One of the most briskly debated issues in our industry is the comparison – and procedures for – vacuum pressure impregnation (VPI) versus dip & bake. For this article, the discussion has been expanded to include trickle epoxy and B-stage coils.

Uno de los temas más debatidos en nuestra industria es la comparación y los procedimientos de impregnación a presión al vacío (VPI) versus inmersión y horneado. Para este artículo, la discusión se ha ampliado para incluir bobinas de etapa B y epoxi de goteo.

As we enter a new and exciting year of operating EASA businesses, we must remember that almost all service centers in the U.S. with either dip or vacuum pressure impregnation (VPI) tanks will be subject to the SARA Title 3, Tier II, reporting requirements. This requirement is part of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA). The EPCRA involves notifying the state and local community of any hazardous chemical stored onsite in quantities over 10,000 lbs. A hazard material for the purpose of this regulation is anything hazardous under the Hazard Communication standard. In other words, if it has a Safety Data Sheet and you had more than 10,000 lbs onsite at any time during the previous year (2017), then you are subject to this reporting requirement.  For most EASA centers, this will include the VPI, the dip tank varnish, or, in some cases, both varnishes.