# HVACR Fundamentals & EPA Section 608

Source: https://savrn.com/institute/courses/mec-1601
Markdown alternate of the page above; the site index is https://savrn.com/llms.txt

---

Foundations · MEC

Proposed course specification. Delivery, enrollment, and assessment arrangements require a partner program. Credential references describe intended alignment or pathways; external credentials and academic awards are issued only by the responsible organizations.

128Total hours

40Lecture

88Hands-on lab

NonePrerequisite

EPA Section 608 UniversalProposed credential / alignment

88 lab hours 40 lecture hours

This course introduces the refrigeration cycle, comfort and precision cooling fundamentals, and the federal refrigerant-handling requirements of EPA Section 608 that govern every technician who opens a refrigerant circuit in the United States. Students learn compression-cycle theory, refrigerant pressure-temperature relationships, manifold gauge set use, and the recovery, evacuation, and leak-rate recordkeeping practices required to hold an EPA Section 608 Universal certification. Hands-on work uses bench-mounted refrigeration trainers and manifold gauge/recovery stations. The course treats refrigerant recovery and leak-rate compliance as safety-critical and environmentally regulated competencies with zero tolerance for venting refrigerant to atmosphere, and it prepares students to sit the EPA Section 608 Universal certification exam through an approved third-party proctor. This course is the foundation for all subsequent MEC coursework, including chiller, cooling-tower, and liquid-cooling systems used in data-center thermal management.

## What you'll be able to do

1. Diagram the four-stage vapor-compression refrigeration cycle and identify the state of the refrigerant at each stage.
2. Calculate superheat and subcooling from measured pressures and temperatures on an operating refrigeration trainer.
3. Recover refrigerant from a bench trainer to the EPA-required evacuation level for the appliance type and refrigerant charge size. Safety-critical
4. Calculate an appliance's annual refrigerant leak rate and determine whether it exceeds the EPA Section 608 trigger rate for its appliance category. Safety-critical
5. Evacuate and pressure-test a refrigerant circuit with nitrogen before recharging, verifying no leaks are present.
6. Charge a refrigeration circuit by weight and by superheat/subcooling method and verify the charge is within manufacturer specification.
7. Identify refrigerant safety classifications (ASHRAE 34 A1/A2L/A3/B1 groups) and describe the handling precautions specific to mildly flammable (A2L) refrigerants. Safety-critical
8. Document a recovery, recharge, or leak-rate event in a refrigerant tracking log per EPA Section 608 recordkeeping requirements.
9. Escalate a refrigerant leak exceeding the trigger rate or a suspected A2L ignition hazard to the responsible supervisor. Safety-critical
10. Complete the EPA Section 608 Universal certification exam through an approved third-party proctor.

← Previous course

On-Site Generation & Energy Storage

Next course →

Chillers, CRAH & Cooling Towers

### Department

Mechanical Systems & Thermal Management

4 courses · 480 hours →

### Industry alignment

EPA Section 608 Universal

## Train the team that runs the factory.

Shape a program around your facility, your learners, and the competencies employers need.

[Plan a Program →](https://savrn.com/institute/plan) [Explore programs](https://savrn.com/institute/programs) [Read catalog](https://savrn.com/institute/catalog)