LHC Vacuum System: 2012 Review and 2014 Outlook

During 2012 only a few beam dumps were attributed to vacuum sector valve closures and the vacuum surface and coating group was involved in only two urgent interventions that kept the beam off for less than two days each. In this paper the pressure threshold policy adopted since the beginning of the LHC running is examined in terms of beam vacuum performances and beam dumps. The so- called "pressure spikes" detected during these years are treated and correlated with the cryogenic temperature, the beam pipe dimensions and non-conformities. A review of the standard and special interventions performed on the beam pipe during technical stops and shutdowns is given, with a list of the main characteristics and foreseen outcomes. Finally, the vacuum expectations during LHC nominal runs, that will follow the LHC consolidations during the Long Shutdown 1 (LS1), are discussed.