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EPA 608 Cert Prep · 45+ Field Tools · Digital Forms · Equipment DB

CORE TYPE I TYPE II TYPE III

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Core

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Core
Section

Ozone, regs, the Three Rs, safety, refrigeration cycle

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Type I

🏠

Small
Appliances

5 lbs or less, hermetically sealed, passive recovery

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Type II

🏭

High
Pressure

R-22, R-410A, walk-ins, commercial systems

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Type III

🧊

Low
Pressure

R-123, centrifugal chillers, vacuum operation

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QUICK LAUNCH

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GUIDE

34 topics

📋

CLIFF NOTES

Open-book ref

🔢

KEY NUMBERS

Recovery tables

🔧

TOOLS

45+ field tools

📝

FORMS

WO · PM · EPA

⚠️

A2L MODULE

R-454B · R-32

◈ 4-PHASE METHOD

01Days 1–7: Core only. Flashcards daily. No other sections.

02Days 8–14: Type I + II. Core review 10 min/day.

03Days 15–21: Type III. Adaptive quiz daily. Timed section quiz Sunday.

04Days 22–28: Daily timed simulations. Fix weak areas. Exam day.

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Study Guide

32 TOPICS · FULL EXAM COVERAGE · OPEN BOOK FORMAT

28-Day Plan

TAP DAYS TO MARK COMPLETE

◈ The Strategy

One section per week. Practice exam every Sunday. Score below 20/25 = stay on that section 3 more days. Pass all four sections (18/25 each) = Universal certification.

◈ FIELD TOOLS

Tech Suite

Every calculation you need on the job — no paper charts, no guessing

← scroll →

Pressure / Temperature Chart

Enter pressure OR temperature — get the other instantly

Refrigerant

Pressure (PSIG)

⇌

Temperature (°F)

Quick Reference — Common Operating Temps

Superheat Calculator

Actual superheat at evaporator outlet / compressor suction

Refrigerant

Suction Pressure (PSIG)

Suction Line Temp (°F)

Target SH (°F) optional

ℹ

TXV systems: Target 8–12°F. Fixed orifice: Use Target SH Calculator tab. High SH = starving evaporator (undercharge or restricted TXV). Low SH = flooding (overcharge or TXV stuck open).

Subcooling Calculator

Liquid line subcooling — primary charge indicator for TXV systems

Refrigerant

Liquid Line Pressure (PSIG)

Liquid Line Temp (°F)

Target SC (°F) optional

ℹ

Normal range: 10–20°F subcooling for most TXV systems. Low SC = insufficient liquid (undercharge, restriction upstream). High SC = overcharge or restriction downstream of measurement.

Target Superheat Calculator

Fixed orifice / cap tube systems only — uses charging chart method

Outdoor Ambient Temp (°F)

Indoor Wet Bulb Temp (°F)

ℹ

For TXV systems, use the Subcooling tab instead — target SH is not the primary charge indicator. This calculator uses the standard ARI/ACCA charging chart for fixed-orifice residential systems only.

Capacitor Checker

Verify capacitor health — check variance against nameplate rating

Nameplate Rating (μF)

Measured Value (μF)

Capacitor Type

ℹ

Run caps: Must be within ±6% of rating. Start caps: Within ±10%. Always DISCHARGE before measuring — use 15kΩ resistor across terminals. Never short with a screwdriver.

Unit Converter

Pressure, temperature, and power — all in one place

PRESSURE

PSIG

PSIA

kPa

in. Hg (vacuum)

Microns

Bar

TEMPERATURE

°F Fahrenheit

°C Celsius

K Kelvin

COOLING CAPACITY

Tons

BTU/hr

kW

Leak Rate Calculator

Calculate annualized leak rate — check EPA threshold compliance

Full System Charge (lbs)

Refrigerant Added (lbs)

Days Since Last Service

System Type

ℹ

Thresholds (50+ lb systems): Comfort cooling 10%/yr · Commercial refrigeration 20%/yr · Industrial process 30%/yr. Systems under 50 lbs have no EPA-mandated repair threshold.

System Quick Diagnosis

Enter gauge readings — get instant fault analysis

Refrigerant

System Type

Suction Pressure (PSIG)

Discharge Pressure (PSIG)

Suction Line Temp (°F)

Liquid Line Temp (°F)

Service Job Log

Save readings and notes locally — tap any entry to view

Location / Customer

Equipment

Refrigerant

Suction Pressure (PSIG)

Discharge Pressure (PSIG)

Superheat (°F)

Subcooling (°F)

Notes / Work Performed

Airflow / Delta-T Calculator

Calculate CFM using the temperature rise method — no airflow hood needed

Heat Source Type

Supply Voltage (V)

Amp Draw (A)

Supply Air Temp (°F)

Return Air Temp (°F)

ℹ

Measure supply temp 36" from plenum, not line-of-sight to heat exchanger. System must run minimum 15 min before taking readings. Standard: 350–400 CFM per ton of cooling, 400 CFM per ton for heating.

