A crew is tearing out an old R-22 rooftop unit for scrap. What does the venting prohibition require of them?
Clean Air Act and Montreal Protocol · EPA 608 Core. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.
Phaseout dates and the venting prohibitions at servicing, at disposal and for substitutes.
The question
A crew is tearing out an old R-22 rooftop unit for scrap. What does the venting prohibition require of them?
- Nothing, because disposal is not servicing
- Release the refrigerant slowly outdoors
- Recover the refrigerant instead of releasing itCorrect answer
- Ask the owner to sign a venting waiver
Why “Recover the refrigerant instead of releasing it” is correct
The venting prohibition covers disposal as well as service. Anyone disposing of an appliance may not knowingly release its refrigerant, and equipment dismantled on site must have its refrigerant recovered before disposal.
Source: 40 CFR 82.154(a); EPA: Safe Disposal Requirements
Why the other answers are wrong
- Nothing, because disposal is not servicing — The rule names disposal along with maintenance, service and repair.
- Release the refrigerant slowly outdoors — Releasing slowly is still knowingly venting.
- Ask the owner to sign a venting waiver — No owner waiver allows refrigerant to be vented.
Practice more of this
More EPA 608 Core practice questions, or see every EPA 608 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.