CFC CFC Refrigerant Reclamation & Recycling Standards 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which industry standard defines the purity specifications that reclaimed refrigerants must meet before resale?
- ASHRAE 15
- AHRI Standard 700 (Correct answer)
- EPA Method 21
- OSHA 1910.119
Correct answer: AHRI Standard 700
AHRI Standard 700 (formerly ARI 700) establishes the purity requirements that refrigerants must meet to be certified as reclaimed and suitable for resale.
Question 2: What is the key distinction between recycled refrigerant and reclaimed refrigerant?
- There is no difference; the terms are interchangeable
- Recycled refrigerant meets AHRI 700 purity standards; reclaimed does not
- Reclaimed refrigerant meets AHRI 700 purity standards; recycled refrigerant is only cleaned on-site (Correct answer)
- Reclaimed refrigerant can only be used in the same system it was removed from
Correct answer: Reclaimed refrigerant meets AHRI 700 purity standards; recycled refrigerant is only cleaned on-site
Reclaimed refrigerant has been processed at an EPA-certified facility to meet AHRI 700 new-product purity standards, whereas recycled refrigerant has only had basic contaminants removed on-site.
Question 3: Who is legally authorized to reclaim refrigerants to AHRI 700 purity standards for resale?
- Any licensed HVAC contractor
- EPA-certified reclamation facilities only (Correct answer)
- Technicians holding Universal Section 608 certification
- Refrigerant manufacturers only
Correct answer: EPA-certified reclamation facilities only
Only EPA-certified reclamation facilities have the authority to process and certify refrigerants to AHRI 700 standards for resale or transfer to a new owner.
Question 4: What is the maximum allowable moisture content in reclaimed refrigerant per AHRI Standard 700?
- 1 ppm by weight
- 10 ppm by weight (Correct answer)
- 50 ppm by weight
- 100 ppm by weight
Correct answer: 10 ppm by weight
AHRI Standard 700 sets the maximum moisture content for reclaimed refrigerants at 10 ppm (parts per million) by weight.
Question 5: Under what condition may a technician reuse recovered refrigerant without sending it to a reclamation facility?
- Only if it passes a field purity test
- If it is returned to the same system or to another system owned by the same customer (Correct answer)
- Whenever the refrigerant is less than 1 year old
- Only if the system uses an HFC refrigerant
Correct answer: If it is returned to the same system or to another system owned by the same customer
EPA rules allow recovered refrigerant to be returned to the same system or to another system owned by the same customer without reclamation.
Question 6: Can reclaimed refrigerant that meets AHRI 700 standards be legally sold to a new owner?
- No, recovered refrigerant can never be resold
- Yes, as long as it is certified to meet AHRI 700 purity specifications (Correct answer)
- Only if it is a CFC refrigerant scheduled for phase-out
- Only with a special EPA resale permit
Correct answer: Yes, as long as it is certified to meet AHRI 700 purity specifications
Refrigerant that has been certified by an EPA-approved reclaimer to meet AHRI 700 standards may be resold on the open market to new owners.
CFC CFC Refrigerant Reclamation & Recycling Standards 1
Which industry standard defines the purity specifications that reclaimed refrigerants must meet before resale?