How does the required evacuation level for disposing of an R-123 chiller compare with the level for a major…

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

How does the required evacuation level for disposing of an R-123 chiller compare with the level for a major repair on the same chiller?

• ADisposal is stricter: 500 microns
• BDisposal is looser: 0 psig
• CThey are the same: 25 mm Hg absoluteCorrect answer
• DDisposal is looser: 10 inches of Hg vacuum

Why “They are the same: 25 mm Hg absolute” is correct

40 CFR 82.156(a) applies Table 1 both before opening an appliance and before disposing of it. Table 1 gives low-pressure appliances a single level, 25 mm Hg absolute, so disposal and a major repair share the same target unless leaks make it unattainable.

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

Why the other answers are wrong

• Disposal is stricter: 500 microns — 500 microns is a common dehydration target, not the Table 1 disposal level.
• Disposal is looser: 0 psig — Disposal is not relaxed to 0 psig for a non-leaking low-pressure appliance.
• Disposal is looser: 10 inches of Hg vacuum — 10 inches of Hg vacuum is not the low-pressure level for any situation in Table 1.

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