EPA 608 evacuation requirements
This page covers the evacuation rules in 40 CFR 82.156(a) through (g), with definitions from 40 CFR 82.152. Each point quotes the rule and links to it.
The short answer
Before opening or disposing of an appliance other than a small appliance, MVAC or MVAC-like appliance, technicians must evacuate the refrigerant to the levels in Table 1 using a certified recovery machine, unless an exception applies (repairs that are not major, or leaks that make the Table 1 levels unattainable), and verify the level before opening. The Table 1 level depends on the appliance's pressure class, for high- and medium-pressure appliances also on its full charge, and on whether the recovery equipment was manufactured or imported before or on or after November 15, 1993. For small appliances, persons must recover 80 or 90 percent of the refrigerant, depending on the equipment date and whether the compressor works, or evacuate to four inches of mercury vacuum.
Each part of this answer is quoted from the rule below.
Table 1 evacuation levels
Before opening or disposing of an appliance (other than a small appliance, MVAC or MVAC-like appliance), technicians must evacuate the refrigerant, including all liquid refrigerant, to the Table 1 levels using a certified recovery and/or recycling machine, unless one of the exceptions in 82.156(a)(1) or (a)(2) applies.
“Before opening appliances (except small appliances, MVACs, and MVAC-like appliances) or disposing of such appliances, technicians must evacuate the refrigerant, including all the liquid refrigerant, to the levels in Table 1 using a recovery and/or recycling machine certified pursuant to § 82.158 unless the situations in paragraphs (a)(1) or (2) of this section apply.”
Table 1 gives levels in inches of mercury (Hg) vacuum, relative to standard atmospheric pressure of 29.9 inches Hg (the low-pressure row is given in mm Hg absolute instead). It has two columns: recovery equipment manufactured or imported before November 15, 1993, and equipment manufactured or imported on or after November 15, 1993.
“Inches of Hg vacuum (relative to standard atmospheric pressure of 29.9 inches Hg) Using recovery and/or Using recovery and/or Type of appliance recycling equipment recycling equipment manufactured or manufactured or imported before imported on or after November 15, 1993 November 15, 1993”
Very high-pressure appliance: 0 inches Hg vacuum with either equipment date.
“Very high-pressure appliance 0 0.”
High-pressure appliance (or isolated component) with a full charge under 200 pounds: 0 inches Hg vacuum with either equipment date.
“High-pressure appliance, or isolated component 0 0. of such appliance, with a full charge of less than 200 pounds of refrigerant”
High-pressure appliance (or isolated component) with a full charge of 200 pounds or more: 4 inches Hg vacuum with equipment made or imported before November 15, 1993; 10 inches with equipment made or imported on or after that date.
“High-pressure appliance, or isolated component 4 10. of such appliance, with a full charge of 200 pounds or more of refrigerant”
Medium-pressure appliance (or isolated component) with a full charge under 200 pounds: 4 inches Hg vacuum with pre-November 15, 1993 equipment; 10 inches with equipment made or imported on or after that date.
“Medium-pressure appliance, or isolated 4 10. component of such appliance, with a full charge of less than 200 pounds of refrigerant”
Medium-pressure appliance (or isolated component) with a full charge of 200 pounds or more: 4 inches Hg vacuum with pre-November 15, 1993 equipment; 15 inches with equipment made or imported on or after that date.
“Medium-pressure appliance, or isolated 4 15. component of such appliance, with a full charge of 200 pounds or more of refrigerant”
Low-pressure appliance: 25 mm Hg absolute with either equipment date.
“Low-pressure appliance 25 mm Hg absolute 25 mm Hg absolute.”
Technicians may evacuate the whole appliance or only the part being serviced, if the refrigerant in that part can be isolated to a system receiver. The technician must verify that the required level has been reached before opening it.
“Technicians may evacuate either the entire appliance or the part to be serviced, if the refrigerant in the part can be isolated to a system receiver. A technician must verify that the applicable level of evacuation has been reached in the appliance or the part before it is opened.”
Which row applies: pressure classes
Very high-pressure appliance: refrigerant with a critical temperature below 104 °F or a liquid phase saturation pressure above 355 psia at 104 °F (for example R-13, R-23, R-503, R-508A, R-508B).
