What must it be able to do?

Leak detection · EPA 608 Type II. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.

Signs of leaks in high-pressure systems and leak testing before charging.

The question

An automatic leak detection system that senses refrigerant in the air replaces quarterly inspections on a 900-pound R-22 system indoors. What must it be able to do?

• ADetect 100 ppm and alarm at 1,000 ppm
• BDetect 10 ppm and alert the owner at 100 ppmCorrect answer
• CDetect 50 ppm and automatically shut down the compressor
• DDetect 1 ppm and notify EPA directly

Why “Detect 10 ppm and alert the owner at 100 ppm” is correct

An air-sampling automatic leak detection system must accurately detect 10 parts per million of the refrigerant and alert the owner or operator at 100 parts per million. It must also be audited or calibrated every year.

Source: 40 CFR 82.157(g)(4)

Why the other answers are wrong

• Detect 100 ppm and alarm at 1,000 ppm — These numbers are ten times too high.
• Detect 50 ppm and automatically shut down the compressor — The rule does not set 50 ppm or require a compressor shutdown.
• Detect 1 ppm and notify EPA directly — The system alerts the owner or operator, not EPA.

Practice more of this

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