What the R-22 and CFC phase-outs actually ban

Answer: B. Kigali Amendment

• AThe Paris Agreement sets broad climate goals but does not schedule an HFC phasedown.
• BCorrect: the 2016 Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol phases down HFC production and consumption because of their global warming impact.
• CThe Versailles Treaty ended World War I and has nothing to do with refrigerants.
• DThe Geneva Conventions cover conduct in war, not refrigerants.

The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, adopted in 2016, phases down the production and consumption of HFCs, which are potent greenhouse gases. It is a gradual reduction, not a ban.

Answer: D. Treaties phase down production

• AEPA does not govern global imports; it regulates the United States.
• BInternational quotas are set by the treaty, not by EPA's Section 608 rules.
• CRecovery equipment requirements come from EPA rules like Section 608, not from the treaty.
• DCorrect: the Montreal Protocol sets phaseout and phasedown targets for production and consumption, while Section 608 governs how technicians handle refrigerant.

The Montreal Protocol focuses on international production and consumption phasedowns. Conversely, EPA Section 608 enforces domestic handling, recovery rules, and venting prohibitions for technicians.

Answer: D. Repair the leak since phaseouts do not immediately ban in-use refrigerants

• ACFCs are older, higher-ODP chemicals, not exempt substitutes; converting an HCFC system to a CFC goes backward.
• BVenting the HCFC charge is illegal; it must be recovered.
• CPhaseouts end new production and import; existing systems may keep running and be serviced.
• DCorrect: phaseouts ban new production and import, not in-use refrigerant, so repairing the leak is a compliant option.

EPA phased production bans target the manufacture and consumption of new refrigerants, not the continued use of existing charges. A forced immediate transition is not required, making leak repair a fully compliant and practical strategy.

Answer: C. CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons)

• AHFCs have zero ODP and are being phased down for climate reasons under Kigali, not first phased out.
• BHydrocarbons are not ozone-depleting substances.
• CCorrect: CFCs, with the highest ODP of these groups, were the first refrigerants phased out; U.S. production and import ended January 1, 1996.
• DHCFCs were transitional replacements with a later phaseout schedule.

CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) were the first group of compounds phased out under the Montreal Protocol due to their high ozone depletion potential, with most being banned from production in developed countries by 1996.

Answer: C. CFCs

• AHFCs have zero ODP and are being phased down, not fully phased out.
• BHFOs are newer low-GWP refrigerants and are not phased out.
• CCorrect: CFC production and import ended in the U.S. in 1996 because of their high ODP.
• DNatural refrigerants such as CO2, ammonia and hydrocarbons have no ODP and are not phased out.

CFCs have been completely phased out due to their high ozone depletion potential.

Answer: A. It may be recharged with reclaimed or stockpiled R-22

• ACorrect: production and import stopped in 2020, but existing systems can use reclaimed or previously made R-22.
• BThere is no owner waiver; servicing with available R-22 is allowed without one.
• CThe 2020 date ended production and import of R-22, not its use in existing equipment.
• DNo rule forces a retrofit; existing R-22 systems may still be serviced.

The HCFC phaseout ended production and import of R-22 on January 1, 2020. It did not ban servicing existing equipment, which can still be charged with reclaimed or previously produced R-22.

Answer: C. It may keep running and be recharged with reclaimed R-12

• AImports of CFCs were banned along with production, so new imported R-12 is not available.
• BServicing is still legal; the restriction is on producing new CFCs.
• CCorrect: the ban ended production, so existing R-12 equipment may run and be serviced with reclaimed R-12.
• DThe ban stopped CFC production and import; it set no deadline to retire equipment.

The Class I phaseout ended production and import of CFCs such as R-12 on January 1, 1996. It did not make it illegal to run or service existing CFC equipment, which can use recovered and reclaimed refrigerant.