🎯 Why Dates Matter
3-5 exam questions directly test specific regulatory dates. Knowing when the Montreal Protocol was signed, when CFCs were banned, and when R-22 production ended can mean the difference between passing (70%) and failing your certification exam.
The EPA 608 exam tests your knowledge of critical regulatory milestones in refrigerant management and environmental protection. While understanding the concepts is important, you also need to memorize exact years and sometimes specific dates.
This guide presents all critical dates in chronological order with memory techniques to help you retain them. Use this alongside our cheat sheet and full study guides.
📅 Critical Dates Timeline
Montreal Protocol Signed
September 16, 1987 - International treaty signed to protect stratospheric ozone by phasing out production and use of ozone-depleting substances (ODS).
Why it matters: The foundation of all modern refrigerant regulations. This treaty led to the global phaseout of CFCs and eventually HCFCs.
Exam question format: "When was the Montreal Protocol signed?" or "The international treaty to protect the ozone layer was signed in..."
Clean Air Act Section 608 Created
November 15, 1990 - Clean Air Act amendments created Section 608, which regulates refrigerant handling, recovery, and technician certification in the United States.
Why it matters: Section 608 is the legal authority for EPA 608 certification requirements. Without this law, technician certification wouldn't exist.
Exam question format: "Section 608 of the Clean Air Act was created in..." or "The Clean Air Act amendments establishing refrigerant regulations occurred in..."
Venting Ban Effective
July 1, 1992 - It became illegal to knowingly vent refrigerants (except specific exemptions like R-718 water, R-744 CO₂, R-729 air) during maintenance, service, repair, or disposal of appliances.
Why it matters: This is the date when recovery became mandatory. Before July 1, 1992, technicians could legally vent refrigerants to atmosphere.
Exam question format: "Refrigerant venting became illegal on..." or "The venting ban took effect on..."
Technician Certification Required
November 14, 1995 - EPA 608 technician certification became mandatory for anyone who maintains, services, repairs, or disposes of equipment containing refrigerants.
Why it matters: This is when your certification requirement began. Working on refrigerant-containing equipment without certification has been illegal since this date.
Exam question format: "Technician certification became required in..." or "Since what year has certification been mandatory?"
CFC Production Banned
January 1, 1996 - Production and import of CFCs (R-12, R-11, R-500, R-502, R-113) banned in the United States under the Montreal Protocol phaseout schedule.
Why it matters: The most commonly tested date on the exam. CFCs have the highest ODP (ozone depletion potential) and were the primary target of the Montreal Protocol.
Exam question format: "CFC production was banned in..." or "When did CFC production end in the United States?"
R-22 Production Phaseout Began
January 1, 2010 - Production of R-22 (HCFC-22) significantly reduced as part of the HCFC phaseout schedule under the Montreal Protocol.
Why it matters: Marked the beginning of the end for R-22, the most common residential AC refrigerant for decades.
Exam question format: "R-22 production phaseout began in..." (less commonly tested than 2020 ban)
Kigali Amendment Adopted
October 15, 2016 - Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol adopted, establishing a global HFC phasedown schedule to address climate change (high GWP refrigerants).
Why it matters: While HFCs don't deplete ozone (ODP = 0), they have high global warming potential. The Kigali Amendment addresses climate concerns.
Exam question format: "The Kigali Amendment was adopted in..." or "The HFC phasedown began with the..."
R-22 Production Banned
January 1, 2020 - Production and import of R-22 (HCFC-22) completely banned in the United States. Only recovered, recycled, and reclaimed R-22 remains available.
Why it matters: The second most commonly tested date after 1996 CFC ban. R-22 was the dominant residential refrigerant, so this date appears frequently on exams.
Exam question format: "R-22 production ended on..." or "When did HCFC-22 production become illegal?"
U.S. HFC Phasedown Begins
2022 - United States began implementing the Kigali Amendment HFC phasedown, reducing production and consumption of high-GWP refrigerants like R-404A and R-134a.
Why it matters: Drives the transition to A2L refrigerants (R-32, R-454B, R-1234yf) in new equipment.
Exam question format: "The U.S. HFC phasedown began in..." (less commonly tested, more likely on updated exams)
📊 Quick Reference Table
| Year | Event | Exam Priority |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Montreal Protocol signed | CRITICAL |
| 1990 | Clean Air Act Section 608 created | Important |
| July 1, 1992 | Venting ban effective | Important |
| 1995 | Technician certification required | Important |
| 1996 | CFC production banned | CRITICAL |
| 2010 | R-22 phaseout began | Helpful |
| 2016 | Kigali Amendment adopted | Helpful |
| January 1, 2020 | R-22 production banned | CRITICAL |
| 2022 | U.S. HFC phasedown begins | Helpful |
🧠 Memory Techniques for Dates
1. The Chronological Story Method
Create a narrative connecting the dates in order:
📖 The Refrigerant Regulation Story
"In 1987, the world SIGNED the Montreal Protocol after discovering ozone depletion. Three years later in 1990, the U.S. CREATED Section 608 to implement it. Two years after that on July 1, 1992, VENTING became illegal. Three years later in 1995, CERTIFICATION became required. One year later in 1996, CFC production ENDED. Two decades later on January 1, 2020, R-22 production STOPPED. The Kigali Amendment in 2016 started the HFC phasedown, implemented by the U.S. in 2022."
