CFR 82.157(a), (c)(1), (c)(2)(iii)
Review topic: Leak repair requirements

Answer: C. It does not apply because the appliance contains solely a substitute refrigerant.
Why: Since April 10, 2020, 40 CFR 82.157 applies only to appliances with 50 lb or more of a Class I or Class II refrigerant, or a blend containing one. The regulation says it does not apply to appliances containing solely substitute refrigerants.
Why not the others: The 50-lb threshold does not by itself bring a substitute-only appliance under 82.157. The 20% figure matters only after the rule applies. Disposal does not change the rule's stated refrigerant scope.
Source: 40 CFR 82.157(a)
Review topic: Leak repair requirements

Answer: D. Day 180.
Why: When parts aren't available, the rule allows up to 30 days after the parts arrive, but never more than 180 days from the date the appliance exceeded the leak rate. Day 165 + 30 = day 195, which is past the cap, so the deadline is day 180.
Why not the others: Day 195 ignores the 180-day cap. Day 30 ignores the extension. 270 days applies only when an industrial process shutdown is required.
Source: 40 CFR 82.157(f)
Review topic: Leak repair requirements

Answer: B. The leak rate and the method used to calculate it.
Why: When someone other than the owner services a 50-lb-plus appliance, that person must give the owner a record with the service details. The rule lists two items the outside technician doesn't have to supply: the full charge and the leak rate with its method. The owner calculates and keeps those.
Why not the others: The amount and type of refrigerant, the date, and the name of the person doing the work are all on the list the servicing technician must provide.
Source: 40 CFR 82.157(b), (l)(2)
Review topic: Leak repair requirements

Answer: A. Create a written retrofit or retirement plan within 30 days and finish the work within one year of the plan's date.
Why: If the owner chooses to retire or retrofit rather than repair, a written plan is due within 30 days. The plan must be signed, dated, kept on site, and include a schedule of no more than one year, and the work must be finished within one year of the plan's date.
Why not the others: 90 days and two years aren't in the rule. Mothballing only pauses the clocks until refrigerant is added again; it isn't a way out of the plan. There's no 10-day EPA notice replacing the plan.
Source: 40 CFR 82.157(c)(1), (h)
Review topic: Leak repair requirements

Answer: B. Recover liquid first.
Why: EPA's Type II topic list says recovering liquid at the beginning speeds up recovery. Liquid is much denser than vapor, so each minute moves far more refrigerant. In a system with a receiver, a lot of the charge sits there as liquid.
Why not the others: Starting with vapor is slower. A vacuum pump isn't recovery equipment and would discharge refrigerant. Oil comes out after the refrigerant, not before.
Source: EPA Test Topics, Type 2 → Recovery Techniques · Sporlan Bulletin 5-3, p. 4 (receiver as refrigerant reservoir)
Review topic: Recovery techniques

Answer: D. Cool the recovery cylinder, for example by shading or chilling it as the equipment maker directs.
Why: Refrigerant moves from higher pressure to lower pressure. A sun-heated cylinder has high pressure inside, which fights the recovery. EPA lists chilling the recovery vessel as a way to speed recovery.
Why not the others: Heating the receiving cylinder makes the problem worse. Venting vapor from a recovery cylinder is releasing recovered refrigerant, which is a violation. Longer, narrower hoses add restriction.
Source: EPA Test Topics, Type 2 → Recovery Techniques · 40 CFR 82.154(a)(3)
Review topic: Recovery techniques

Answer: A. A pressure rating suited to R-410A; manufacturer training material calls for recovery tanks rated for at least 400 psig.
Why: R-410A runs at much higher pressures than R-22. The training manual from Mainstream Engineering, an EPA-approved certifying program, says R-410A requires recovery tanks and recovery machines rated for at least 400 psig, and warns that older equipment rated around 340 psig isn't adequate.
Why not the others: The gray-and-yellow color code identifies a recovery cylinder but doesn't prove its pressure rating. Disposable cylinders must never be refilled. The 80% fill limit matters, but it doesn't make an under-rated cylinder safe.
Source: Mainstream 608 manual, pp. 43–44 (R-410A equipment ratings) · Mainstream 608 manual, p. 26 (never refill disposable cylinders)
Review topic: Recovery techniques

