If the condenser is to be opened, to what level must it be evacuated?

Recovery requirements · EPA 608 Type III. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.

Evacuation levels for low-pressure appliances, and major versus non-major repairs.

The question

On a leaking R-123 chiller, the condenser can be valved off from the leaking evaporator and does not leak itself. If the condenser is to be opened, to what level must it be evacuated?

• A25 mm Hg absoluteCorrect answer
• B0 psig, the same as the leaking evaporator
• C10 inches of Hg vacuum
• DNo evacuation is needed once it is isolated

Why “25 mm Hg absolute” is correct

The leaky-appliance provision says to isolate leaking from non-leaking components wherever possible, then evacuate the non-leaking ones to the levels in Table 1. For a low-pressure appliance that is 25 mm Hg absolute; only the leaking parts get the lowest-attainable, no-higher-than-0-psig treatment.

Source: 40 CFR 82.156(a)(2); 40 CFR 82.156(a), Table 1

Why the other answers are wrong

• 0 psig, the same as the leaking evaporator — The 0 psig ceiling is only for leaking components; non-leaking ones go to the Table 1 level.
• 10 inches of Hg vacuum — 10 inches of Hg vacuum is not a low-pressure level in Table 1.
• No evacuation is needed once it is isolated — Isolating the condenser does not excuse it from evacuation before it is opened.

Practice more of this

More EPA 608 Type III practice questions, or see every EPA 608 practice test.