Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Technician's EPA Certification
Guide
Learn from an expert. The author, James Preston — certified
universal technician — passed the Type I, II, III, and Universal exams on
his first try using the techniques presented in this book. All air
conditioning and refrigeration technicians now require certification by the
EPA.
This certification and inspection primer teaches service technicians, those
planning to enter the field, and business owners about the Clean Air
Act's refrigerant recycling rules and prepares them for the certification
test and on-site EPA inspections. This guide prepares technicians, students,
and businesses for Clean Air Act implementation.
Air Conditioning &
Refrigeration
Technician's EPA
Certification Guide
Getting Certified, Understanding the Rules and Preparing
for EPA Inspections
by James F. Preston
ORDER NOW
(1-800-782-7424)
or order
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$29.95
DESCRIPTION
This certification and inspection primer teaches service technicians, those
planning to enter the field, and business owners about the 1990 Clean Air
Act's refrigerant recycling rules and prepares them for the certification
test and on-site EPA inspections. This guide prepares technicians, students,
and businesses for Clean Air Act implementation and includes:
- Test Preparation
- EPA Inspection Guidance
- Training Plan Development
- Closed Book Practice Exams
- Freon Recovery/Recycling
- EPA Record Keeping
- Labeling Requirements
- Sample Test Questions
- Complete References
- The History of Ozone
"...Since the announcement of EPA regs mandating technician testing
there has been a tremendous demand for a guidebook which will ‘do it all':
get your employees certified, get your equipment in order, and make sure
you're OK with the EPA. This book may be your best resource you have, short
of a paid consultant. A valuable book."
— REFRIGERATION News
FOREWORD
Thirty or forty years ago, somebody coming out of high school but not
wanting to go to college would work in one of the "trades." They would be
machinists, press operators, mechanics, carpenters or HVAC/R technicians.
Machinists still make good money, but more and more machines are operated by
computers, not skilled people. Carpenters are still in demand, but these
days carpenters work with a powered nail gun, not a hammer. All of the
"trades" are under some sort of pressure, be it technologically, changes in
consumer demand, or increasing regulation.
Since mechanical refrigeration's invention, there hasn't been much change in
the physical aspects. You still compress a gas and it absorbs heat as it
expands. There could be said to be only two really big discoveries in
refrigeration. The first is the invention of Freon and other artificial
refrigerants. Artificial refrigerants meant that an appliance with an
odorless, lighter than air gas could chill food in the kitchen, or be
propped in the window to chill a room. After a while, every home and car had
an air conditioner.
The second discovery is the thesis that artificial refrigerants pose a long
term danger to the environment. Thus began the biggest challenge in
refrigeration history: the reeducation of thousands of skilled persons who
had counted on a life of honest work and honest money, without much
interference. And believe me, some of them aren't happy about it.
Many technicians are going to avoid getting the required certification.
Unfortunately, their employers can't keep them. The self-employed put
themselves at risk by not complying. Itmay be the idea of big brother
telling you what you can and cannot do. It may be the fear of failing the
test. It may be procrastination. But this is not an option for the
technician - you must take the certification exam if you want to keep your
job!
Anybody that graduated from high school can probably pass the test. But,
preparation is the key to anything, even if you've been in the field a long
time. The Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Technician's EPA Certification
Guide should be a strong background. Thorough study of the book and
completing all of the sample questions will prepare many technicians for the
test. The book and a competent review class will get almost anyone through
it. Like filing your 1040s, this test is an unpleasant but vitally necessary
task that you'll be happier when you complete. And like your 1040s, you
don't want to know what happens if you miss. You'll do great if you work
this book, work the sample tests and keep an open mind. Good Luck!