Answer: C. No; refrigerant is still boiling out of liquid pockets or the oil, so recovery should continue until the level holds.
Why: EPA's topic list says to wait a few minutes after reaching the required vacuum and watch for a rise, which means liquid refrigerant is still in the system or in the oil. The rule also requires the tech to verify the required level before opening. A rise from 10 to 4 in. Hg means it hasn't really been reached.
Why not the others: Reaching the number once doesn't count if the pressure climbs back. Breaking the vacuum with nitrogen now would trap refrigerant in the mix. A six-inch rise isn't drift.
Source: EPA Test Topics, Type 2 → Recovery Techniques · 40 CFR 82.156(a) (verify level before opening)
Review topic: Recovery techniques

Answer: B. 0 in. Hg (0 psig).
Why: R-502 is a high-pressure refrigerant; EPA's definition names it. In the current evacuation table, a high-pressure appliance with a full charge under 200 lb must be evacuated to 0 in. Hg, whatever the recovery machine's age.
Why not the others: Some older study sets give 10 in. Hg for high-pressure refrigerants other than R-22. That split still appears in a different table, 40 CFR 82.158 Table 2, which sets what recovery machines must be able to reach to be certified. The levels technicians must reach are in 82.156 Table 1, which has no separate R-22 row. 4 in. Hg is a pre-1993 figure for larger systems, and 15 in. Hg is for large medium-pressure systems.
Source: 40 CFR 82.156, Table 1 · 40 CFR 82.152, high-pressure appliance (R-502 named) · 40 CFR 82.158, Table 2 (machine certification levels)
Review topic: Recovery requirements

Answer: D. 10 in. Hg vacuum.
Why: Replacing a compressor is a major repair. R-134a is a medium-pressure refrigerant. For a medium-pressure appliance under 200 lb, using a machine made on or after November 15, 1993, Table 1 requires 10 in. Hg.
Why not the others: 15 in. Hg is for medium-pressure appliances of 200 lb or more. 0 in. Hg is for high-pressure appliances under 200 lb. 4 in. Hg is the pre-1993 machine column.
Source: 40 CFR 82.156, Table 1 · 40 CFR 82.152, medium-pressure appliance; major repair
Review topic: Recovery requirements

Answer: A. 4 in. Hg vacuum.
Why: R-407C is high-pressure (EPA's definition names it), the charge is 200 lb or more, and replacing an evaporator is a major repair. For a machine made before November 15, 1993, Table 1 requires 4 in. Hg.
Why not the others: 10 in. Hg is the same row with a newer machine. 0 in. Hg is for high-pressure appliances under 200 lb. 15 in. Hg is for large medium-pressure appliances.
Source: 40 CFR 82.156, Table 1 · 40 CFR 82.152, high-pressure appliance (R-407C named)
Review topic: Recovery requirements

Answer: C. 0 in. Hg, no matter the charge size or recovery-machine age.
Why: R-23 is a very high-pressure refrigerant in EPA's definition. Table 1 sets 0 in. Hg for very high-pressure appliances in both machine-age columns and doesn't split by charge size.
Why not the others: 10 and 4 in. Hg belong to high- and medium-pressure rows. 25 mm Hg absolute is for low-pressure appliances, which are Type III.
Source: 40 CFR 82.156, Table 1 · 40 CFR 82.152, very high-pressure appliance (R-23 named)
Review topic: Recovery requirements

Answer: B. Evacuate to no higher than 0 psig.
Why: This isn't a major repair: no compressor, condenser, evaporator, or auxiliary coil is removed, and the opening is under 4 square inches for under 15 minutes. For a non-major repair on a medium-, high-, or very high-pressure appliance that won't be evacuated to the atmosphere afterward, the rule requires evacuation to no higher than 0 psig before opening.
Why not the others: Non-major work still has a requirement. The full Table 1 level is for major repairs and disposal. 5 psig is the limit for oil changes, and adding nitrogen isn't the requirement here.
Source: 40 CFR 82.152, major maintenance, service, or repair · 40 CFR 82.156(a)(1)(i)
Review topic: Recovery requirements

