EPA 608 Cheat Sheet

This EPA 608 cheat sheet puts every critical fact you need for the certification exam on one page. Bookmark it, print it, and use it as your final review before test day. We have organized the most frequently tested facts into tables and quick-reference lists so you can find any detail in seconds.

EPA 608 Cheat Sheet: Refrigerant Classifications

The EPA 608 exam tests your knowledge of refrigerant types, their ozone depletion potential (ODP), and global warming potential (GWP). This EPA 608 cheat sheet table covers the refrigerants you will see most often on the exam. Memorize this EPA 608 cheat sheet section before test day.

EPA 608 Cheat Sheet: Recovery & Evacuation Requirements

One of the trickiest parts of the EPA 608 exam is remembering evacuation levels. This EPA 608 cheat sheet section breaks them down by system type and charge size, using equipment manufactured after November 15, 1993.

EPA 608 Cheat Sheet: Leak Repair Rate Thresholds

EPA regulations require equipment owners to repair leaks when the annual leak rate exceeds these thresholds. This is a must-know section of any EPA 608 cheat sheet — expect multiple exam questions on these numbers.

EPA 608 Cheat Sheet: Key Clean Air Act Dates

Memorize these dates — the EPA 608 exam frequently tests your knowledge of regulatory timelines. Keep this EPA 608 cheat sheet handy as a reference during your study sessions.

• 1987: Montreal Protocol signed — international agreement to phase out ozone-depleting substances.
• 1990: Clean Air Act amendments passed — established Section 608 requiring EPA certification for refrigerant handling.
• July 1, 1992: Intentional venting of refrigerants prohibited (effective date).
• November 15, 1993: Cutoff date for recovery equipment standards — equipment built after this date must meet stricter evacuation levels.
• January 1, 1996: CFC production and import phased out completely in the U.S.
• January 1, 2010: HCFC-22 production phased out for new equipment.
• January 1, 2020: All HCFC-22 production and import phased out — only recycled or reclaimed R-22 may be used.

EPA 608 Cheat Sheet: Cylinder Safety Rules

Cylinder handling questions appear on every EPA 608 exam section. This EPA 608 cheat sheet section covers the rules that are non-negotiable in the field and on the test.

• 80% fill rule: Never fill a recovery cylinder beyond 80% of its capacity by weight.
• Hydrostatic testing: DOT recovery cylinders must be requalified every 5 years.
• Color coding: Recovery cylinders are gray with yellow tops. Disposable cylinders must never be refilled.
• Storage: Store cylinders upright in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from heat sources.
• Mixed refrigerants: Never mix different refrigerants in the same cylinder. Contaminated refrigerant must be sent to a reclaimer.

EPA 608 Cheat Sheet: Three Rs — Recovery, Recycling, Reclamation

The EPA 608 exam always tests whether you know the difference between these three processes. No EPA 608 cheat sheet is complete without this breakdown.

• Recovery: Removing refrigerant from a system and storing it in an external container. No cleaning or processing required.
• Recycling: Cleaning refrigerant for reuse using oil separation and single or multiple passes through filter-dryer cores. Done on-site or at a service shop.
• Reclamation: Processing refrigerant to ARI 700 purity standards. Must be performed by an EPA-certified reclaimer at an approved facility. Chemical analysis required.