EPA 608 Technician Certification Small Appliance Recovery Rules Summary

40 CFR 82.152 defines a small appliance as one that is fully manufactured, charged, and hermetically sealed in a factory with 5 pounds or less of refrigerant, such as household refrigerators, window air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and water coolers.

Wrong choices

• A field-assembled split system with 15 pounds or less: Field-assembled systems are not small appliances, and the limit is 5 pounds, not 15.
• Any appliance with less than 50 pounds of refrigerant: 50 pounds is a leak repair threshold, not the small appliance limit.
• Any appliance that plugs into a wall outlet: Plugging into an outlet does not make an appliance "small" under the rule.

Small appliances include window and room air conditioners, household refrigerators and freezers, dehumidifiers, under-counter ice makers, vending machines, and drinking water coolers, as long as they are factory-sealed with 5 pounds or less.

Wrong choices

• A 3-ton split-system central air conditioner: A split system is assembled and charged in the field, so it is not a small appliance.
• A packaged rooftop unit: Rooftop units usually hold more than 5 pounds and need Type II.
• A centrifugal chiller: Chillers are large appliances (Type II or Type III).

Under 40 CFR 82.156(b), with recovery equipment made on or after November 15, 1993, recover 90 percent of the refrigerant if the appliance's compressor works, or 80 percent if it does not. Evacuating to 4 inches of mercury vacuum also meets the rule.

Wrong choices

• 80 percent: 80 percent applies when the compressor does not work or the equipment is older.
• 100 percent: EPA does not require 100 percent recovery.
• 70 percent: 70 percent is not a recovery requirement.

When the small appliance's compressor is not working, the requirement is 80 percent recovery, even with newer equipment. Without a working compressor it is harder to push refrigerant out of the system.

Wrong choices

• 90 percent: 90 percent applies only when the compressor works.
• 50 percent: 50 percent is far too low.
• 75 percent: 75 percent is not a recovery requirement.

Under 40 CFR 82.161(a)(1)(i), people who maintain, service, or repair small appliances must be certified as Type I technicians (Universal also covers them).

Wrong choices

• No certification is needed: Servicing that opens the refrigerant circuit requires certification.
• Type II: Type II is for high- and medium-pressure appliances other than small appliances.
• Type III: Type III is for low-pressure appliances.

For recovery equipment made before November 15, 1993, the rule is 80 percent recovery from a small appliance, no matter whether the compressor runs.

Wrong choices

• 70 percent: 70 percent is not a recovery requirement.
• 90 percent if the compressor works: The 90 percent rule applies only to equipment made on or after November 15, 1993.
• No set amount for older equipment: Older equipment still has a set requirement.

40 CFR 82.156(b)(3) lets technicians meet the small appliance rule by evacuating to four inches of mercury vacuum instead of proving 80 or 90 percent recovery.

Wrong choices

• Evacuate the appliance to 10 inches of mercury vacuum: 10 inches applies to some larger high- and medium-pressure appliances.
• Evacuate the appliance to 25 mm Hg absolute: 25 mm Hg absolute applies to low-pressure appliances.
• Evacuate the appliance to 0 psig: 0 psig is not enough for small appliance recovery.

EPA rules say mail-in Type I tests cannot be used toward Universal, and EPA notes that a Core test taken open-book cannot be used for Universal either. Universal requires closed-book, proctored tests.

Wrong choices

• Yes, if the Core section was also open-book: EPA says open-book Core tests cannot be used for Universal either.
• Yes, if passed with at least 70 percent: The score does not change the rule for open-book tests.
• Yes, after one year of experience: Experience does not change the rule.

40 CFR 82.154(e) says small appliances must be sold with a process stub, a short length of tubing that gives access to the refrigerant and can be resealed after service.

Wrong choices

• A sight glass: A sight glass is not required for recovery.
• A permanent service valve on both sides: Permanent service valves are not required on small appliances.
• A pump-out unit: Pump-out units are used on some large appliances.

40 CFR 82.161(a)(1)(vii) says people who dispose of small appliances are not required to be certified. However, the refrigerant must still be recovered to the 80/90 percent or 4-inch vacuum levels using certified equipment.

Wrong choices

• Yes, Type II certification is required: Type II does not apply to small appliances.
• Yes, Type I certification is required: Certification is not required for disposal of small appliances, though recovery is still required.
• No, and the refrigerant may be vented: Venting is never allowed.