“Very high-pressure appliance means an appliance that uses a refrigerant with a critical temperature below 104 °F or with a liquid phase saturation pressure above 355 psia at 104 °F. Examples include but are not limited to appliances using R-13, R-23, R-503, R-508A, and R-508B.”
High-pressure appliance: saturation pressure between 170 and 355 psia at 104 °F (for example R-22, R-407A, R-407C, R-410A, R-502).
“High-pressure appliance means an appliance that uses a refrigerant with a liquid phase saturation pressure between 170 psia and 355 psia at 104 °F. Examples include but are not limited to appliances using R-22, R-407A, R-407C, R-410A, and R-502.”
Medium-pressure appliance: saturation pressure between 45 and 170 psia at 104 °F (for example R-114, R-124, R-12, R-134a, R-500).
“Medium-pressure appliance means an appliance that uses a refrigerant with a liquid phase saturation pressure between 45 psia and 170 psia at 104 °F. Examples include but are not limited to appliances using R-114, R-124, R-12, R-134a, and R-500.”
Low-pressure appliance: saturation pressure below 45 psia at 104 °F (for example R-11, R-123, R-113, R-245fa).
“Low-pressure appliance means an appliance that uses a refrigerant with a liquid phase saturation pressure below 45 psia at 104 °F. Examples include but are not limited to appliances using R-11, R-123, R-113, and R-245fa.”
Exception: repairs that are not major
If the repair is not major and the appliance will not be evacuated to the atmosphere afterward, a medium-, high- or very high-pressure appliance only needs to be evacuated to no higher than 0 psig before it is opened.
“If evacuation of the appliance to the atmosphere is not to be performed after completion of the maintenance, service, or repair, and if the maintenance, service, or repair is not major as defined at § 82.152, the appliance must: (i) Be evacuated to a pressure no higher than 0 psig before it is opened if it is a medium-, high- or very high-pressure appliance;”
Under the same exception (82.156(a)(1)), a low-pressure appliance must be pressurized to no higher than 0 psig before it is opened, and openings must be covered when isolation is not possible.
“Be pressurized to a pressure no higher than 0 psig before it is opened if it is a low-pressure appliance. Persons must cover openings when isolation is not possible.”
Under the same exception (82.156(a)(1)(ii)), when pressurizing a low-pressure appliance whose refrigerant boils at or below 85 °F at 29.9 inches of mercury, methods that need later purging, such as nitrogen, must not be used.
“Persons pressurizing low-pressure appliances that use refrigerants with boiling points at or below 85 degrees Fahrenheit at 29.9 inches of mercury (standard atmospheric pressure), must not use methods such as nitrogen that require subsequent purging.”
Under the same exception, when the refrigerant boils above 85 °F at 29.9 inches of mercury, heat must be used to raise the internal pressure as much as possible; nitrogen may then be used to go from that level up to atmospheric pressure.
“Persons pressurizing low-pressure appliances that use refrigerants with boiling points above 85 degrees Fahrenheit at 29.9 inches of mercury, must use heat to raise the internal pressure of the appliance as much as possible, but may use nitrogen to raise the internal pressure of the appliance from the level attainable through use of heat to atmospheric pressure;”
Under the same exception, for oil changes the appliance must be evacuated or pressurized to no higher than 5 psig before it is opened, or the oil drained into a system receiver that is evacuated or pressurized to no higher than 5 psig.
“For the purposes of oil changes, be evacuated or pressurized to a pressure no higher than 5 psig, before it is opened; or drain the oil into a system receiver to be evacuated or pressurized to a pressure no higher than 5 psig.”
A repair is major if it removes the compressor, condenser, evaporator or auxiliary heat exchange coil, or uncovers an opening of more than 4 square inches of flow area for more than 15 minutes.
“Major maintenance, service, or repair means any maintenance, service, or repair that involves the removal of any or all of the following appliance components: compressor, condenser, evaporator, or auxiliary heat exchange coil; or any maintenance, service, or repair that involves uncovering an opening of more than four (4) square inches of “flow area” for more than 15 minutes.”
Connecting and disconnecting hoses and gauges to measure pressures, add refrigerant or recover refrigerant is not considered opening an appliance.
“Connecting and disconnecting hoses and gauges to measure pressures, add refrigerant, or recover refrigerant from the appliance are not considered “opening an appliance.””
