Recovery cylinders follow an industry color convention so nobody mistakes them for containers of virgin refrigerant. What does that convention look like?
- AA solid green body with a white shoulder
Green and white are not the recovery combination. Solid colors on virgin cylinders identify a specific refrigerant product.
- BA solid black body with a red valve handle
Black with a red handle is not a recovery marking and would not be recognized by a reclaimer or a distributor.
- CA blue body with an orange top
Blue and orange are not the recovery combination, although individual refrigerants do carry assigned colors of their own.
- A gray body with a yellow shoulder
Why D is correct
Gray body with a yellow shoulder is the recognized marking for refrigerant recovery cylinders, distinguishing them at a glance from the color-coded cylinders used for virgin refrigerant.
What this question is testing
Tests recall of the recovery cylinder color convention and reinforces that color identifies the cylinder's purpose rather than the refrigerant inside it.
On the job
Techs learn to spot the gray and yellow cylinders in a crowded shop or truck bed instantly, which matters when a recovery machine is running and hoses are being moved. The color says recovered, and the label says which refrigerant. Reclaimers and distributors expect both. A gray and yellow cylinder that shows up with no label still has to be identified before anyone will accept it.
Memory technique
Yellow on gray means caution, used gas. Think of a yellow warning light on a gray steel drum.
Exam tip
Two-tone gray and yellow equals recovery. A single solid color equals a specific virgin refrigerant.
Where to look it up
Industry standard recovery cylinder marking used with DOT-approved refillable cylinders under 40 CFR 82.156 recovery practice.