Compression Ratio Calculator

Compressor health check — high CR = compressor working too hard

Refrigerant

Suction Pressure (PSIG)

Discharge Pressure (PSIG)

ℹ

CR = Discharge PSIA ÷ Suction PSIA. Ideal: 2:1 to 4:1. Acceptable: up to 7:1. Warning: 7:1–10:1. Critical: above 10:1 — compressor overheating, short cycling likely. Dirty condenser or low charge are most common causes of high CR.

Lineset Charge Calculator

Additional refrigerant needed beyond factory charge for longer linesets

Refrigerant

Liquid Line OD (inches)

Factory Pre-Charged Length (ft)

Actual Total Lineset Length (ft)

ℹ

Always verify with manufacturer specs — charge rates vary by model. These values are typical industry standards. Some manufacturers specify different rates, especially for inverter/variable speed systems. Shorter than factory? Remove refrigerant, don't add.

Electrical Calculator

Ohm's Law, power, single-phase and three-phase calculations

OHM'S LAW — Enter any two, get the others

Voltage (V)

Current (A)

Resistance (Ω)

Power (W)

THREE-PHASE POWER

Line Voltage (V L-L)

Line Current (A)

Power Factor

WIRE SIZE QUICK REFERENCE (NEC 310.16 @ 75°C copper)

AWG	Ampacity	Common HVAC Use
#14	15A	Control wiring, low-voltage
#12	20A	Small condensers, mini-splits
#10	30A	Most residential condensers (R-410A 3-5 ton)
#8	40A	Larger residential, small commercial
#6	55A	Commercial condensers, large air handlers
#4	70A	Large commercial equipment
#3	85A	Commercial refrigeration compressors
#2	95A	Large commercial compressors
#1	110A	Large commercial/industrial
#1/0	125A	Industrial compressors

ℹ

Always use the MCA (Minimum Circuit Ampacity) from the equipment nameplate for wire sizing — not calculated load. NEC Article 440 governs HVAC/R circuits. MOCP from nameplate determines max breaker/fuse size.

Refrigerant Comparison

Side-by-side specs, replacements, and key properties

Refrigerant	Type	Safety	ODP	GWP	Oil	Status
R-11	CFC	B1	1.0	4750	Mineral	Banned
R-12	CFC	A1	1.0	10900	Mineral	Banned
R-22	HCFC	A1	0.05	1810	Alkylbenzene	Phased out
R-123	HCFC	B1	0.02	77	Alkylbenzene	Phase-down
R-134a	HFC	A1	0	1430	POE	Phase-down
R-404A	HFC Blend	A1	0	3922	POE	Being replaced
R-407C	HFC Blend	A1	0	1774	POE	Phase-down
R-410A	HFC Blend	A1	0	2088	POE	Phase-down
R-448A	HFC Blend	A1	0	1387	POE	R-404A replacement
R-449A	HFC Blend	A1	0	1397	POE	R-404A/R-22 replacement
R-32	HFC	A2L	0	675	POE	R-410A partial replacement
R-454B	HFO Blend	A2L	0	466	POE	Primary R-410A replacement
R-1234yf	HFO	A2L	~0	<1	POE	Automotive AC
R-1234ze	HFO	A2L	~0	7	POE	Chiller replacement
R-290	HC Propane	A3	0	3	Mineral/POE	New small appliances
R-600a	HC Isobutane	A3	0	3	Mineral	Domestic fridge retrofit
R-744 (CO₂)	Natural	A1	0	1	POE	Supermarket cascade
R-717 (NH₃)	Natural	B2L	0	0	None	Industrial/ammonia systems

COMMON REPLACEMENT GUIDE

R-22 REPLACEMENTS

R-407C (drop-in with oil flush), R-422D (near drop-in), R-449A (better efficiency). For new equipment: R-410A systems, now transitioning to R-454B (lower GWP). No true drop-in exists — system retrofit required.

R-404A REPLACEMENTS (commercial refrigeration)

R-448A and R-449A are the primary replacements. Lower GWP, similar performance, same POE oil, compatible with same equipment. R-452A also used. Verify TXV compatibility before retrofitting.

R-410A REPLACEMENTS

R-454B (Opteon XL41) is the primary replacement for new equipment — A2L mildly flammable, GWP 466. R-32 used in some applications. Requires A2L-rated equipment, tools, and technician training.

A2L REFRIGERANT SAFETY NOTE

R-454B, R-32, and R-1234yf are A2L (mildly flammable). Do not use open flames or ignition sources near work area. Ensure adequate ventilation. These do NOT require explosion-proof tools (unlike A3 hydrocarbons) but require ignition source awareness.

System Efficiency Calculator

COP, EER, and energy cost analysis — useful for customer conversations and system audits

COEFFICIENT OF PERFORMANCE (COP)

Cooling Capacity (BTU/hr or tons)

Input Type

Power Input (Watts or kW)

Power Unit

ENERGY COST ESTIMATOR

System Power Draw (kW)

Hours/Day Running

$/kWh Rate

Defrost Reference Guide

Settings, termination temps, troubleshooting — by system type

System Type

Psychrometric Calculator

Air properties from any two inputs — wet bulb, dew point, RH, enthalpy

Dry Bulb Temp (°F)

Input Type

Wet Bulb Temp (°F)

ℹ

Target Superheat charging requires indoor wet bulb + outdoor dry bulb. ASHRAE 55: Indoor dew point should stay below 62.2°F to prevent mold. High dew point = high latent load = system works harder with less visible cooling effect.

