COSHH 2002 · LEV

Welding fume hood testing and examination

Independent thorough examination and test of your welding fume hood as local exhaust ventilation, by a P601 qualified engineer.

Since welding fume was reclassified as a carcinogen, every indoor welder needs extraction that actually reaches the arc. A capture hood only works within about its own diameter of the weld, so we measure the capture velocity where the fume is made, not where the fan is.

0330 043 8191 Request a quote
  • Independent and impartial
  • Competent engineer surveyors
  • Reports issued promptly
CarcinogenAll welding fume, mild steel included, since 2019
Capture distanceA hood works within about one diameter of the arc
Measured at the arcCapture velocity taken at the weld, not the fan
Indoor weldingGeneral ventilation no longer counts as control
Extraction we test

Why your welding fume hood needs LEV testing

In 2019 the Health and Safety Executive reclassified all welding fume, including mild steel, as a human carcinogen, after evidence linked it to lung and kidney cancer. Mild steel fume also carries manganese, which can cause nerve damage. General ventilation is no longer accepted as control for any indoor welding, whatever the duration, so the expected control is local exhaust ventilation, which COSHH requires to be thoroughly examined and tested.

What makes a welding hood awkward is reach. A capture hood only pulls effectively within roughly one hood diameter of the arc, so an extraction arm left a hand span too far away is doing almost nothing, however well the fan is running. The welder has to move the hood as the weld progresses, which is why the test measures capture velocity at the actual weld position and considers whether the hood can realistically be kept where it needs to be.

Capture velocity at the weld
Hood reach and capture distance
Extraction arm joints and damper
Flexible arm positioning in use
Filter or cartridge condition
Ductwork and fan performance
Spark arrestance where fitted
Logbook and previous readings
How it works

How we test your welding fume hood

We position the hood as a welder would for the work it does, then measure the capture velocity at the point where the arc sits, so the reading reflects the protection the welder actually gets. We check the arm holds its position, examine the filter, ductwork and fan, and note where on-gun extraction or a bench might control the fume better than a hood that has to be chased around a seam.

  • 1

    Position as welded

    We set the arm and hood for the real task, not a convenient spot, so the test reflects working conditions.

  • 2

    Measure capture at the arc

    We take capture velocity at the weld position and check the arm stays where it is put.

  • 3

    Examine and advise

    We examine the filter, ductwork and fan, then report the result with any change that would control the fume better.

Why businesses choose SEIS

  • P601 qualified | An engineer qualified in LEV thorough examination and test, not a general service visit.
  • Capture where it counts | Velocity measured at the arc, the only place that tells you the welder is protected.
  • Honest about reach | If a hood cannot realistically be kept in position, we say so and suggest a control that can.
  • Clear report | The readings, the verdict and any remedial work, written so an inspector or insurer can follow it.
What we test

Welding fume hood: what a thorough examination and test covers

The hand span that matters

A flexible arm parked just outside its capture distance reads as installed but controls almost nothing. The fix is rarely a bigger fan, it is keeping the hood close to the arc.

Mild steel is not exempt

The 2019 change swept up mild steel along with stainless and galvanised. Welding it indoors without effective extraction is the exact situation the HSE now acts on.

Long seams beat a single hood

A welder cannot run a long seam and reposition the arm at the same time. Where that is the work, on-gun extraction or a downdraught bench often controls the fume a fixed hood cannot.

Capture velocity, not face velocity

A welding hood is judged on the velocity it pulls at the arc, a tougher and more honest measure than the face velocity quoted for an enclosure. The reading at the arc can sit well below what the same fan shows at the hood mouth, which is exactly why the arc is the test point.

Manganese in the mix

Mild steel fume carries manganese, linked to nerve damage as well as cancer, which is why even short, occasional welding indoors is expected to be controlled.

RPE backs it up, never replaces it

Where the hood cannot fully control exposure, suitable respiratory protection supplements it. It does not turn an inadequate hood into an adequate one.

Intervals and certification

How often, and what you receive

Welding is one of the processes the Health and Safety Executive watches closely, so a welding fume hood is thoroughly examined and tested at least every fourteen months, and sooner where use is heavy or a risk assessment calls for it. The test confirms the hood still captures fume at the arc, against the performance it was set up to give.

14 monthsThe usual maximum interval for a thorough examination and test
MeasuredAirflow and capture tested at every hood, not just the fan
P601Examined by an engineer qualified in LEV testing
ReportedMeasured data and any remedial actions, in writing

You receive an LEV test report with the measured performance and any remedial actions, the record COSHH requires.

Full statutory cover

Part of our full COSHH inspection service

Welding fume hood is one of the many kinds of equipment we cover. We inspect the full range, across every sector, as an independent provider, one item or a whole site, anywhere in the UK.

See our full COSHH inspection service
Other services

Other statutory inspections we carry out

Many sites run more than one regime. We can examine all of it, under one independent provider.

LOLER inspectionThorough examination and certification of lifting equipment and accessories. PUWER inspectionInspection of work equipment against the five PUWER duties, with a written record. PSSR examinationWritten Schemes and certified examination of pressure systems.
COSHH FAQs

Welding fume hood testing: common questions

Does mild steel welding really need extraction?
Yes. Since 2019 all welding fume, mild steel included, is treated as a human carcinogen, and general ventilation is no longer accepted for any indoor welding. The HSE explains the expected controls in its guidance on local exhaust ventilation.
How close does the hood need to be to the weld?
Close. A capture hood works effectively only within about one hood diameter of the arc, so an arm a hand span too far away controls very little. We measure capture velocity at the actual weld position.
How often is a welding fume hood tested?
At least every fourteen months under COSHH Regulation 9, and sooner where welding is heavy or a risk assessment calls for it.
I weld long seams and cannot keep moving the arm. What then?
A fixed hood struggles on long seams. On-gun extraction at the torch, or a downdraught bench, often controls the fume far better, and we will say so where it applies.
Do I still need respiratory protection?
Where the hood cannot fully control exposure, suitable respiratory protection supplements it. Where it is needed it should give an assigned protection factor of at least twenty, and an air fed welding helmet is a common choice. It backs up the extraction, it does not replace an adequate hood.
What exactly do you measure?
The capture velocity at the arc, the condition of the arm, filter, ductwork and fan, and whether the hood can realistically be kept in position for the work.
What do I receive after the test?
An LEV test report with the measured capture, the verdict and any remedial actions, plus a dated label. You can read the duties behind it in our guide to COSHH.
How do I book a welding fume hood test?
Call us on 0330 043 8191 and we will arrange a visit, test the hood at the arc and have your report with you within a few days.

Is your welding fume hood due an LEV test?

Talk to an engineer surveyor, get a quote and book your inspection anywhere in the UK.

0330 043 8191 Request a quote