LEV Requirements, What Every Business Must Know
Why Focus on “LEV Requirements”?
Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) systems are vital for maintaining clean and safe air in industrial and laboratory environments. Yet many businesses overlook or misunderstand the precise legal, technical, and compliance obligations surrounding LEV. This page serves as your definitive guide to LEV requirements in the UK and how Clean Air 24 Seven supports you in staying fully compliant.
Using “LEV requirements” as a keyword anchors your content squarely in what your prospective customers are searching — not just “LEV” or “extraction systems,” but the obligations and compliance side. That means attracting managers, health & safety officers, workshop owners, lab leaders, etc. who are actively looking for what they must do, rather than just what they could have.
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Key Legal & Regulatory LEV Requirements in the UK
COSHH Regulation 9: Thorough Examination & Testing
Under Regulation 9 of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), employers must ensure that all control measures, including LEV systems, are:
- maintained in an efficient state, in good repair, and
- subjected to a thorough examination and test by a competent person at suitable intervals (at least every 14 months).
If your LEV system fails these tests, remedial action must be taken, and a re-test performed.
Employers must keep examination/test records for at least five years.
Maintenance & Routine Checks
Legal compliance doesn’t stop with the 14-month test. LEV systems must be regularly maintained and inspected between the statutory tests:
- Daily, weekly, monthly checks depending on usage (hoods, filters, ductwork, alarms)
- Monitoring of airflow indicators / tell-tales
- Visual inspections of hoods, ducting, fans
- Cleaning or replacing filters as necessary
- Logging all maintenance, repairs, and checks in a system logbook
Competence & Duty Holder Responsibilities
The legislation doesn’t just say that you must test — it says it must be done by a competent person (someone with the required skills, knowledge, and experience).
The “duty holder” — typically the employer or senior management — is accountable for:
- Ensuring systems are properly designed, installed, and commissioned
- Ensuring adequate maintenance
- Ensuring testing is done by competent persons
- Retaining records for at least five years
- Ensuring workers are trained in how to use and monitor the LEV
Non-compliance can result in enforcement action from the HSE (e.g. improvement notices, fines) and increased liability in the event of employee health issues.
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Sector-Specific Aspects of LEV Requirements
While the core LEV requirements are broadly the same, each sector presents particular challenges and considerations. Below are some examples of industries we commonly support.
| Sector | Key LEV Challenges / Requirements | Notes & Best Practice |
| Welding & Metalwork | Fume extraction from weld zones, metal fumes, welding mist | The capture hood must be positioned carefully; check that extraction rate matches the process speed and consumables |
| Woodworking / Wood Cutting | Fine wood dust, static charge, mixed particulate size | Use cyclonic pre-separation + HEPA filters; check ductwork for blockages |
| Automotive / Car Workshops / Manufacturing | Oil mist, exhaust fumes, paint spray | Use oil mist filters, fume arms, ensure proper discharge location |
| Laboratories & Chemical Mixing | Toxic vapours, corrosive gases | Use chemical-resistant ducting and make-up air control; extra strict on leakage control |
| Pharmaceutical / Cleanroom | Ultrafine particles, solvent vapours | Strict validation of airflow, leakage, HEPA filtration, re-testing after maintenance or modifications |
In all these sectors, proper design (capture velocity, hood placement), commissioning, maintenance, and testing are crucial to meet LEV requirements.
For more on design and commissioning, Clean Air 24 Seven draws on the principles laid out in BOHS P602 / P604 and HSE’s HSG258.
Clean Air 24 Seven: Your LEV Compliance Partner
We don’t just sell extraction systems — we ensure they comply with all statutory LEV requirements. Here’s how:
BOHS-Qualified Engineers
All of our engineers are BOHS qualified, holding certifications in:
- P601 (Thorough Examination & Testing of LEV)
- P602 (Basic Design Principles of LEV)
- P603 (Control of Hazardous Substances – Personal Protective Equipment)
- P604 (Performance Evaluation, Commissioning & Management of LEV)
- W501 (Oil Mist Mist & Airborne Contaminants)
These qualifications ensure they are competent to design, test, commission, maintain, and troubleshoot LEV systems across industries. (We proudly mention this on our LEV Testing & Auditing page.)
End-to-End LEV Services
We support clients in all stages of LEV compliance:
Design & Commissioning – Ensure new or retrofitted systems meet the legal control requirements.
Routine Maintenance – Scheduled inspections, filter changes, calibration, logging.
Thorough Examination & Testing – Every 14 months (or more frequently if required).
Remedial Upgrades & Repairs – If a LEV system fails, we can recommend and implement improvements.
Reporting & Certification – We issue HSE-compliant reports, test labels, and certificates.
System Management & Auditing – For multi-site clients, we manage LEV compliance across your estate.
By partnering with us, you offload the burden of knowing all LEV requirements and ensure peace of mind that your systems truly protect your workforce.
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Best Practice Checklist for LEV Requirements
Use this checklist to audit whether your LEV meets current legal requirements — or where gaps may exist.