Vacuum & Decay Test

Micron targets, decay timer, and real-time interpretation

System Type

DECAY TEST INTERPRETER

Starting Microns (isolated)

Current Microns

Minutes Elapsed

ℹ

Never use compound gauge to verify vacuum — only a dedicated micron gauge works. Place micron gauge at far end from pump. Remove Schrader cores for fastest pull-down. DO NOT open system to atmosphere under vacuum! Break with dry nitrogen first if leak found.

Nitrogen Pressure Test

Test pressures, hold times, and temperature correction calculator

Refrigerant / System

System Size

TEMPERATURE CORRECTION — Pressure changes with ambient temperature

Test Pressure (PSIG)

Temp at Start (°F)

Temp Now (°F)

ℹ

ALWAYS use dry nitrogen — never compressed air (contains moisture and oxygen). Nitrogen pressure rises ~0.6 PSI per °F increase in ambient temp. A 20°F temp rise on a 150 PSIG test = ~12 PSIG expected rise — not a failed test!

Amp Ratings Decoder

RLA, LRA, FLA, MCA, MOCP — what each means and how to use them

RLA (Nameplate)

LRA (Nameplate)

Fan Motor FLA

Voltage

WHAT EACH RATING ACTUALLY MEANS

Rating	What it is	Use it for
RLA	Rated Load Amps (UL math formula, NOT actual running amps)	Wire, contactor, overload sizing ONLY
LRA	Locked Rotor Amps — peak startup current	Hard start kit decision, contactor inrush rating
MCA	Minimum Circuit Ampacity — NEC-required wire size	Wire gauge selection (use nameplate value)
MOCP	Max Overcurrent Protection — largest breaker/fuse allowed	Breaker/fuse sizing (use nameplate value)
MCC	Max Continuous Current — highest amps before overload trips	Understanding overload protection
FLA	Full Load Amps — actual running current at full load	DIAGNOSIS — compare your measured amps to manufacturer performance chart

CRITICAL DIAGNOSTIC NOTE

NEVER compare your measured compressor amp draw to the nameplate RLA to diagnose a problem. RLA is a UL calculation, not the expected running amps. Use the manufacturer's performance data chart with actual suction/discharge pressures to find the correct expected amp draw.

Refrigerant Cylinder Tracker

How much refrigerant remains by weight — never run a system dry again

Refrigerant

Cylinder Size

Tare Weight (lbs) — empty cylinder

Current Scale Weight (lbs)

COMMON CYLINDER TARE WEIGHTS

Refrigerant	Size	Full Weight	Tare Weight
R-410A	25 lb	~37 lbs	~12 lbs
R-410A	30 lb	~44 lbs	~14 lbs
R-410A	50 lb	~66 lbs	~16 lbs
R-22	30 lb	~43 lbs	~13 lbs
R-404A	24 lb	~37 lbs	~13 lbs
R-448A	25 lb	~38 lbs	~13 lbs
R-134a	30 lb	~43 lbs	~13 lbs

Pressure Drop → Temperature Equivalent

How many °F of evaporating temperature you lose per PSI of suction pressure drop

Refrigerant

Suction Pressure (PSIG)

Pressure Drop (PSI)

ℹ

Suction line pressure drop steals evaporating temperature — it makes the evaporator colder than it needs to be to compensate, hurting efficiency. Rule of thumb: Keep suction line pressure drop to <2 PSI per 100 ft. Dirty filters, long linesets, and undersized suction lines are the main causes.

AIM Act Phase-Down Timeline

HFC reduction schedule — know what's coming before it affects your customers

Year	HFC Production/Import Cap	% Baseline	Key Impact
2022–2023	90% of baseline	90%	Phase-down begins
2024–2028	60% of baseline	60%	R-410A production cut — prices rising now
2029–2033	30% of baseline	30%	Major R-410A shortage expected
2034–2035	20% of baseline	20%	Near phase-out of high-GWP refrigerants
2036+	15% of baseline	15%	Full transition to A2L and natural refrigerants

R-410A STATUS RIGHT NOW (2024-2028)

We are currently in the 60% cap period. R-410A production is being cut — prices have already increased significantly. New equipment manufactured after Jan 1, 2025 must use A2L refrigerants (primarily R-454B). Existing R-410A equipment can still be serviced with R-410A.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS

Customers with R-410A systems installed now have 10-15 year equipment lifespans. By 2036, R-410A will be extremely expensive or unavailable. Systems installed today will likely need conversion or replacement mid-life. Price this into long-term service agreements.

TECH OPPORTUNITY

Get A2L certified now. R-454B, R-32, and R-1234yf require additional training. First techs in each market with A2L certification will have a competitive advantage. Cost: HVAC Excellent A2L Safety course ~$30-50, available online.

