EPA Section 608 Universal Certification ExamType II (High-Pressure Appliances)Medium
A technician is performing a recovery from a high-pressure appliance containing 40 pounds of R-407C. The appliance was manufactured before 1992. According to EPA regulations, what is the minimum percentage of refrigerant that must be recovered?
- A90%
- B95%
- C70%
- D80%
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. 80%
For high-pressure appliances containing more than 10 pounds of refrigerant and manufactured before December 31, 1991, the EPA requires that 80% of the refrigerant be recovered, or that the system be evacuated to 15 inches of mercury vacuum.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. 90% recovery is required for high-pressure appliances >10 lbs and manufactured after 1991.
- B. 95% is not a general EPA-mandated recovery level for this type of appliance, though some very low-pressure appliances have higher requirements.
- C. 70% is not an EPA-mandated recovery level for this type of appliance.
High-Pressure Appliance Recovery Efficiency (Old)
EPA regulations set different recovery efficiency standards for high-pressure appliances based on their manufacturing date and refrigerant charge.
- Appliances >10 lbs, manufactured pre-1992, require 80% recovery.
- Alternatively, evacuation to 15 inches Hg vacuum suffices.
- These older standards reflect limitations of early recovery equipment.
Memory trick: Old or new, and how much too, dictates what percentage you're due!