The Complete Guide to LEV Testing Services for UK Workplaces
Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) testing helps employers assess whether extraction is controlling airborne contaminants as intended. It should be planned alongside maintenance, operator checks and the wider assessment of exposure to hazardous substances.
What does an LEV test cover?
A thorough examination and test considers the equipment, the process it serves and how it is used. The examiner reviews available performance information, inspects the system and uses suitable observations and measurements to assess control. Readings need a meaningful benchmark; airflow alone does not prove every exposure is adequately controlled.
How often should testing take place?
For most systems, the maximum interval is 14 months. Some specified processes have shorter requirements, and system condition or use can justify more frequent examination. Annual bookings can make scheduling easier, but annual testing is not the universal statutory interval. Confirm the applicable schedule with a competent person.
Prepare for the visit
Identify each extraction system, hood and process.
Provide commissioning information, previous reports and maintenance records.
Describe changes in materials, machinery, ductwork or working methods.
Arrange safe access and representative operating conditions.
Explain any visible escape, reduced airflow or unresolved defect.
Understand the report
The report should identify the system, describe the assessment and findings, and explain defects and recommended actions. Keep examination records for at least five years and retain useful system information for future assessments. Ask about limitations, missing benchmarks and how any remedial work should be checked.
Testing, servicing and air monitoring
Servicing addresses cleaning, wear, filters and repairs. Testing assesses extraction performance. Air monitoring investigates exposure under sampled working conditions. These services answer different questions; the work needed depends on the assessment.
Select a suitable examiner
Ask for evidence of relevant knowledge, skills and experience with your equipment and process. Qualifications can support this evidence, but do not replace practical competence. Discuss the agreed scope, access arrangements and reporting before booking.
What happens when a test finds defects?
Use the report to identify affected equipment and agree practical remedial work. Ask a competent person about the risks and the checks needed before affected work continues; do not assume that servicing alone resolves an unsatisfactory examination.
In a Premier LEV laser-extraction project, the first examination recorded ineffective fume control alongside leaking duct joints, poor supports and incorrectly fitted filters. Ductwork and supports were replaced, and a subsequent examination with the laser operating recorded a satisfactory assessment.
See the before-and-after ductwork photographs and LEV retest case study. The result relates to that installation and its reports. For the next steps after an unsatisfactory result, read our guide to LEV repairs and retesting.
Request a testing quote
Premier LEV provides LEV examination and testing across the UK. Use our quote preparation guide and contact us with your location, system details and latest report.
Further guidance: HSE LEV FAQs and commissioning and performance information.