NEW EQUIPMENT REFRIGERANT TRANSITIONS

Equipment	Old Refrigerant	New Refrigerant	GWP Change
Residential A/C & heat pumps	R-410A (2088)	R-454B (466)	-78%
Light commercial A/C	R-410A (2088)	R-454B or R-32	-78% / -68%
Commercial refrigeration	R-404A (3922)	R-448A (1387)	-65%
Automotive A/C	R-134a (1430)	R-1234yf (<1)	-99%
Chillers (centrifugal)	R-123 (77)	R-1234ze (7)	-91%
Small appliances	R-134a / R-600a	R-600a / R-290	Already low

PM Checklist Builder

Digital inspection walk-through — generates customer-ready summary

Equipment Type

Customer / Location

📁 Reference Documents

Official EPA sources, certifiers & technical references — all links open in browser

🏛️ OFFICIAL EPA RESOURCES

🌐

EPA Section 608 Main Page

Regulations, approved certifiers, test topics

📝

Official Test Topics (EPA.gov)

Exact blueprint — Core, Type I, II, III tested topics

📊

EPA Recordkeeping Requirements

Invoices, leak inspections, disposal records — what to keep

🌡️

AIM Act — HFC Phasedown

85% HFC reduction by 2036 — the 2026 exam update

🚗

Section 609 (MVAC)

Motor Vehicle AC — separate cert from 608

🎓 CERTIFICATION ORGANIZATIONS

🎓

ESCO Institute

Primary certifier — 2M+ credentials. Register for exam here.

🎓

Mainstream Engineering

Second major EPA-approved testing organization

🏆

NATE Certification

North American Technician Excellence — beyond EPA 608

🔧 BUILT-IN TOOLS (TAP TO OPEN)

📋

Cliff Notes — Open-Book Reference

Every testable number organized for quick lookup

🔢

Key Numbers Panel

Recovery levels, leak thresholds, AIM Act dates

📚

Study Guide — 32 Topics

Deep-dive coverage of every exam topic with tables and exam traps

📖 EXAM DAY — WHAT YOU CAN BRING

During Core, Type II, and Type III: closed-book, proctored — only P/T chart and calculator allowed. Phones must be off and put away.

Type I only: can be taken online and is open-book. Use the Cliff Notes view as your open-book reference for Type I.

⚡ Bluetooth / Live Gauges

Auto-fill field tools directly from your digital manifold

📡

PLANNED FEATURE

Live readings auto-populate your field tools.
No more manual entry — tap and calculate.

TARGET COMPATIBLE DEVICES

Fieldpiece SMAN Series

SMAN3, SMAN4, SMAN460V

IN PROGRESS

Testo 550s / 557s

Smart manifold with Bluetooth App

IN PROGRESS

Yellow Jacket Titan 4

4-valve digital manifold

PLANNED

BluVac+ (JB Industries)

Wireless micron gauge

PLANNED

Generic BLE Sensors

Temperature & pressure Bluetooth probes

PLANNED

PLANNED CAPABILITIES

✓ Connect via Bluetooth to your gauges
✓ Auto-fill Superheat + Subcooling inputs with live readings
✓ Real-time pressure trending graph
✓ Alert when readings leave normal operating range
✓ Timestamp all readings to your Job Log automatically
✓ Supports up to 2 simultaneous gauge sets

ℹ

Bluetooth hardware sync requires a native app. This offline version provides full manual entry across all 45+ field tools.

⚠️ Contaminant Diagnosis

Match readings to identify system fault

Suction Pressure

Discharge Pressure

Superheat

Subcooling

⚡ Motor / Contactor Sizing

NEC 430.250 — motor HP to wire, breaker, contactor size

Motor HP

Voltage / Phase

📏 Cap Tube Resizer

New cap tube length when changing ID — same restriction

Original ID (inches)

Original Length (inches)

New ID (inches)

⚙️ Belt / Pulley Sizing

V-belt sizing for AHU fans, condenser fans, cooling towers

Motor RPM

Fan RPM

Motor Pulley OD (inches)

Center Distance (inches)

⚖️ Recovery Tank 80% Fill Rule

DOT requires cylinders never exceed 80% capacity by weight

Cylinder Size

Custom Capacity (lbs)

Tare Weight (lbs)

Scale Weight (lbs)

🔍 Symptom Diagnosis Tree

Select a symptom — causes, field checks, and fixes

🏷️ Serial Number Decoder

Unit age from serial number — 13 major brands

Brand

Select brand to see format guide

Serial Number

🔧 Refrigerant Pipe Sizing

Suction, liquid, and discharge line OD by tonnage — ASHRAE guidelines

System Tonnage

Refrigerant

Line Run Length (feet)

🌊 Condenser Flood Charge

Low-ambient head pressure control — extra refrigerant needed (Sporlan method)

System Tons

Refrigerant

Min Ambient (°F)

Design Ambient (°F)

⚡ Electrical Troubleshoot

Step-by-step branching flowchart — pass or fail at each check

🔥 Combustion Analysis

Gas furnace / boiler efficiency — O2, CO2, stack temp

Fuel Type

O2 % (flue gas)

CO2 % (flue gas)

Stack Temp (°F)

Ambient Temp (°F)

📊 System Performance Score

Enter your readings — get an instant system health score

Superheat (°F)

Subcooling (°F)

Delta-T across coil (°F)

Comp Amps (actual)

Nameplate RLA

All fields optional — score with any combination

🏠 Quick Load Calculator

Simplified residential sizing — not a substitute for Manual J

Conditioned Sq Ft

Ceiling Height (ft)

Insulation

Climate

Sun Exposure

Occupants

◈ 2026 EXAM UPDATE

A2L Safety Guide

New on the 2026 exam — mildly flammable refrigerants

⚠️ WHAT IS A2L?

