The Clean Air Act: Section 608 - HVACR Technician Refrigeration Certification
In 1993, Section 608 of the Clean Air Act became law and active enforcement of these federally mandated laws became the responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to enforce. The Clean Air Act as defined by the EPA is not limited to the United States but is applicable to all signatories (24 countries and the European Economic Countries) of the Montreal Protocol. These signatories agreed to phase out all CFC's and eventually all HCFC's. These refrigerants have been determined to have Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and Global Warming Potential (GWP). As a result, the international community decided to place restrictions and encourage reduction and elimination of use of these refrigerants. In the United States, the reduction and elimination of these refrigerants is done through Section 608 of the Clean Air Act. As a result of this international agreement all HVAC technicians in the signatory countries who handle refrigerant must pass a refrigeration certification test demonstrating there knowledge and skills of this law and how to safely handle refrigerants.
EPA Section 608 places restrictions on the purchase of refrigerants to only those HVAC technicians certified to handle refrigerants. The HVAC technician certification process requires a demonstration of knowledge concerning the safe handling, use, and proper disposal of refrigerants and the cylinders that hold refrigerants. Other rules imposed by Section 608 require the repair of refrigerant leaks (in commercial and industrial applications that leak more than 50 Lbs. per year), and the phased elimination and reduction in the production of CFC's and HCFC's. Section 608 and the Montreal Protocol strictly defines these rules and the reduction and elimination of CFC's and HCFC's.
HVAC Refrigeration Technician Certification Types
Section 608 clearly defines technician certification types for different sizes of refrigeration systems.
The Core Section - the core section of the certification is required to pass before any other types can be issued to a technician. If a technician sits for the exam and passes Type I, Type II, or Type III but does not pass the Core section of the exam the technician will not be issued a license to use refrigerant. The Core portion of the exam requires a demonstration of the basic rules of Section 608 of the Clean Air Act.
Type I - Type I HVAC Technician certification allows a technician to handle refrigerants, repair, and install small appliances that hold a factory charge of five pounds or less.
Type II - Type II HVAC Technician certification allows a technician to handle refrigerants, repair, and install High Pressure or Very High Pressure Appliances which hold five pounds or more of refrigerant other than R-11, R-113, or R-123.
Type III - Type III HVAC Technician certification allows a technician to handle refrigerants, repair, and install Low-Pressure Appliances which includes R-11, R-113, R-123.
EPA Section 608 defines procedures for recovery of refrigerant, basic refrigeration knowledge, handling of refrigerant and refrigerant containers, and repairs of leaks as applicable to commercial and industrial applications. The exam is comprised of 100 questions, 25 questions per type including the core section, and requires a passing score of 78 percent or more. It is possible to pass the core and a combination of either Type I, Type II, and/or Type III and obtain technician certification in whichever Type was passed with 78 percent as long as the core was passed. All HVAC air conditioning and refrigeration technicians are required to possess this license when the are purchasing or using the refrigerants specified in Section 608 to service, install, or repair the refrigeration circuits in those appliances or equipment that contain the specified refrigerants.
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