Does the engineer need certification?

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

The small-appliance definition and the recovery levels required.

The question

A building engineer on a company's in-house staff wants to add refrigerant to a break-room vending machine. Does the engineer need certification?

• ANo, because in-house staff are not counted as technicians
• BNo, because the machine is under 5 pounds
• CYes, but only Section 609 certification
• DYes, Type I or Universal, since this is technician workCorrect answer

Why “Yes, Type I or Universal, since this is technician work” is correct

Under 82.152, adding or removing refrigerant is an activity that violates the integrity of the refrigerant circuit, and technicians include in-house service personnel. Persons servicing small appliances must be certified as Type I.

Source: 40 CFR 82.152; 40 CFR 82.161(a)

Why the other answers are wrong

• No, because in-house staff are not counted as technicians — The technician definition expressly includes in-house service personnel.
• No, because the machine is under 5 pounds — A charge under 5 pounds makes it a small appliance, which requires Type I to service; only disposal is exempt from certification.
• Yes, but only Section 609 certification — Section 609 covers motor vehicle air conditioning, not vending machines.

Practice more of this

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