A2L refrigerants are mildly flammable — lower flammability than A2 or A3, but require specific handling. The ASHRAE 34 safety classification has two parts:

Letter = Toxicity: A = lower toxicity | B = higher toxicity
Number = Flammability: 1 = non-flammable | 2L = mildly flammable | 2 = flammable | 3 = highly flammable

KEY A2L REFRIGERANTS (2026 EXAM)

R-454B PRIMARY R-410A REPLACEMENT

Brand: Opteon XL41 | GWP: 767 (vs R-410A: 2088) | Class: A2L
Standard for new residential AC and heat pump equipment as of Jan 1, 2025

R-32 MINI-SPLIT DOMINANT

GWP: 675 | Class: A2L | Higher capacity density than R-410A
Widely used in ductless mini-splits globally and increasingly in US equipment

R-466A NON-FLAMMABLE OPTION

Class: A1 (non-flammable) | R-410A alternative — no A2L handling required
Not yet widely deployed — important as the non-flammable alternative

R-1234yf / R-1234ze HFO — ULTRA LOW GWP

Class: A2L | GWP: 4 and 7 respectively | R-134a replacements
R-1234yf in automotive AC, R-1234ze in newest centrifugal chillers

A2L SPECIFIC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

🏷️ Service Connection Marking

Process tubes and service connections on A2L systems must be marked with a distinctive color marking extending at least 1 inch in both directions from the connection. This alerts other technicians to flammable refrigerant.

⚡ Grounding Requirement

Always ground recovery tank and recovery unit before use. Static electricity can ignite A2L vapors. This applies to A2L and all flammable refrigerants (A2L, A2, A3).

🚫 Ignition Sources

Eliminate ALL ignition sources before working with A2L refrigerants. No open flames, no electrical arcing, no sparks. A2L has a very low burning velocity (≤10 cm/s) but is still flammable.

🔧 Equipment Must Be A2L Rated

All equipment (manifold gauges, recovery machines, cylinders, vacuum pumps) used with A2L refrigerants must be rated and certified for A2L use. R-410A equipment is NOT automatically compatible.

🏠 Equipment Room Requirements

A2L systems in equipment rooms require refrigerant leak detectors (required by ASHRAE 15 for all safety groups). Ventilation systems must be functional. No ignition sources at floor level (vapors are heavier than air).

✓ What A2L Does NOT Require

A2L does NOT require: explosion-proof equipment (that is for A2/A3), full SCBA (not toxic), Class 1 Division 1 electrical classification, or the same precautions as propane/isobutane (A3). It is MILDLY flammable — much safer than A3.

A2L vs A3 — KEY DIFFERENCES

Property	A2L (R-454B)	A3 (R-290)
Burning Velocity	≤10 cm/s	>10 cm/s
LFL (Lower Flam. Limit)	>6.2%	2.1%
Explosion-proof equip	Not required	Required
Typical use	Residential AC	Small refrigerators

◈ VISUAL LEARNING

Refrigeration Cycle

Tap any component to learn what happens there

Tap a component above to see what happens there

🔴
HOT VAPOR
High-P

🟠
HOT LIQUID
High-P

🔵
COOL VAPOR
Low-P

🟢
COOL LIQUID
Low-P

◈ EXAM CRITICAL

Key Numbers

Every testable number on the EPA 608 exam — memorize these

🔢 TYPE II RECOVERY LEVELS (post-11/15/1993)

Condition	Level
<200 lbs — Non-major repair	0 PSIG
<200 lbs — Major repair	4" Hg vac
>200 lbs — Major repair	10" Hg vac
Leaky system — can only achieve	0 PSIG
Pre-11/15/93 equipment: above levels + 4" Hg additional

🔢 TYPE III RECOVERY LEVELS

Equipment	Level
Post-11/15/93 equipment	25 mm Hg ABS
Pre-11/15/93 equipment	25" Hg vac

🔢 TYPE I RECOVERY LEVELS (post-11/15/1993)

Condition	Level
Working compressor	80% OR 4" Hg
Inoperative compressor	90% OR 4" Hg

🔢 LEAK RATE THRESHOLDS (50+ lb systems)

COMFORT COOLING

10%

COMMERCIAL REFRIG

20%

INDUSTRIAL PROCESS

30%

Must repair within 30 days of detection. Report to EPA if 125%+ leaks in one calendar year.