Answer: D. Yes; the ban applies to appliances with a full charge of more than 15 lb.
Why: The rule bars system-dependent recovery equipment on appliances with a full charge of more than 15 lb, unless the device is permanently attached as a pump-out unit. A 14-lb unit is under that line. The equipment itself still has to be certified.
Why not the others: The limit is based on charge size, not on the appliance being a small appliance. The rule doesn't single out R-410A. Passive recovery can be used whether the compressor runs or not, with different techniques.
Source: 40 CFR 82.156(e) · 40 CFR 82.152, system-dependent recovery equipment
Review topic: Recovery requirements

Answer: A. High-pressure, because 160 psig is 174.7 psia.
Why: EPA's pressure classes are defined in psia (absolute pressure) at 104°F. Convert first: 160 psig + 14.7 = 174.7 psia. High-pressure is 170 to 355 psia, so this is a high-pressure refrigerant. EPA's Type II topic list specifically calls out adding 14.7 to go from psig to psia.
Why not the others: Comparing 160 psig to the 170 psia boundary skips the conversion, which is the trap. Very high-pressure starts above 355 psia. Low-pressure is below 45 psia.
Source: 40 CFR 82.152, pressure class definitions · EPA Test Topics, Type 2 → Refrigeration (add 14.7)
Review topic: Refrigeration

Answer: C. 15°F of superheat.
Why: Superheat is how many degrees a vapor is above its saturation temperature at that pressure: 60°F − 45°F = 15°F. Vapor leaving an evaporator is normally slightly superheated so no liquid reaches the compressor.
Why not the others: Subcooling describes liquid below its saturation temperature, usually leaving the condenser. 0°F would mean the line is at saturation temperature. 105°F adds the two temperatures instead of subtracting.
Source: Mainstream 608 manual, pp. 35–36 (superheat and subcooling)
Review topic: Refrigeration

Answer: A. Do not energize the compressor while it is under vacuum.
Why: EPA's public Type II safety topics explicitly say not to energize hermetic compressors under vacuum. The safe exam-prep rule is simple: keep the compressor off while the system is under vacuum.
Why not the others: Starting the compressor under vacuum is the condition EPA tells candidates to avoid. Oxygen must never be used for leak testing, and bypassing protective controls is not a safe service procedure.
Source: EPA Test Topics, Type 2 → Safety
Review topic: Safety

Answer: A. An oily film around a brazed joint.
Why: Refrigerant carries compressor oil through the system. Where refrigerant escapes, oil comes with it and leaves a film. EPA's topic list names traces of oil as a sign of leakage on hermetic systems.
Why not the others: Frost at start-up can have other causes and doesn't mark a leak location. A clear sight glass is normal on a properly charged system. Head pressure rises with outdoor temperature.
Source: EPA Test Topics, Type 2 → Leak Detection (traces of oil for hermetics)
Review topic: Leak detection

Answer: B. Dry nitrogen alone, through a regulator.
Why: EPA's Type II topic list ranks nitrogen alone as the best leak-test gas. Bubbles form wherever gas escapes, so the test doesn't need refrigerant in the mix. A trace of refrigerant only earns its place when an electronic refrigerant detector will be used.
Why not the others: Adding R-22 is unnecessary for a bubble test. Pure refrigerant is the least preferred test gas. Shop air adds moisture and oxygen to the system.
Source: EPA Test Topics, Type 2 → Leak Detection · Mainstream 608 manual, pp. 23–24 (use pure nitrogen when not using an electronic detector)
Review topic: Leak detection

Answer: D. A certified technician.
Why: Both leak-repair rules say a certified technician must conduct the leak inspection, using the methods the technician judges appropriate for that appliance.
Why not the others: The owner is responsible for making sure it happens, but the inspection itself must be done by a certified technician. EPA doesn't perform routine leak inspections for owners.
Source: 40 CFR 82.157(d)(1), (g)(2)
Review topic: Leak repair requirements

Answer: C. Piping that could only be reached with personnel elevated more than two meters above a support surface.
Why: The rule requires inspecting all visible and accessible components. It excuses components that are insulated, under ice, underground, behind walls, or otherwise inaccessible; those that would require personnel to be elevated more than two meters above a support surface; and those site personnel judge unsafe to inspect.
Why not the others: The compressor, accessible joints, and coil connections are visible and accessible, so they must be inspected.
Source: 40 CFR 82.157(g)(3)
Review topic: Leak repair requirements