Joe Cronley, Publisher, REFRIGERATION News, Atlanta
Certified Technician, Classes I and 11
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
The Rules Are Changing 7
Help is Here 8
What this Book Does for You 8
Penalty Anyone 9
Isn't My Business Too Small To Be Inspected 9
Fines 10
Certification Testing On Section 608 10
Grandfathering Of Section 608 10
Types of Section 608 Certification 11
Certification Testing On Section 609 12
Grandfathering Section 609 12
The End Of Refrigeration As We Know It 13
Stratospheric Ozone Hotline Number 14
CHAPTER TWO
CFC — the Destroyer 15
Holes in the Top & Bottom of the World 15
Ozone Depletion — What You Need To Know 16
The Rest of the Story 17
Our Ozone Shield 17
A Problem Arises: The Early 1970s 18
Stratospheric Ozone: The First Decade (1974-1984) 19
The Ozone Years: 1985-1989 22
Our Ozone Layer: Present & Future 24
Some Interesting Facts 26
CHAPTER THREE
Prohibitions, Rules, Regulations, and Dates 27
Section 608, Prohibitions Part
82.154 Dates 27
Section 608, Required Practices Part 82.156 Dates 30
More Dates To Remember 30
Section 608 Evacuation Levels 34
CHAPTER FOUR
Certification 35
Type I Certification 36
Small Appliance Recovery Requirements 36
Small Appliance Refrigerant Leaks 37
Type II Certification 37
High Pressure Appliance Recovery Requirements 38
Scope 38
Leaks 38
Type III Certification 39
Recovery 40
Universal 40
Section 609 (MVAC Certification) 40
CHAPTER FIVE
Freon Recovery, Recycling, Reclaiming 41
The 3 Rs 42
Section 608 Recovery 43
General Information 43
Push/Pull Connections 45
General Information 45
CHAPTER SIX
Section 608, 609 & 611 Group I Practice Questions 47
Test Taking Strategies 47
Sample Questions 49
CHAPTER SEVEN
Section 608 Group II Practice Questions 53
Type I Practice Questions 54
Type II Practice Questions 57
Type III Practice Questions 60
CHAPTER EIGHT
Section 609 (MVAC) Practice Questions 61
CHAPTER NINE
Recovery Recycling Practice Questions 65
CHAPTER TEN
Preparing for EPA Inspections 71
What to do Before, During, and
After You Are Inspected 71
Developing Inspection Checklists 73
The Bounty Provision 74
Pre-Inspection Checklist 75, 76
The Not So Obvious 77
The Showcase Checklist 77
Section 608/609 Support 78
EPA Inspection Checklists 79
Level 1 & 2 Checklists (608) 79-82
Enforcement Guidance (Section 608) 83
Taking Enforcement Action 86
MVAC Compliance (Section 609) 89
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Record Keeping 95
Recovery/Recycling Equipment Owners 96
Recordkeeping Section 608 96
Equipment Testing Organizations 97
Section 609 Recordkeeping 98
Wholesalers/Retailers/Distributors 98
Reclaimers 99
Disposers 99
Owner/Operators of Air Conditioning/Refrigeration Equipment 100
Technical Certification Program 100
Labeling 100
Recordkeeping Tips 101
APPENDIX I
Answers to Practice Questions 103
APPENDIX II
EPA Approved Testing for Sections 608 and 609 107
APPENDIX III
Closed Book Practice Exam 111
APPENDIX IV
40 CFR Part 82 (Section 608) 125
APPENDIX V
40 CFR Part 82 (Section 609) 145
APPENDIX VI
Additional Resources 155
#
EPA Hotlines & Electronic Bulletin Boards 155-156
#
Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) 157
#
Associations & Manufacturers Lists 158-159
#
Definitions Section 160
#
Disposal of CFC's & Contaminated Material 162
#
Short List of Alternative Refrigerants
#
Labeling Regulation Requirements
#
State & Territorial Air Pollution Control Agencies 171
#
Pressure-Temperature Chart - SPORLAN Value Company 174
APPENDIX VII
Training Plans 175
INDEX 183
CAREER RESOURCES 189
Air Conditioning &
Refrigeration
Technician's EPA
Certification Guide
Getting Certified, Understanding the Rules and Preparing
for EPS Inspections
Paperback || 192 pages || ISBN#:
0-943641-10-1 || $29.95
Order with all major credit cards on-line or
toll free at
(1-800-782-7424) Orders Only
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