🔢 CRITICAL NUMBERS — TYPE III CHILLER

Recovery vessel rupture disc15 PSIG

Max nitrogen leak test pressure10 PSIG

Recovery equipment cutout max10 PSIG

R-11 vapor in 350-ton chiller at 0 PSIG~100 lbs

First charge vapor to (R-11)36°F sat (16.9" Hg)

R-123 at 32°F20" Hg vacuum

Oil change at moisture content of>100 ppm

🔢 KEY DATES & PENALTIES

Venting prohibition beganJuly 1, 1992

Recovery equip certification requiredNov 15, 1993

CFC production endedDec 31, 1995

HFC venting prohibition addedJan 1, 2017

Sales restriction (certified techs only)Jan 1, 2018

AIM Act enacted2020

Max civil penalty per day~$44,539

Reward for reporting intentional ventingUp to $10,000

Records must be kept3 years minimum

Cylinder hydrostatic test intervalEvery 5 years

🔢 P-T REFERENCE AT 72°F (room temp)

R-410A at 72°F~210 PSIG

R-22 at 72°F~130 PSIG

R-134a at 72°F~74 PSIG

R-123 at 32°F20" Hg vacuum

◈ OPEN BOOK REFERENCE

Cliff Notes

Every critical fact at a glance — organized for exam day lookup

📋 RECOVERY VACUUM LEVELS — MASTER TABLE

TYPE II (High-Pressure) — Post-11/15/93 equipment:

Non-major, any size	0 PSIG
Major, <200 lbs	4" Hg vac
Major, >200 lbs	10" Hg vac
Pre-11/15/93 — Major >200 lbs:	15" Hg vac

TYPE I (Small Appliance) — Post-11/15/93 equipment:

Working compressor	80% OR 4" Hg
Inoperative compressor	90% OR 4" Hg

TYPE III (Low-Pressure Chiller):

Post-11/15/93 equipment	25 mm Hg ABS
Pre-11/15/93 equipment	25" Hg vacuum

📋 LEAK RATE THRESHOLDS (50+ lb systems)

COMFORT COOLING

10%

COMMERCIAL REFRIG

20%

INDUSTRIAL PROC

30%

Repair within 30 days. EPA report if >125% in one calendar year. Follow-up verification within 10 days for 200+ lb systems.

📋 KEY DATES

Jul 1, 1992	Venting prohibition — CFC/HCFC
Nov 15, 1993	New recovery equip must be EPA-certified (AHRI 740)
Dec 31, 1995	No new CFC production/import (R-12, R-11, etc.)
Jan 1, 2020	No new R-22 produced or imported
Jan 1, 2017	Venting prohibition extended to HFC substitutes
Jan 1, 2018	Sales restriction — refrigerant only to certified techs
2020	AIM Act enacted — HFC phasedown begins
Jan 1, 2025	R-410A banned in NEW equipment manufacturing
2036	AIM Act: 85% HFC production reduction target

MAX FINE/DAY

$44,539

per violation

REWARD FOR REPORTING

$10,000

intentional venting tip

📋 CYLINDER RULES

Recovery cylinder color	Yellow body, gray collar
Max fill level (liquid)	80% — NEVER exceed
Hydrostatic test interval	Every 5 years
Disposable cylinders — for	Virgin refrigerant ONLY
Before scrapping disposable	Reduce to 0 PSIG
Records kept minimum	3 years

📋 THE THREE Rs

RECOVER	Remove and store — no testing required. Can reuse in SAME OWNER's equipment.
RECYCLE	Clean (oil sep, filter, dry) for reuse in same owner's equipment. NOT for resale.
RECLAIM	Restore to AHRI 700-2016 virgin purity. Can be resold. Requires certified reclaimer.

📋 TYPE III CHILLER NUMBERS

Rupture disc relief	15 PSIG
Recovery equip cutout max	10 PSIG
Max N₂ leak test pressure	10 PSIG
R-11 vapor in 350-ton chiller at 0 PSIG	~100 lbs
Initial vapor charge to (R-11)	36°F sat / 16.9" Hg
R-123 at 32°F	20" Hg vacuum
Heat oil before drain	~130°F
Oil change moisture trigger	>100 ppm

📋 REFRIGERANT QUICK REFERENCE

Refrigerant	Type	ODP	GWP	Class
R-11	CFC	1.0	4,750	A1
R-12	CFC	1.0	10,900	A1
R-22	HCFC	0.05	1,810	A1
R-123	HCFC	0.02	77	B1
R-134a	HFC	0	1,430	A1
R-404A	HFC	0	3,922	A1
R-410A	HFC	0	2,088	A1
R-448A	HFC/HFO	0	1,387	A1
R-454B	HFC/HFO	0	767	A2L
R-32	HFC	0	675	A2L
R-290	HC	0	3	A3
R-600a	HC	0	3	A3
R-1234yf	HFO	~0	4	A2L
R-1234ze	HFO	~0	7	A2L

📋 PRESSURE-TEMPERATURE QUICK REFERENCE

Refrigerant	40°F	72°F	104°F
R-22	68 PSIG	130 PSIG	197 PSIG
R-410A	118 PSIG	210 PSIG	347 PSIG
R-134a	35 PSIG	74 PSIG	138 PSIG
R-404A	84 PSIG	162 PSIG	258 PSIG
R-123	3.6" vac	~0 PSIG	4.8 PSIG
R-11	6.6" vac	~0 PSIG	3.5 PSIG

⚠ R-410A at 72°F ≈ 210 PSIG — most tested number. R-123 and R-11 operate at or below atmospheric pressure (vacuum = sub-atmospheric).

