WorkerGear logoWorkerGear

EPA Section 608
Study Cheat Sheet

Every mandatory evacuation depth (40 CFR § 82.156 Table 1), leak repair threshold (both the 50-lb ODS rule and the January 1, 2026 15-lb AIM Act rule), regulatory milestone date, and A2L cylinder specification in one field reference.

Fig 1.1Interactive EPA 608 Recovery & Evacuation Rig
40 CFR § 82.156 / Part 84·Type II · Other High-Pressure
AHRI 740 CERTIFIED · POST-NOV 15, 1993TYPE II HIGH-PRESSURECHARGE ≥ 200 LBSAPPLIANCE UNITDRIER1VAC / LOW30 Hg12015 in. HgHIGH PSI0500340 PSIG2TWIN-CYLINDER OIL-LESSPURGE / REC80% SHUTOFFINLETOUTLETSELF-CONTAINEDACTIVE RECOVERY3MAX 80% FILL LINEDOT-4BA400MAX TEMP 125°FRECOVERY ONLY38.4 LB · 80% MAX45

Selected Refrigerant Profile

High-Pressure R-410A / R-134a

Other High-Pressure requires 10 in. Hg (<200 lbs) and 15 in. Hg (≥200 lbs) post-1993.

Leak Repair Trigger Threshold

15+ lbs (2026 AIM Act GWP > 53) · 50+ lbs (Legacy Exam Bank)

Mandatory Evacuation Target

Post-Nov 15, 1993 · ≥ 200 lbs

15 in. Hg

Critical Regulatory Dates

DateEvent / RegulationRefrigerants / Scope Affected
July 1, 1992Knowingly venting banned during service, repair & disposalCFCs and HCFCs
Nov 15, 1993Recovery equipment certification & stricter Table 1 evacuation cutoffAll regulated recovery equipment
Nov 14, 1994Mandatory Section 608 technician certification & sales restrictionCFCs and HCFCs
Nov 15, 1995Venting prohibition extended to non-exempt substitute refrigerantsHFCs, PFCs, and non-exempt blends
Jan 1, 2018Refrigerant sales restriction extended to HFCs (except ≤ 2 lb MVAC self-sealing cans)HFCs and non-exempt substitutes
Jan 1, 2020Virgin production & import banned in the US (service with reclaimed/recycled only)HCFC-22 (R-22) and HCFC-142b
Jan 1, 2025AIM Act Technology Transitions GWP ≤ 700 limit for new residential AC/heat pumpsR-410A transition to A2L (R-454B, R-32)
Jan 1, 2026AIM Act Subsection (h) lowers mandatory leak repair threshold from 50 lbs to 15 lbsHFCs & substitutes with GWP > 53
Jan 1, 2036AIM Act HFC phasedown target (85% reduction from 2011 to 2013 baseline)High-GWP HFCs

Maximum Annual Leak Rate Thresholds

Under traditional Section 608 (40 CFR § 82.157) and legacy exam banks, mandatory leak repair applies to appliances containing 50 pounds or more of ODS refrigerant. Effective January 1, 2026 under the AIM Act Subsection (h) (40 CFR § 84.106), the threshold dropped to 15 pounds or more for appliances containing HFCs or substitutes with a GWP > 53 (including R-410A, R-134a, R-404A, R-454B, and R-32).

Repair Deadlines: Leaks exceeding the applicable annual threshold must be repaired within 30 days of discovery (or 120 days if an industrial process shutdown is required for IPR), followed by initial and follow-up verification tests. If repair is impossible, the owner must draft a 1-year retrofit or retirement plan within 30 days.

Comfort Cooling

10%

Chillers, commercial rooftop A/C & building comfort systems

Commercial Refrigeration

20%

Supermarket racks, walk-in cold storage & food retail

Industrial Process (IPR)

30%

Chemical plants, pharmaceutical & industrial manufacturing

Mandatory Evacuation Levels (40 CFR § 82.156 Table 1)

Notice the critical exam distinction between HCFC-22 (R-22) and Other High-Pressure appliances (R-410A, R-134a, R-404A, R-12, R-500, R-502). Non-major repairs or leaking appliances that cannot hold a vacuum may be evacuated to 0 psig (atmospheric pressure).

