EPA 608 Certifications...Why and How!

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers certifications to individuals that work in the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) field. HVAC technicians must have EPA certifications to handle any equipment that may leak a chemical compound called refrigerant, which damages the air and causes harm to the environment and anyone who breathes in the polluted air. EPA certifications involve teaching individuals safe practices for handling equipment that contains refrigerant, how to react if they come into contact with refrigerant, and the potential hazards of releasing refrigerant into the air. They also learn how to handle, service, and dispose of appliances that have refrigerants. The EPA mandates that all HVAC technicians must have certification to perform the following tasks:

• Handle hoses that measure the pressure inside of an appliance
• Add or remove refrigerant from an appliance using specialized tools
• Any activities that change the composition or operation of an HVAC equipment and appliances

Here are several benefits of gaining EPA certification:

1. Help you find a job: If you have your EPA certification, employers may be more likely to hire you over a candidate who still needs certification.
2. Familiarize yourself with regulations: EPA certification courses familiarize you with all laws, regulations, and standards related to the handling of refrigerants.
3. Work with more equipment: Depending on which type of EPA certification you get, you can get certified to work with a large variety of specialized equipment, which can open you up to more job opportunities within your field.
4. Offer customer reassurance: Customers may feel safer knowing the certification equips you to handle their equipment that contains refrigerant safely.
5. Add confidence to your performance: Having EPA certification may help you feel more confident while handling refrigerants, since the certification qualifies you to use the safest techniques.
    

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