📖 OPEN BOOK NOTE — TYPE I ONLY

The Type I (Small Appliance) section is the ONLY part of the EPA 608 exam that can be taken online and open-book. All other sections — Core (when taken alone for Universal), Type II, and Type III — must be proctored and closed-book.

During the Type I exam, you MAY use a P/T chart and calculator. This Cliff Notes section and the full study guide are your open-book reference. Know where to find each fact quickly — you have limited time per question.

📋 EXAM STRUCTURE & PASSING SCORES

Section	Questions	Pass Score	Format
Core	25	70% (18/25)	Closed-book, proctored
Type I	25	84% (21/25)	OPEN BOOK online
Type II	25	70% (18/25)	Closed-book, proctored
Type III	25	70% (18/25)	Closed-book, proctored
Universal	100	70% each section	Pass ALL four

Universal = pass Core + all three type sections. Each section graded independently. EPA certification never expires — no renewal required.

◈ DIGITAL FORMS

Service Forms

Fillable · Auto-populated from QR scan · Save locally · Print

◈ CERTIFICATION PREP

NATE Study Center

North American Technician Excellence — Core + Commercial Refrigeration + Low-GWP

Certification BodyNATE — North American Technician Excellence

Validity Period2 years (renew w/ 16 CEU hours)

Cost Estimate$150–$250 (Core + Specialty)

TestingComputer-based, approved testing centers or live online proctoring

TWO CERTIFICATION PATHWAYS

PATH 1 — Traditional (Recommended for Cold Case)

Core Exam (50Q, 1.5 hrs, 70% pass) + ONE Specialty Exam (100Q, 2.5 hrs, 70% pass). Best specialty for commercial refrigeration work: Commercial Refrigeration Service. Second best: AC Service for the HVAC side of Cold Case.

PATH 2 — CHP-5 (Certified HVAC Professional)

Five 30-question exams across: HVAC Fundamentals, Electrical & Controls, Comfort & Airflow, Installation, Service. Comprehensive but more exams to pass.

RECOMMENDED SEQUENCE FOR COLD CASE

1

EPA 608 Universal

Already done ✓ — Required for all refrigerant work

2

NATE Core Exam

50 questions · Safety, electrical, refrigeration fundamentals · Study tab → Core Exam

3

Commercial Refrigeration Service Specialty

100 questions · Walk-ins, reach-ins, ice machines, commercial condensing · Your core market

4

Low-GWP Refrigerants Certification

A2L refrigerants (R-454B, R-32) — critical for 2025+ equipment · First-mover advantage in Nevada

5

AC Service Specialty (Year 2–3)

Expands Cold Case into residential and light commercial A/C work

ℹ

NATE-certified techs earn up to 13% more and are 30% more likely to be promoted. Many utility rebate programs and commercial contracts require at least one NATE-certified tech on staff — this is a direct revenue qualifier for Cold Case.

NATE Core Exam

50 questions · 90 minutes · 70% passing score (35/50)

Questions50

Time Limit90 minutes

Passing Score70% = 35/50 correct

FormatMultiple choice, computer-based

CORE EXAM TOPIC AREAS

ℹ

Best prep resource: RSES "Preparing for the NATE Exam: Core Essentials" (~$40 at rses.org). Also try the SkillCat app for interactive lessons — free for core content. The quiz tab has 60 Core practice questions.

Commercial Refrigeration Service

100 questions · 2.5 hours · 70% passing score (70/100)

Questions100

Time Limit2.5 hours

Passing Score70% = 70/100 correct

Best ForWalk-ins, reach-ins, display cases, ice machines

COMMERCIAL REFRIGERATION TOPIC AREAS

Air Conditioning Service Specialty

100 questions · 2.5 hours · 70% passing score

Low-GWP Refrigerants Certification

A2L refrigerant safety, handling, and systems knowledge

WHY THIS MATTERS RIGHT NOW

New HVAC equipment manufactured after Jan 1, 2025 must use A2L refrigerants (primarily R-454B). Being certified now = competitive advantage. First techs in your market with A2L certification will be the only ones legally comfortable working on new equipment.

A2L KEY CONCEPTS

NATE Practice Quiz

Select exam section and test your knowledge

Exam Section

NATE Flashcards

Tap card to flip — swipe or tap Next

Card Deck

◈ EQUIPMENT REFERENCE

Equipment Database

Specs, operating parameters, and service info for common HVAC/R equipment

◈ PARTS & SUPPLIES

Parts House

Wholesale distributors — set up contractor accounts for pricing access

⭐ REFRIGERATION SPECIALISTS

⭐ RECOMMENDED #1

ARS — American Refrigeration Supplies

Refrigeration specialist · National locations · Business accounts available

FocusCommercial Refrigeration + HVAC/R

Locations33 branches — AZ, CA, NV, NM, TX, UT, VA

Account TypeLicensed contractor required

Websitearsnet.com

Best for Cold Case — refrigeration specialist, national locations, carries R-404A/R-448A and commercial refrigeration parts that big-box distributors don't stock. Exactly your product line.

