EPA 608 Cheat Sheet: Key Numbers, Dates, and Rules to Memorize
Every testable number, date, threshold, and regulatory rule organized by section — with common wrong answers flagged so you know exactly what to watch out for on exam day.
The EPA 608 exam tests specific numbers more than any other HVAC certification. Dates must be exact. Penalty amounts must be current. Thresholds must be assigned to the right equipment category — not just memorized in isolation. This cheat sheet organizes every testable number by section, with the most commonly confused values flagged. Take the free EPA 608 practice test after memorizing these tables to see how many you can recall under timed conditions. For full conceptual explanations behind each number, see the EPA 608 complete study guide.
How to use this cheat sheet: Study one section's numbers completely before moving to the next. Cover the value column and test yourself from the label. When you can reproduce every number in the table from memory, you are ready to attempt EPA 608 practice questions with answers. The free EPA 608 practice test on this site covers every number listed below in exam-format questions.
EPA 608 Core: Dates, Penalties, and Exemptions
| Topic | Value | Common Wrong Answer |
|---|---|---|
| CFC/HCFC venting prohibition effective | July 1, 1992 | November 15, 1995 (wrong — that's HFC date) |
| HFC venting prohibition added | November 15, 1995 | July 1, 1992 (wrong — that's CFC/HCFC date) |
| Current civil penalty | Exceeds $44,539/day per violation | $37,500 (outdated) |
| De minimis exemption | 0.1 ounce or less — no recovery required | 1 ounce, 0.5 lb |
| Passing score (proctored) | 18 of 25 (72%) | 70%, 75% |
| Type I open-book threshold | 21 of 25 (84%) | 18 of 25 (same as proctored) |
Most Missed Core Number: The Civil Penalty
The $37,500 figure appeared in older study guides and still appears on competitors' sites. The current inflation-adjusted civil penalty exceeds $44,539 per day per violation. Study guides that cite $37,500 will produce a wrong answer on current exams.
Most missed Core date distinction: July 1, 1992 covers CFCs and HCFCs. HFCs were added November 15, 1995. Questions that present 1992 as the HFC ban date are testing whether you know the distinction. For full Core section coverage, see the EPA 608 Core study guide and the EPA 608 Core practice test.
EPA 608 Type I: Recovery Thresholds and Small Appliance Rules
| Topic | Value | Common Wrong Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Manufactured charge limit for Type I | ≤5 lbs | 10 lbs, 50 lbs |
| Recovery — compressor operating | 90% minimum | 80% (wrong — that's non-operating) |
| Recovery — compressor NOT operating | 80% minimum | 90% (wrong — that's operating) |
| Recovery equipment manufacture cutoff | November 15, 1993 | November 15, 1992, 1995 |
| 5-lb rule applies to | Manufactured charge (not current charge) | Current refrigerant charge |
90% vs 80% Memory Trick
Operating compressor = higher requirement (90%); non-operating = lower (80%). The compressor is working → push for full recovery. The compressor isn't working → 80% is the floor.
For full Type I coverage — the 5-pound rule, process stubs, and system-dependent vs. self-contained equipment — see the EPA 608 Type I study guide. Apply these numbers under timed conditions with the EPA 608 Type I practice test.
EPA 608 Type II: Leak Rates and Recovery Vacuums
| Topic | Value | Common Wrong Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort cooling leak rate threshold | 10% per year | 20% (wrong — that's commercial refrigeration) |
| Commercial refrigeration leak rate threshold | 20% per year | 10% (wrong — that's comfort cooling) or 15% (wrong) |
| Industrial process leak rate threshold | 30% per year | 35% (wrong — common overstatement) |
| Applies to systems with | ≥50 lbs refrigerant charge | ≥5 lbs, ≥20 lbs |
| Mandatory repair window | 30 days | 60 days (that's the extension), 90 days |
| One-time repair extension | 60 days (in writing) | Automatic, unlimited |
| Recovery vacuum — under 200 lbs | 10 inches Hg | 15 inches (wrong — that's ≥200 lbs) |
| Recovery vacuum — 200 lbs or more | 15 inches Hg | 10 inches (wrong — that's <200 lbs) |
| System evacuation (before charging) | 500 microns | 250 microns, 1000 microns |
| R-22 new equipment ban | January 1, 2010 | 2020 (that's all production) |
| R-22 all production ban | January 1, 2020 | 2010, 2023 |
The 10-20-30 Pattern
Comfort cooling (10%), commercial refrigeration (20%), industrial process (30%). Study these in ascending order. The most common error is mixing up 10% and 20% between comfort cooling and commercial refrigeration.
For full Type II coverage — the three-tier leak rate system, A2L refrigerant transition, and mandatory repair rules — see the EPA 608 Type II study guide. For the required passing score breakdown, see EPA 608 passing score requirements. Apply these numbers with the EPA 608 Type II practice test.
EPA 608 Type III: Low-Pressure Chiller Numbers
| Topic | Value | Common Wrong Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery standard (post-Nov 15, 1993 equipment) | 25 mm Hg absolute | 10 inches Hg (that's Type II <200 lbs) |
| Leak testing method | Dry nitrogen at 0 psig only | Pressurize with refrigerant (prohibited) |
| Purge unit location (draws from) | Top of condenser | Bottom of condenser |
| Type III refrigerants (examples) | R-11, R-113, R-123 | R-12 (wrong — R-12 is high-pressure Type II) |
| R-11 atmospheric boiling point | 74.7°F | 40°F, 0°F |
| R-123 atmospheric boiling point | 82.2°F | 74.7°F (that's R-11) |
Most Missed Type III Concept: Measurement Units
Type II uses inches Hg vacuum. Type III uses mm Hg absolute. 25 mm Hg absolute is a deep vacuum — do not confuse with Type II vacuum levels.
For full Type III coverage — vacuum operation physics, purge units, the freezing risk, and low-pressure refrigerant classification — see the EPA 608 Type III study guide. Apply these numbers with the EPA 608 Type III practice test.
Cheat Sheet FAQ
This cheat sheet covers the number bank for all four EPA 608 sections. For full section-by-section study guides, see the EPA 608 study guides hub. When you are confident in every number above, validate your recall with the free EPA 608 practice test — no signup, instant scoring. For timed practice tests covering all sections, return to the EPA 608 Practice Test homepage.
Official Regulatory Sources
Information on this page is based on EPA Section 608 regulations and 40 CFR Part 82 — the federal rules governing refrigerant management, recovery requirements, and technician certification under the Clean Air Act.
Test Your Number Recall Under Timed Conditions
Apply what you've memorized with exam-format timed practice tests.