LEV Testing

What is local exhaust ventilation testing (LEV testing)?

According to the HSE’s Occupational Lung Disease in Great Britain 2017 report, 12,000 lung disease deaths each year are estimated to be linked to past exposures at work. This has led to increasingly stringent guidelines and statutory requirements for Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV).

HSE published the third edition of HSG258 ‘Controlling airborne contaminants at work: A guide to local exhaust ventilation (LEV)’ in 2017. This guide provides guidance on the design of new local exhaust ventilation (LEV) equipment. It describes the principles of deciding on, designing, commissioning and testing effective LEV.

LEV systems must be tested every 14 months

CoSHH regulations require most LEV systems to be thoroughly tested at least once every 14 months. This applies to all oil mist, welding fume, smoke and dust extraction units that you currently have on site. This examination must be undertaken by a competent person and the tests and reports must conform to HSE standards. HSG258 provides the recommended procedures to achieve these statutory requirements.

Expert analysis and practical recommendations

Filtermist provides comprehensive LEV Testing for all makes and types of extraction equipment, working strictly in accordance with HSG258l guidelines. Filtermist LEV Tests include measuring the air flow speed (velocity) of the air being extracted at the source and in the ducting.

The results are compared with the requirements specified in the original system design and our expert analysis, based on 50 years’ experience in the manufacture and design of LEV systems, allows us to provide practical advice and recommendations.

Filtermist LEV reports include photos and/or schematic diagrams showing the Test Points, which are also clearly identified on the ducting, as required by the HSE. Follow this link for more details on our comprehensive LEV Test Reports.

LEV Testing is a legal requirement for compliance with health and safety standards and test reports often form part of a company's insurance. Inadequate testing can result in employers being prosecuted, insurance being invalidated and employees falling ill.

Don't take the risk when commissioning your LEV tests

Filtermist has been trusted to take care of the LEV requirements of some of the world’s best-known manufacturing operations since 1969. Our dedicated LEV Engineers offer in-depth application knowledge of LEV systems and are qualified in excess of the standard LEV testing requirements.