Exception: leaking appliances
If leaks make the Table 1 levels unattainable, or evacuating would substantially contaminate the recovered refrigerant, persons must isolate leaking from non-leaking components wherever possible and evacuate the non-leaking components to the Table 1 levels.
“If leaks in the appliance make evacuation to the levels in Table 1 unattainable or would substantially contaminate the refrigerant being recovered, persons opening or disposing of the appliance must: (i) Isolate leaking from non-leaking components wherever possible; (ii) Evacuate non-leaking components to be opened or disposed of to the levels specified in Table 1; and”
Under the same leaking-appliance rule quoted in the previous point (82.156(a)(2)(iii)), leaking components must be evacuated to the lowest level reachable without substantially contaminating the refrigerant, and that level may not be higher than 0 psig.
“Evacuate leaking components to be opened or disposed of to the lowest level that can be attained without substantially contaminating the refrigerant. This level may not exceed 0 psig.”
Small appliances
Before opening or disposing of a small appliance, persons must recover refrigerant with a certified recovery and/or recycling machine, under one of three conditions.
“Before opening a small appliance or when disposing of a small appliance, persons must recover refrigerant, using a recovery and/or recycling machine certified pursuant to § 82.158, according to the following conditions:”
First condition (82.156(b)(1), under the lead-in quoted in the previous point): with recovery equipment manufactured before November 15, 1993, recover 80 percent of the refrigerant in the small appliance.
“When using recovery equipment manufactured before November 15, 1993, recover 80 percent of the refrigerant in the small appliance; or”
Second condition (82.156(b)(2)): with recovery equipment manufactured on or after November 15, 1993, recover 90 percent if the appliance's compressor works, or 80 percent if it does not.
“When using recovery equipment manufactured on or after November 15, 1993, recover 90 percent of the refrigerant in the appliance when the compressor in the appliance is functioning, or 80 percent of the refrigerant in the appliance when the compressor in the appliance is not functioning; or”
Third condition (82.156(b)(3)): evacuate the small appliance to four inches of mercury vacuum.
“Evacuate the appliance to four inches of mercury vacuum.”
A small appliance is fully manufactured, charged and hermetically sealed in a factory with 5 pounds or less of refrigerant.
“Small appliance means any appliance that is fully manufactured, charged, and hermetically sealed in a factory with five (5) pounds or less of refrigerant,”
MVACs and MVAC-like appliances
When recovering refrigerant from an MVAC-like appliance for disposal, persons must follow 40 CFR part 82, subpart B, or reduce the system pressure to or below 102 mm of mercury vacuum.
“All persons recovering refrigerant from MVAC-like appliances for purposes of disposal of these appliances must evacuate the appliance in accordance with 40 CFR part 82, subpart B or reduce the system pressure to or below 102 mm of mercury vacuum.”
The same applies to MVACs being disposed of: follow subpart B or reduce the system pressure to or below 102 mm of mercury vacuum.
“All persons recovering refrigerant from MVACs for purposes of disposal of these appliances must evacuate the appliance in accordance with 40 CFR part 82, subpart B or reduce the system pressure to or below 102 mm of mercury vacuum.”
Recovery equipment use and records
System-dependent recovery equipment may not be used on appliances with a full charge of more than 15 pounds, unless it is permanently attached to the appliance as a pump-out unit.
“System-dependent equipment may not be used with appliances with a full charge of more than 15 pounds of refrigerant, unless the system-dependent equipment is permanently attached to the appliance as a pump-out unit.”
Recovery and/or recycling equipment must be used according to the manufacturer's directions, unless they conflict with the rule.
“All recovery and/or recycling equipment must be used in accordance with the manufacturer's directions unless such directions conflict with the requirements of this subpart.”
Since January 1, 2018, technicians evacuating appliances with a full charge of more than 5 and less than 50 pounds for disposal must keep records for three years.
“As of January 1, 2018, technicians evacuating refrigerant from appliances with a full charge of more than 5 and less than 50 pounds of refrigerant for purposes of disposal of that appliance must keep records documenting the following for three years:”
Sources
- eCFR: 40 CFR 82.156, Proper evacuation of refrigerant from appliances (as of Nov 3, 2026)Checked November 5, 2026
- eCFR: 40 CFR 82.152, Definitions (as of Nov 3, 2026)Checked November 5, 2026