Answer: B. They aren't required on the portions covered by the automatic system; unmonitored portions still need them.
Why: Commercial refrigeration of 500 lb or more normally needs a leak inspection every three months after exceeding its threshold. Portions continuously monitored by an automatic leak detection system that is audited or calibrated annually are exempt from those inspections. Anything the system doesn't monitor still has to be inspected.
Why not the others: The exemption is real, so "still required everywhere" is wrong. There's no monthly schedule. Monitoring replaces inspections; it doesn't erase the repair, verification, or recordkeeping duties.
Source: 40 CFR 82.157(g)(1)(i), (g)(4)
Review topic: Leak repair requirements

Answer: C. The owner or operator must submit a chronically leaking appliance report to EPA by March 1 of the following year.
Why: For appliances containing 50 lb or more of refrigerant that are subject to 40 CFR 82.157, leaking 125% or more of the full charge in a calendar year triggers a report to EPA by March 1 of the subsequent year describing efforts to identify leaks and repair the appliance.
Why not the others: The reporting trigger is based on the amount leaked during the calendar year, not a separate 125% annualized leak-rate threshold. The duty is on the owner or operator, and it is not a certification-card procedure.
Source: 40 CFR 82.157(j), (m)(4)
Review topic: Leak repair requirements

Answer: A. Before any refrigerant is added back.
Why: For repairs that require evacuating the appliance, the initial verification test must be performed before adding any refrigerant. It shows the repair held before the new charge goes in.
Why not the others: Testing after the full charge is restored is backward for an evacuated repair. The 10-day window belongs to the follow-up verification test. Verification is required whether or not the leak recurs.
Source: 40 CFR 82.157(e)(1)(ii), (e)(2)
Review topic: Leak repair requirements

Answer: D. It qualifies as a seasonal variance, so a leak-rate calculation isn't required for it, but records must be kept.
Why: EPA defines seasonal variance as removing refrigerant because of a change in season and later adding back an amount less than or equal to what was removed, all within one 12-month period. Additions that qualify don't require a leak-rate calculation, but the owner must keep records showing the seasonal variance and the amounts added and removed.
Why not the others: Qualifying seasonal additions are specifically carved out of the calculation. The practice isn't banned, and there's no EPA report for it.
Source: 40 CFR 82.152, seasonal variance · 40 CFR 82.157(b), (l)(10)
Review topic: Leak repair requirements

Answer: B. If no refrigerant is added for 12 months after the repair, or if the required leak inspections find no leaks.
Why: The repair must bring the leak rate below the threshold, confirmed by the calculation at the next refrigerant addition. The rule presumes leaks are repaired if there's no further refrigerant addition for 12 months after the repair, or if the required leak inspections find no leaks.
Why not the others: Passing the initial verification test is one step, not the presumption. There's no 30-day presumption. The rule creates the presumption, so "never" is wrong.
Source: 40 CFR 82.157(d)(2)
Review topic: Leak repair requirements

Answer: C. They're paused, and they resume the day refrigerant is added back.
Why: EPA calls this mothballing: evacuating an appliance or isolated section to at least atmospheric pressure and temporarily shutting it down. The repair deadlines are suspended while it's mothballed and start again on the day refrigerant is added back.
Why not the others: The clocks don't keep running, and they aren't cancelled. The rule doesn't require advance EPA approval for mothballing, though the owner must keep records of the dates.
Source: 40 CFR 82.152, mothball · 40 CFR 82.157(d)(3), (l)(8)
Review topic: Leak repair requirements

Answer: A. 6.0%.
Why: The annualizing method uses the shorter of the actual days since the last addition or 365 days. Once the interval is longer than a year, the time fraction is 365 ÷ 365 = 1. The result is 12 ÷ 200 × 100 = 6.0%.
Why not the others: Twelve percent would double the actual fraction of charge lost. Twenty percent is the commercial-refrigeration trigger rate, not the calculated leak rate. The method explicitly caps the elapsed-time input at 365 days.
Source: 40 CFR 82.152, leak-rate annualizing method
Review topic: Leak repair requirements

