EPA 608 evacuation level finder
Pick the appliance type, its charge and the age of your recovery equipment to see the evacuation level 40 CFR 82.156 requires before opening or disposing of it.
Required level Official data
0 inches of Hg vacuum
High-pressure appliance, full charge under 200 pounds, with recovery equipment made on or after November 15, 1993.
“TABLE 1—REQUIRED LEVELS OF EVACUATION FOR APPLIANCES [EXCEPT FOR SMALL APPLIANCES, MVACS, AND MVAC-LIKE APPLIANCES]”
Inches of Hg vacuum are relative to standard atmospheric pressure of 29.9 inches Hg, as Table 1 states.
Before you open the appliance
“A technician must verify that the applicable level of evacuation has been reached in the appliance or the part before it is opened.”
Table 1 has exceptions, for example for some repairs that are not major and for appliances whose leaks make these levels unattainable. See the Type II and Type III study guides.
Levels come straight from Table 1 and paragraph (b) of § 82.156. MVACs and MVAC-like appliances follow other rules and are not included.
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