Design & Commissioning
• Was the system commissioned and documented to performance criteria?
• Are hood placements optimal?
• Is there a baseline or “benchmark” for performance for future testing?
Routine Maintenance
• Are daily/weekly inspections in place and logged?
• Are filters cleaned/replaced on schedule?
• Are tell-tales, alarms, or airflow indicators functional?
• Is ductwork clear and intact?
Thorough Examination & Test
• Has a competent person conducted in the past 14 months (or more frequently if needed)?
• Is the report retained for ≥ 5 years?
• Are all findings and remedial actions clearly documented?
Personnel & Competence
• Are your LEV testers/designers qualified (e.g. BOHS P601/P604)?
• Are staff trained to use and check their local extraction points?
• Do you have a duty holder / responsible person overseeing compliance?
Change Control
• After any change (process, tools, materials, or layout), re-assess whether your capture performance is still adequate.
• Where needed, re-commission or re-test.
Labelling & Visibility
• Use test labels or tags on hoods to show last test date or fail status (recommended by HSE).
• Display clear instructions or warnings to operators about non-functioning systems.
Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them
- Neglecting maintenance between statutory tests — Many systems drift out of spec before the formal test.
- Using unqualified testers — A flawed “test” can give a false sense of security.
- Poor design modifications — Adding bends or reducing duct diameter may reduce airflow below safe levels.
- Failing to re-test after modifications — Changes in process often require re-commissioning.
- Missing record-keeping — Records are legally required and vital in case of inspections or incidents.
- Ignoring sector-specific hazards — One size doesn’t fit all when dealing with chemical, solvent, or nanoparticle risks.
LEV Requirements FAQs
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What does LEV stand for?
LEV stands for Local Exhaust Ventilation. It is a system designed to capture and remove airborne contaminants such as dust, fumes, vapours, or gases at their source before they can be inhaled by workers or spread throughout the workplace.
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Why are LEV systems required?
LEV systems are required under UK health and safety law to control exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace. They are a key control measure under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002, helping employers reduce the risk of lung disease, asthma, and other occupational illnesses.
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What are the legal LEV requirements under COSHH Regulation 9?
COSHH Regulation 9 requires employers to ensure that all LEV systems are:
- Maintained in an efficient state, in good repair, and in proper working order
- Subjected to a thorough examination and test (TExT) by a competent person at least once every 14 months (or more frequently depending on the process)
- Recorded and documented, with all reports retained for at least five years
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How often should LEV systems be tested?
LEV systems must undergo a thorough examination and test at least once every 14 months. However, some processes — such as those producing toxic fumes, wood dust, or pharmaceutical dusts — may require more frequent testing depending on risk assessment outcomes.
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Who can carry out LEV testing?
LEV testing must be carried out by a competent person — someone with the necessary training, qualifications, and experience to evaluate system performance accurately.
At Clean Air 24 Seven, our engineers are BOHS qualified, holding certifications in:
- P601: Thorough Examination & Testing of LEV Systems
- P602: Design Principles of LEV Systems
- P603: Control of Hazardous Substances
- P604: Performance Evaluation and Management of LEV Systems
- W501: Measurement of Airborne Contaminants
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What does a “thorough examination and test” include?
A Thorough Examination includes:
- Measuring airflow and capture velocities
- Inspecting hoods, ducting, filters, and fans
- Checking system performance against the original design specifications
- Assessing wear, damage, or blockages
- Reviewing maintenance logs and operator checks
- Providing a full report detailing results, compliance, and any remedial actions required
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What happens if an LEV system fails its test?
If a system fails its LEV test, it must be repaired or upgraded immediately to restore compliance. The system should not be used to control hazardous substances until it is proven to perform effectively. Clean Air 24 Seven provides remedial work, re-testing, and certification to ensure compliance is reinstated.
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What are common signs that an LEV system is not working properly?
You should investigate your LEV system if you notice:
- Visible dust, smoke, or fume escaping from capture hoods
- Airflow indicators showing reduced performance
- Noisy fans or unusual vibrations
- Blocked filters or damaged ducting
- Operators complaining of odours or irritation Routine maintenance and monitoring can prevent these issues before they become compliance failures.
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Are LEV systems needed in all industries?
LEV systems are required wherever hazardous airborne contaminants are generated. Common sectors include:
- Welding and metal fabrication (fume extraction)
- Woodworking (dust extraction)
- Automotive workshops and spray booths (oil mist and exhaust fumes)
- Laboratories and chemical handling areas (vapour extraction)
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing (fine powder control)
If your process produces dust, fumes, or vapours, LEV is almost certainly required under COSHH.
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What makes an LEV engineer “competent”?
A competent LEV engineer must have:
- Appropriate training and qualifications (e.g. BOHS P601–P604)
- Practical experience with system design, commissioning, and testing
- The ability to interpret test results and recommend corrective actions
- Up-to-date knowledge of HSE guidance such as HSG258
Clean Air 24 Seven’s engineers meet all these criteria and more, ensuring your LEV systems are assessed to the highest professional standards.
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