Answer: D. Section 82.157 does not apply because the full charge is under 50 lb.
Why: Section 82.157 applies to appliances with a full charge of 50 lb or more of a Class I or Class II refrigerant, or a blend containing one. At 40 lb, this appliance is below that section's charge-size trigger.
Why not the others: The appliance category does not matter until the 50-lb applicability threshold is met. The 20%, 10%, and 30% rates are category thresholds for appliances already within the rule's scope.
Source: 40 CFR 82.157(a), (c)(2)
Review topic: Leak repair requirements

Answer: D. Low-loss fittings.
Why: The equipment certification standard requires low-loss fittings on all hoses. A low-loss fitting closes automatically, or can be closed by hand, when disconnected, so less refrigerant escapes during hookups.
Why not the others: Flare nuts and sight glasses aren't the requirement. There is a specific requirement, so "nothing" is wrong.
Source: 40 CFR 82.158(d)(7) · 40 CFR 82.152, low-loss fitting
Review topic: Recovery techniques

Answer: A. Break the vacuum with dry nitrogen so outside air and moisture aren't pulled in.
Why: A system in a vacuum will suck in air and moisture the moment it's opened. The Mainstream 608 manual recommends breaking the vacuum with nitrogen before opening an evacuated system that will be repaired and returned to service.
Why not the others: Opening under vacuum draws in contaminants. Adding refrigerant would put refrigerant back into a system you're about to open. Shop air brings in moisture.
Source: Mainstream 608 manual, pp. 22–23 (break the vacuum with nitrogen)
Review topic: Recovery techniques

Answer: B. Pump the refrigerant into the receiver, isolate it, bring the isolated section to no higher than 0 psig, confirm the level, then open.
Why: The rule lets technicians evacuate just the part being serviced if its refrigerant can be isolated to a system receiver. Replacing an expansion valve with a small, brief opening isn't a major repair, so the isolated section must be at no higher than 0 psig, and the technician must verify that level before opening.
Why not the others: Recovering the whole charge to 10 in. Hg is more than the rule requires for this non-major job. Opening without evacuating, or just after the compressor stops, releases refrigerant.
Source: 40 CFR 82.156(a), (a)(1)(i) · 40 CFR 82.152, major maintenance, service, or repair
Review topic: Recovery techniques

Answer: D. Heating the appliance or vessel being recovered from.
Why: Warming the refrigerant in the appliance raises its pressure, which pushes it toward the recovery cylinder faster. EPA's Type II list names heating the appliance or vessel being recovered from as a method for speeding recovery. Follow the equipment maker's guidance on how to apply heat safely.
Why not the others: Chilling the source lowers its pressure. Smaller hoses add restriction. Heating the recovery cylinder raises its pressure and slows transfer.
Source: EPA Test Topics, Type 2 → Recovery Techniques
Review topic: Recovery techniques

Answer: C. 10 in. Hg vacuum.
Why: R-404A is a high-pressure refrigerant. For a high-pressure appliance with a full charge of 200 lb or more, using a machine made on or after November 15, 1993, Table 1 requires 10 in. Hg for disposal.
Why not the others: 0 in. Hg is for high-pressure systems under 200 lb. 15 in. Hg is for large medium-pressure systems. 4 in. Hg is the pre-1993 machine column.
Source: 40 CFR 82.156, Table 1 · Mainstream 608 FAQ (R-404A listed as high-pressure)
Review topic: Recovery requirements

Answer: D. 4 in. Hg vacuum.
Why: R-12 is a medium-pressure refrigerant. With a charge of 200 lb or more and a machine made before November 15, 1993, Table 1 requires 4 in. Hg.
Why not the others: 15 in. Hg is the same row with a post-1993 machine. 10 in. Hg is for medium-pressure systems under 200 lb with a newer machine. 0 in. Hg is for high-pressure systems under 200 lb.
Source: 40 CFR 82.156, Table 1 · 40 CFR 82.152, medium-pressure appliance (R-12 named)
Review topic: Recovery requirements