Appliance / Refrigerant TypePre-Nov 15, 1993 EquipmentPost-Nov 15, 1993 Equipment
Small Appliances (Type I, ≤ 5 lbs sealed)80% charge (or 4 in. Hg)90% charge (comp works) / 80% (comp dead) or 4 in. Hg
HCFC-22 (R-22) Appliance < 200 lbs0 in. Hg0 in. Hg
HCFC-22 (R-22) Appliance ≥ 200 lbs4 in. Hg10 in. Hg
Other High-Pressure Appliance < 200 lbsR-410A, R-134a, R-404A, R-454B, R-32, R-12, R-500, R-5024 in. Hg10 in. Hg
Other High-Pressure Appliance ≥ 200 lbsR-410A, R-134a, R-404A, R-454B, R-32, R-12, R-500, R-5024 in. Hg15 in. Hg
Very High-Pressure (R-13, R-23, R-503, R-744)0 in. Hg0 in. Hg
Low-Pressure (Type III Chillers: R-11, R-113, R-123)25 in. Hg vacuum25 mm Hg absolute (~29 in. Hg vacuum)

Crucial Safety, Cylinder & Penalty Rules

  • Cylinder Filling (80% Rule) & 125°F Temp Limit: Never fill a refillable recovery cylinder past 80% of its capacity by weight to prevent hydrostatic expansion rupture, and never heat any cylinder above 125°F (51.7°C) or use a direct flame.
  • Cylinder Colors & AHRI Guideline N (A2L Flammable Rules): DOT-approved recovery cylinders are painted gray with a yellow top. Under AHRI Guideline N, virgin refrigerant containers use uniform light-gray paint (RAL 7035), while mildly flammable (A2L) and flammable (A3) refrigerants (like R-454B and R-32) require a red top/shoulder band and left-handed (reverse) CGA 164 valve threads.
  • Pressure Testing (Dry Nitrogen Only): Never pressure-test or leak-test with oxygen or compressed shop air because pressurized oxygen mixed with compressor oil can explode. Always use dry nitrogen with a pressure regulator (and never exceed the 15 psig rupture disc limit on Type III chillers; leak-test around 10 psig).
  • Type III Tube Freeze Prevention & Vapor-First Charging: When evacuating or charging a low-pressure chiller (R-11, R-123), keep water circulating to prevent freezing the tubes, and always introduce vapor first until pressure rises above the 32°F freeze point (~16.9 in. Hg vacuum for R-11; ~20 in. Hg vacuum for R-123) before adding liquid.
  • Toxic Gas (Phosgene): When exposed to open flames or hot surfaces, refrigerants decompose into highly toxic phosgene gas and corrosive hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids.
  • Clean Air Act Civil Penalties: Knowingly venting or violating Section 608 carries civil penalties tested at $44,539 per day per violation in legacy exam banks (and up to ~$69,733+ per day per violation under current 2026 inflation-adjusted EPA statutory maximums in 40 CFR Part 19), plus a $10,000 EPA whistleblower reward.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 2026 EPA 608 leak rate thresholds?

Mandatory 30-day leak repair triggers at a 10% annual leak rate for Comfort Cooling, 20% for Commercial Refrigeration, and 30% for Industrial Process Refrigeration. Effective January 1, 2026 under the AIM Act (40 CFR Part 84 Subpart C), these rules apply to appliances with 15 lbs or more of HFC or A2L refrigerant (GWP > 53), alongside the legacy 50-lb threshold for ODS under 40 CFR Part 82.

What are the required EPA 608 Table 1 evacuation levels for post-1993 recovery equipment?

For post-November 15, 1993 recovery equipment: Type I small appliances require 90% recovery with an operating compressor (or 80% with a non-operating compressor, or 4 in. Hg vacuum). Type II HCFC-22 (R-22) requires 0 in. Hg (<200 lbs) and 10 in. Hg (≥200 lbs). Type II other high-pressure refrigerants (R-410A, R-134a, R-454B) require 10 in. Hg (<200 lbs) and 15 in. Hg (≥200 lbs). Type III low-pressure chillers require 25 mm Hg absolute.

What is the maximum safe fill level for a refrigerant recovery cylinder?

Refillable DOT recovery cylinders (yellow top, gray body) must never be filled beyond 80% of their volume by weight to leave vapor space for thermal liquid expansion, and cylinder temperature must never exceed 125°F (51.7°C).

Continue Your EPA 608 & HVAC Certification Prep

192 Interactive EPA 608 Flashcards →

Drill all 21 official exam subtopics across Core, Type I, Type II, and Type III.

How to Pass the EPA 608 Exam (2026 Guide) →

Complete study strategy, 100-question breakdown, and 70% passing score rules.

Free EPA 608 Practice Test & Explanations →

Test yourself on Core, Type I, Type II, and Type III sample questions.

R-410A vs. R-454B & R-32 A2L Guide →

Learn the 2025 and 2026 AIM Act GWP rules, RDS leak sensors, and left-hand cylinder threads.