Visit arsnet.com → Click "Open Account" ›

#2 NATIONAL

RSD — Refrigeration Supplies Distributor

Largest independent refrigeration wholesaler with nationwide distribution

FocusRefrigeration + HVAC parts & equipment

RegionWestern United States

NotableHeatcraft dealer, commercial refrigeration specialist

Websitersd.net

Strong commercial refrigeration inventory — Heatcraft evaporators, condensing units, controls. Good for walk-in equipment and larger system components.

Visit rsd.net → Request Contractor Account ›

#3 REGIONAL

US Air Conditioning Distributors

50 locations — CA, NV, UT, ID, AZ — Largest private HVAC distributor

FocusHVAC equipment + residential/commercial

CoverageCheck local availability

RequirementValid contractor license required

Websiteus-ac.com

Strong for residential and light commercial HVAC equipment. Good for condensing units, split systems, and brand-name equipment. Contractor license required — once Cold Case is licensed, this is essential.

Visit us-ac.com → Register Account ›

🌐 NATIONAL ACCOUNTS — AVAILABLE ANYWHERE

NATIONAL LEADER

Johnstone Supply

450+ locations nationwide — largest HVAC/R wholesale co-op

Coverage450+ branches, 47 states + Canada

Products75,000+ products, OEM parts for all major brands

AppiOS + Android app with real-time pricing

TrainingNATE-certified training courses available

Most comprehensive parts selection including OEM parts for every major brand. Real-time pricing and availability app. NATE-certified training. Nationwide locations — find your nearest branch at johnstonesupply.com.

Visit johnstonesupply.com → Open Account at local branch ›

TOOLS SPECIALIST

TruTech Tools

Premier source for Fieldpiece, Testo, Yellow Jacket, BluVac+ — field instruments

FocusHVAC/R test instruments & diagnostic tools

NotablemeasureQuick kits, Fieldpiece SMAN gauges

PromoCode KNOWITALL saves 6% (excl. Fluke/FLIR)

Websitetrutechtools.com

Best source for your Fieldpiece SM382V (Fieldpiece manufacturer warranty requires purchase from TruTech — not Amazon). Use code KNOWITALL for 6% off.

Visit trutechtools.com ›

REFRIGERATION

United Refrigeration Inc. (URI)

One of the largest wholesale HVAC/R distributors nationally

FocusRefrigeration + HVAC parts & equipment

StrengthDeep commercial refrigeration inventory

Websiteuri.com

Strong commercial refrigeration depth — good for sourcing compressors, condensing units, and refrigeration-specific parts that general HVAC distributors may not stock.

Visit uri.com → Create Contractor Account ›

🌐 NATIONAL ONLINE DISTRIBUTORS

Baker Distributing

200+ locations in 26 states — strong Southeast + commercial refrigeration

RegionSoutheast US dominant — nationwide locations

FocusHVAC + Foodservice + Commercial Refrigeration

Websitebakerdist.com

Primmajor distributor with nationwide reach. Carries Heatcraft, Lennox, and commercial refrigeration parts. Set up account when Ccommercial refrigeration and HVAC supply.

Visit bakerdist.com → Contractor Account ›

Gemaire Distributors (Watsco)

85+ sales centers — Southeast specialist — Rheem, Frigidaire dealer

RegionSoutheast + National distribution

Strong OnMatched HVAC systems, online ordering, app with live pricing

Websitegemaire.com

Best dealer network nationwide. HVAC PRO+ app with live inventory and pricing. Great for Rheem and commercial refrigeration equipment nationwide.

Visit gemaire.com → Register Account ›

ℹ

Account Setup Tip: Open accounts at ARS and Johnstone Supply first — both are available nationwide. Always set up the account before you need a part. Most distributors require a business license/EIN and contractor credentials to establish net-30 terms. Your business license and contractor credentials are all you need to qualify.

◈ SHARE YOUR BUSINESS

Digital Business Card

Share your contact info instantly — QR code, link, or tap-to-share

YOUR COMPANY NAME

Your tagline here

CC

R

Your Name

OWNER · EPA 608 UNIVERSAL CERTIFIED

📞 —

✉️ —

🌐 —

📍 City, ST

EPA 608 UNIVERSAL

QR CODE — Point your phone at this

Scan to save contact info instantly

EDIT YOUR INFORMATION

Your Name

Phone

Email

Website

Service Area

CREDENTIALS TO DISPLAY ON CARD

NATE Certified Licensed & Insured

ℹ

The QR code encodes a vCard — when scanned, it opens the phone's native "Add Contact" screen with all your details pre-filled. No app required. Save the QR as an image and use it on your work truck, invoices, and marketing materials.