local exhaust ventilation in action

Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) System Inspection Services

For more information on our range of services,
or to book an inspection, please get in touch.

Every year, around 12,000 lung disease deaths are linked to substances inhaled at work. From fume cupboards in schools and colleges, to spray booths in car garages, your LEV equipment is crucial to protecting employees from hazardous dusts, fumes, mists and gases – any failure can have serious, life-altering consequences.

To ensure your equipment is working effectively at all times, our thorough LEV inspections cover every component to identify potential faults. With nationwide coverage and expert knowledge of LEV technology, we are here to help you secure the safety of your team and compliance with COSHH regulations.

Our expert engineer surveyors can carry out full inspections of your LEV systems as a regular service.

  • Provision of periodic Thorough Examination and Testing (TExT) of your LEV systems.

Not sure which service is right for you?
Learn more about our service options or contact one of our experts.

LEV Equipment Inspection Services FAQs

Many working environments constantly produce hazardous substances into the air, including:
  • metallic dust and coolant mists in metalworks
  • welding fumes from workshops
  • car exhausts and spray paint in garages
  • food dust in manufacturing plants and storage
  • fumes from oil and gas refineries.

Local Exhaust Ventilation systems (or LEV systems) reduce the threat of airborne contaminants at work, capturing emissions at the source and either transporting them to a safe area, or filtering out harmful particles. This makes the air cleaner and workspaces safer for your employees.

Without LEV equipment, these hazardous substances can endanger the health and safety of your teams – from respiratory illnesses and asthma, to fatal lung diseases. Regular inspections by trusted professionals are essential to ensuring your LEV systems are in efficient working order.

Our engineering surveyors are highly accomplished in the examination and testing of LEV and extraction systems. As part of our approach, we will:

  • Visually examine your systems for any damage or defects, focusing on the hood, ducting, air cleaner, fan and discharge points.
  • Run operational checks to confirm systems are working effectively and that airflow indicators are functional.
  • Measure the airflow across the system so it meets design criteria.
  • Conduct Thorough Examination and Testing (TExT), assessing your LEV systems against its original performance benchmarks.

LEV systems are examined under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations. This law requires you to control substances that are hazardous to the health of your employees in any working environment by:

  • identifying any potential health hazards
  • carry out risk assessments to determine how to adequately control these hazards
  • provide control measures to reduce risk of harm, such as LEV systems.
COSHH regulations state that you must maintain your LEV systems and arrange periodic thorough examinations and testing. This certifies that your equipment is protecting your workforce and stops you from breaching COSHH, which is punishable by an unlimited fine.

LEV systems capture airborne contaminants at their source and either filter these to return fresh, clean air into the workspace, or release it safely into the atmosphere.

This is possible due to several vital components:

  • The hood, that initially captures the contaminants.
  • Ducting, that transports the unclean air away from the source.
  • The air cleaner or air filter, which removes the contaminants from the air.
  • The fan, that generates the airflow for the system.
  • The discharge point, where the cleaned air is safely released.
If you'd like to know more about LEV equipment, we recommend checking the HSE guidance on these systems.

LEV systems should be inspected by a ‘competent person’. This is someone with expert knowledge and understanding of this equipment.

Furthermore, a competent person should not be the same person who performs routine maintenance on your equipment – it must be from an independent, impartial source.

The extensive experience and comprehensive knowledge of our engineer surveyors means we can inspect your equipment to these high standards.

If your LEV system fails a test or inspection, repairs or replacements should be performed as necessary. Following our inspection services, we will recommend what actions you should take to resolve any problems and make sure your equipment is COSHH compliant.

According to HSE, thorough examinations are a systematic and detailed assessment of your LEV equipment and its safety-critical parts, carried out by a competent person and compiled in a written report. This report will include:

  • The examination to date.
  • The date of the next examination.
  • Any defects found that could pose a danger to people.

Under HSE guidelines, you should schedule thorough examination and testing of LEV equipment at least every 14 months. As experienced professionals with a complete understanding of LEV equipment, we are perfectly placed to assess the technical performance of your equipment.

Scroll down for our complete list of LEV inspection frequencies.

Swipe to view more

Plant/Equipment Type Applicable Legislation Periodicity of Inspection
Fume Cupboard COSHH 14 months
Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) Systems COSHH 14 months
Shot Blast Cabinets COSHH New casting: 1 month
Abrading metal: 6 months
All other: 14 months
Spray Booths COSHH 14 months
     
We are the largest independent provider of LEV services in the UK. With more coverage, engineer surveyors and capacity
than anyone else, you can rely on our team to take care of all inspections and tests with absolute efficiency and
attention to detail, so you always comply with COSHH regulations.
Our engineer surveyors are experts in all forms of pressure system inspections, offering the highest level of technical competence. 
A Loyalty Leader for over 13 years, we monitor customer feedback to improve our service and ensure our 31,000+ customers are fairly treated.
We inspect plant and machinery anywhere in the UK and Republic of Ireland, examining over 3.6 million items and visiting over 125,000 locations in 2022. 
To make our customers’ lives easier, our engineering inspection and insurance services can be arranged together.
Our accreditations reassure our customers that we complete tasks safely and with absolute attention to detail.
 
We can provide both one-off inspections and consultancy services, tailored to your specific needs.
Our inspection reports can be compiled on-site, meaning our customers receive our recommendations as soon as possible. 
All our engineer surveyors hold a SAFed passport, certifying that the holder is competent to work safely in all industry sectors.