Small appliances: scope: EPA 608 Practice Questions

Under Section 608, what is a small appliance?

A small appliance is fully manufactured, charged and hermetically sealed at the factory with 5 pounds or less of refrigerant.

Which of these is a small appliance under the Section 608 definition?

Room (window) air conditioners are factory-sealed with a small charge, so they are small appliances. Split systems and remote-condenser equipment are field-piped.

A self-contained ice machine is sealed at the factory with 6 lb of R-404A. Which certification does a technician need to repair its sealed system?

Over 5 lb, it is not a small appliance even if factory sealed. R-404A is a high-pressure refrigerant, so Type II (or Universal) applies.

A packaged terminal air conditioner (PTAC) in a hotel room is factory sealed with 2.5 lb of R-32. How is it classified?

The definition depends on factory sealing and a charge of 5 lb or less, not on the refrigerant. A factory-sealed PTAC with 2.5 lb is a small appliance.

Which certification covers servicing the air conditioning system of a passenger car?

Motor vehicle air conditioners are covered by Section 609 and 40 CFR 82 Subpart B, not by Type I.

Which group lists only small appliances, assuming each is factory sealed with 5 lb or less?

Dehumidifiers, vending machines, water coolers, refrigerators, freezers and room AC units are typical small appliances. Chillers, racks and split systems are not.

Does a worker who only dismantles old refrigerators for scrap need Section 608 certification?

Certification is not required to dispose of small appliances, but the recovery levels and the final processor rules still apply.

Some organizations offer the Type I exam by mail or online without a proctor. What score is needed to pass that version?

An unproctored (mail-in or online) Type I test needs 84%. A proctored Type I section needs 70%, and an unproctored Type I does not count toward Universal.

A ductless mini-split is shipped pre-charged with 3 lb of R-32, and the installer connects the line set in the field. Is it a small appliance?

Small appliances must be fully manufactured, charged and hermetically sealed at the factory. A split system completed with field-installed tubing does not qualify, so Type II applies.

Which certification is the minimum needed to recover refrigerant from a household freezer during a repair?

Household freezers are small appliances, and servicing them requires Type I (or Universal) certification.