Why does ventilation matter if refrigerant escapes?

Safety · EPA 608 Type I. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.

Decomposition products of refrigerants at high temperatures, and safe handling.

The question

A technician is recovering refrigerant from a freezer in a small, closed basement room. Why does ventilation matter if refrigerant escapes?

• ARefrigerant vapor rises and collects up at the ceiling
• BRefrigerant vapor turns into liquid on the floor
• CThe vapor is heavier than air and can displace oxygenCorrect answer
• DRefrigerant vapor in a room raises the oxygen level

Why “The vapor is heavier than air and can displace oxygen” is correct

Common refrigerant vapors are heavier than air, so a release in a closed, low space can collect near the floor and displace the oxygen a person needs. Good ventilation keeps a leak from building up.

Source: EPA: Test Topics

Why the other answers are wrong

• Refrigerant vapor rises and collects up at the ceiling — Common refrigerants are heavier than air and settle low, not high.
• Refrigerant vapor turns into liquid on the floor — Escaping refrigerant flashes to vapor at room conditions; the danger is the vapor.
• Refrigerant vapor in a room raises the oxygen level — Refrigerant displaces oxygen; it does not add to it.

Practice more of this

More EPA 608 Type I practice questions, or see every EPA 608 practice test.