Which of the three Rs requires analysis to verify the refrigerant meets the specifications based on AHRI Standard 700-2016?
Reclaim. Reclaimed refrigerant has to meet all of the applicable specifications in Appendix A, based on AHRI Standard 700-2016, and be verified using the prescribed analytical methods. Recovering and recycling carry no such requirement.
- Recover
- ReclaimCorrect answer
- Recycle
- Retrofit
Why “Reclaim” is correct
To reclaim is to reprocess refrigerant to all applicable specifications in Appendix A of Subpart F, based on AHRI Standard 700-2016, and to verify it with the prescribed analytical methods. Used refrigerant generally must be reclaimed before it is sold to a new owner, with the narrow exceptions listed in 40 CFR 82.154(d).
Source: 40 CFR 82.152; 40 CFR 82.164(a)
Why the other answers are wrong
- Recover — Recovery is removal and storage with no testing required.
- Recycle — Recycling cleans refrigerant for reuse but does not have to meet all of the reclamation requirements.
- Retrofit — Retrofit means converting an appliance to a different refrigerant.
The source, word for word
Reclaim means to reprocess recovered refrigerant to all of the specifications in appendix A of this subpart (based on AHRI Standard 700-2016, Specifications for Refrigerants ) that are applicable to that refrigerant and to verify that the refrigerant meets these specifications using the analytical methodology prescribed in section 5 of appendix A of this subpart.
Recover means to remove refrigerant in any condition from an appliance and to store it in an external container without necessarily testing or processing it in any way.
The three Rs compared
Each step does more to the refrigerant than the one before it.
| What it means | Analysis required? | |
|---|---|---|
| Recover | Remove it and store it in an external container | No |
| Recycle | Clean it for reuse, without meeting all the reclamation requirements | No |
| Reclaim | Reprocess it to Appendix A specifications and verify that it meets them | Yes |
When reclaiming is required
Used refrigerant generally has to be reclaimed by a certified reclaimer before it is sold to someone else. The exceptions in 40 CFR 82.154(d) include refrigerant inside an appliance being sold with a fully assembled circuit, and transfers between a parent company and its subsidiaries. Returning it to the same owner's appliance does not need reclaiming either (40 CFR 82.156(h)), unless the appliance is an MVAC or MVAC-like appliance.
Keep practicing
- EPA refrigerant recovery rules
- Why emptying a recovery cylinder outdoors is venting
- How R-22 systems are serviced after the phaseout
- EPA 608 Core practice test
Unofficial, not affiliated with the EPA or any EPA-approved certifying organization. Questions are original practice written from public EPA material, not real exam questions.