Answer: D. Isolate leaking parts where possible, take non-leaking parts to the Table 1 level, and take leaking parts as low as possible without substantially contaminating the refrigerant, never above 0 psig.
Why: When leaks make the Table 1 level unattainable, or reaching it would badly contaminate the recovered refrigerant, the rule sets a fallback: isolate leaking from non-leaking components, evacuate the non-leaking ones to the normal level, and evacuate the leaking ones to the lowest level possible without substantial contamination. That level can't be higher than 0 psig.
Why not the others: The rule gives a reduced target, not a waiver. Venting is prohibited. Pulling air through the leak contaminates everything recovered.
Source: 40 CFR 82.156(a)(2)
Review topic: Recovery requirements

Answer: A. No; the opening is 3 square inches, which isn't more than 4.
Why: Work is major if it removes the compressor, condenser, evaporator, or an auxiliary heat exchange coil, or if it uncovers more than 4 square inches of flow area for more than 15 minutes. Both parts of the second test must be met. 1.5 × 2 = 3 square inches, so the size condition isn't met.
Why not the others: Time alone doesn't make it major. Many openings are non-major. Charge size isn't part of the definition.
Source: 40 CFR 82.152, major maintenance, service, or repair
Review topic: Recovery requirements

Answer: B. Evacuate or pressurize to no higher than 5 psig, or drain the oil into a system receiver at no higher than 5 psig.
Why: For oil changes, the rule says the appliance must be evacuated or pressurized to no higher than 5 psig before it is opened, or the oil drained into a system receiver that is at no higher than 5 psig.
Why not the others: 10 in. Hg is a Table 1 figure for major repairs or disposal. There's no 24-hour hold. Oil changes have a specific requirement.
Source: 40 CFR 82.156(a)(1)(iii)
Review topic: Recovery requirements

Answer: C. Company name, appliance location, recovery date, and refrigerant type; monthly totals recovered; and transfers for reclamation or destruction, kept for three years.
Why: Technicians evacuating appliances with a full charge of more than 5 and less than 50 lb for disposal must keep records for three years: company name, appliance location, date, and refrigerant type for each appliance; monthly totals by refrigerant type; and quantities transferred for reclamation or destruction, with who received them and when.
Why not the others: The 50-lb trigger belongs to the leak-repair rule, not this disposal recordkeeping. The period is three years, not one. This duty falls on the technician.
Source: 40 CFR 82.156(a)(3)
Review topic: Recovery requirements

Answer: B. In the suction line between the evaporator and the compressor, to catch liquid refrigerant before it reaches the compressor.
Why: A suction line accumulator sits on the suction side, between the evaporator and the compressor. Sporlan's product bulletin describes its job: catch and hold unused refrigerant charge and prevent liquid slugging of the compressor and excessive dilution of the compressor oil.
Why not the others: The liquid line after the condenser is where a receiver goes. Accumulators don't store hot gas or subcool liquid.
Source: Sporlan Bulletin 5-3 (Oct. 2017), p. 4 · Mainstream 608 manual, p. 36 (evaporator outlet to compressor suction) · EPA Test Topics, Type 2 → Refrigeration (components)
Review topic: Refrigeration

Answer: C. 185.3 psig.
Why: Gauge pressure is absolute pressure minus atmospheric pressure: 200 − 14.7 = 185.3 psig. EPA's Type II topic list flags the 14.7 conversion between psig and psia.
Why not the others: 214.7 adds instead of subtracting. 200 skips the conversion. 170.1 subtracts 29.9, which is atmospheric pressure in inches of mercury, not psi.
Source: EPA Test Topics, Type 2 → Refrigeration · Mainstream 608 manual, p. 39 (psig vs. psia)
Review topic: Refrigeration

Answer: C. Use a pressure regulator and a relief valve with the nitrogen source.
Why: EPA's Section 608 safety topics call for nitrogen rather than oxygen or compressed air for leak detection and specify using a pressure regulator and relief valve with nitrogen.
Why not the others: Direct cylinder pressure can exceed system limits. Oxygen or compressed air is not EPA's recommended leak-test gas, and an open flame is unsafe.
Source: EPA Test Topics, Core → Safety
Review topic: Safety