Which of these may be released without violating the venting prohibition?
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
Which of these may be released without violating the venting prohibition?
- R-410A drained from a system before a coil change
- R-134a from a disposable cylinder heel
- Pure nitrogen used to pressure-test a line setCorrect answer
- R-22 removed during an oil change
Why “Pure nitrogen used to pressure-test a line set” is correct
40 CFR 82.154(a)(1) lists substances exempt from the venting prohibition, including nitrogen in any application, carbon dioxide and water. Pure nitrogen used for a pressure test can be released. HFCs and HCFCs must be recovered.
Source: 40 CFR 82.154(a)(1)
Why the other answers are wrong
- R-410A drained from a system before a coil change — R-410A is a non-exempt substitute; removing it before opening the system means recovering it, not venting it.
- R-134a from a disposable cylinder heel — The heel of a disposable cylinder must be recovered, not vented.
- R-22 removed during an oil change — Refrigerant in oil must be recovered; oil changes have their own pressure limit.
Practice more of this
More EPA 608 Core practice questions, or see every EPA 608 practice test.
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