Vacuum Unit Conversion Chart, An ISM Resource

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Vacuum Unit Conversion Chart, An ISM

Resource
The ISM Vacuum Pressures Unit Conversions Chart
(Absolute and Relative) is available as a downloadable
PDF

Introduction
Vacuum systems are used in a wide range of industrial, material handling, food processing
and laboratory applications. Wherever vacuum is used, questions come up about vacuum or
negative pressure. What it is, how it is measured and how one vacuum measurement unit
compares to another.

The Vacuum Pressures Unit Conversions Chart from ISM was created to help make
component selection for vacuum applications faster and easier.

What is a vacuum and how is it measured?


Vacuum is an air pressure measurement that is less than Earth’s atmospheric pressure, about
14.7 psi. A perfect vacuum, by definition, is a space where all matter has been removed. This
is an idealized description.

Vacuum pressures that come close to the “almost no matter” point are difficult and expensive
to create. Industrial and laboratory applications require varying degrees of vacuum that are
less than perfect vacuum. This is why it is useful to understand something about units used to
measure vacuum and how to convert between them.

 
Get a copy of the ISM Vacuum Pressures Unit Conversions Chart (Absolute and Relative)

Modular Check Valves

We've taken spring-loaded check valves to a whole new level. Mix and match imperial and
metric connections. Watch the video.

Vacuum pressure units listed in the ISM Vacuum Unit Conversion Chart

 ATM (standard atmospheres, 760 mm Hg)


 PSIA (pounds per square inch, absolute)
 PSIG (pounds per square inch, gauge)
 Torr (millimeters of Mercury)
 in Hg (inches of mercury)
 kPa (kilopascals, newton-force per square meter)
 bar (bars, kPa x 100)
 mbar (millibars, bar x 1000)
Note: Pressure measurements given in inches or millimeters of water, mercury or some other
liquid are based on the earliest instrument developed for measuring pressure, the liquid
column gauge or manometer.

Vacuum or vacuum pressure measurements are described as either absolute or relative.


Absolute pressure is measured from a zero point where zero represents a 100% or perfect
vacuum. Relative pressure measurements are given in reference to ambient pressure, the
atmospheric pressure in the surrounding area.

Factors that affect the consistency and usefulness of relative vacuum measurements

 Ambient or atmospheric pressure varies with weather


 Ambient or atmospheric pressure varies with altitude

Tips to keep in mind when evaluating and converting between vacuum units

 PSI is based on the United States customary system (USCS or USC)


 Familiar USCS units are the mile, foot, inch, gallon, second and pound
 US customary measurements are unique to the US but are now defined in terms of
metric standards
 USCS units are widely used in commercial products made in or sold to the US market
 The International System of Units (SI), is the modern metric system
 SI is the most widely used measurement system worldwide

Learn more about the SI International System of Units.

Degrees of vacuum and vacuum levels for industrial and laboratory applications

Note: 1 atmosphere or 760 Torr is equal to about 14.7psi

Learn more about vacuum and vacuum measurement in the industrial environment.
(Fundamentals of Vacuum at Hydraulics and Pneumatics)

Get a copy of the ISM Vacuum Pressures Unit Conversions Chart (Absolute
and Relative)
What kinds of problems have you had moving between different vacuum measurements when
setting up or sourcing components for your application? Help us by telling others what you
learned.

Have questions about vacuum or components for vacuum applications? If so, send me an
email - steven.williams@industrialspec.com. You can also ask questions using the comments
section below.

Additional resources

 Vacuum Pressure: What is it and how do you measure it? from Setra, a designer
and manufacturer of sensing devices
 Understanding Vacuum Measurement Units from Vac Aero, a vacuum furnace
manufacturer
 ”Gas Pressure” from Principles of General Chemistry at the 2012 Book Archive
Project

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