2. The Number Pattern Method
Look for patterns in the numbers:
- 1987: Contains "87" = 8+7 = 15 letters in "Montreal Protocol"
- 1990: Beginning of decade = Beginning of U.S. regulations
- 1992: JULY 1 (7/1) = 7+1 = 8, flip it = 89, add 3 = 92
- 1995: 5 years after 1990 = "FIVE" letters in "TECHS"
- 1996: 96 rhymes with "NIXED" (CFCs eliminated)
- 2020: Perfect vision (20/20) = CLEARLY the end for R-22
3. The Association Method
Connect dates to personal events or well-known historical moments:
- 1987: Same year as "Dirty Dancing" movie (think "ozone protection had the time of its life")
- 1990: Fall of Berlin Wall era (think "walls came down, refrigerant regulations went up")
- 1996: Year before Titanic movie (think "CFCs went down like the Titanic")
- 2020: COVID pandemic year (think "R-22 production quarantined forever")
4. The Acronym Method
Create acronyms using the last two digits:
🔤 Date Acronyms
87-90-92-95-96-20:
"Montreal (87) → Clean Air (90) → Venting Ban (92) → Certification (95) → CFC Ban (96) → R-22 Ban (20)"
Acronym: M-C-V-C-C-R = "Most Cool Veterans Certify CFCs Removed"
5. The Visual Timeline Method
Draw a simple timeline and place events at proportional distances:
📊 Visual Memory Aid
1987___1990__92_95_96____________2016__2020_22
Notice the gaps: Long gap between 1987-1990 (3 years), tight cluster 1990-1996 (6 years with 4 events), big gap to 2016 (20 years), then final cluster 2016-2022 (6 years).
🎯 Memorization Practice Techniques
Daily Flashcard Drill (5 minutes)
- Day 1-2: Memorize only the 3 critical dates (1987, 1996, 2020)
- Day 3-4: Add the 4 important dates (1990, July 1 1992, 1995, 2016)
- Day 5-7: Include helpful dates (2010, 2022) for comprehensive knowledge
- Week 2: Random testing - cover the event, reveal only the year
- Final week: Reverse testing - cover the year, recall from the event description
Quiz-Based Reinforcement
✅ Self-Test Questions
Test yourself daily with these questions:
- "When was the Montreal Protocol signed?" (Answer: 1987)
- "When did CFC production end?" (Answer: 1996)
- "When did R-22 production become illegal?" (Answer: January 1, 2020)
- "When did venting become illegal?" (Answer: July 1, 1992)
- "When was Section 608 created?" (Answer: 1990)
Write It Out Method
Handwriting improves memory retention:
- Write the complete timeline 3 times on Day 1
- Write from memory on Day 2 (check for errors)
- Write only years on Day 3, then fill in events from memory
- Final test: Write both years and events with no reference
📝 Common Exam Question Formats
Dates appear in several question types:
Direct Date Questions (Most Common)
- "The Montreal Protocol was signed in what year?"
- "CFC production was banned in the United States in..."
- "R-22 production ended on..."
Multiple-Choice with Date Options
- "Which year did the Clean Air Act Section 608 take effect? A) 1987 B) 1990 C) 1992 D) 1995"
Event Sequence Questions
- "Which event occurred FIRST? A) Venting ban B) Montreal Protocol C) R-22 production ban D) CFC production ban"
Specific Date Questions (Month/Day)
- "Refrigerant venting became illegal on: A) January 1, 1992 B) July 1, 1992 C) January 1, 1996 D) November 14, 1995"
🎯 Test Your Date Knowledge
Practice identifying dates in context with our free EPA 608 practice exams
Take Core Practice Test Take Universal Test🔗 Combine with Other Study Materials
Dates work best when you understand the context:
- Core Exam Guide - Learn WHY these dates matter
- Cheat Sheet - Quick reference with all dates in one place
- Common Questions - See how dates appear in actual exam questions
- How to Study Guide - Effective memorization techniques
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most important EPA 608 dates to memorize?
The six critical dates are: 1987 (Montreal Protocol signed), 1990 (Clean Air Act Section 608 created), July 1, 1992 (venting ban effective), 1995 (technician certification required), 1996 (CFC production banned), and January 1, 2020 (R-22 production banned). These dates appear on 3-5 exam questions and must be memorized exactly.
How can I remember EPA 608 dates easily?
Use the chronological story method: create a narrative connecting dates in order. Use mnemonics like "1987 Montreal SIGNED" or "1996 CFCs FINISHED" or "2020 Perfect vision = R-22 END." Connect dates to personal memories or major events (e.g., 1996 = year before Titanic movie = CFCs went down). Practice daily with flashcards for 5 minutes.
Do I need to memorize the exact day (July 1, 1992)?
For the venting ban, YES - some exams specifically ask "July 1, 1992" vs "January 1, 1992." For R-22 production ban, "January 1, 2020" is sometimes tested. Most other dates only require the year. Memorize both the year AND specific date for venting ban and R-22 ban to be safe.
What happens if I get a date question wrong?
Each date question is worth 4% of your section score. Missing 1-2 date questions won't prevent you from passing (70% required), but missing 3+ can be costly. Since dates are easy to memorize with practice, they're "free points" you shouldn't miss.
Are dates tested on all exam sections?
Dates are primarily tested on the Core section. Type 1, 2, and 3 sections focus more on procedures and requirements. Expect 3-5 date questions on Core, 0-1 on each Type section.
How long does it take to memorize all the dates?
With focused study using memory techniques, most people can memorize the 6 critical dates in 2-3 days and all 9 dates within one week. Daily 5-minute flashcard review ensures retention until test day.
📚 Next Steps
Download our cheat sheet PDF with all dates in one place. Practice with our Core practice test to see how dates appear in exam questions. Use our study schedule to plan your memorization sessions.