COSHH 2002 · LEV

Mobile LEV system testing and examination

Independent thorough examination and test of your mobile lev system as local exhaust ventilation, by a P601 qualified engineer.

A mobile extraction unit protects the person using it only if the arm is in the right place. Move it a hand span too far from the work and the airflow that looked fine on paper captures almost nothing. We test it where the work is done, and we check the filter it carries.

0330 043 8191 Request a quote

Independent and impartial
Competent engineer surveyors
Reports issued promptly

Position is everythingA unit captures only where the arm is placed

Onboard filterA self-contained filter, judged on class and condition

Not a vacuumUsed as LEV, it needs a thorough examination and test

Every 14 monthsThe COSHH maximum for most units

Extraction we test

Why your mobile lev system needs LEV testing

A mobile LEV unit is a self-contained extractor on wheels, with a flexible arm and an onboard filter, moved from job to job and used to control welding fume, dust or on-tool extraction at source. The moment it is used to control a hazardous substance it is local exhaust ventilation in the eyes of COSHH, not a workshop vacuum, and it carries the same duty to be thoroughly examined and tested.

What decides whether it protects anyone is where the operator puts the arm. The flexible hood only captures within a short reach, so a unit parked a little too far from the work does almost nothing even when the airflow at the hood reads well. The onboard filter matters just as much, since the wrong class or a tired filter either lets fine dust straight through or chokes the airflow, so the test measures capture at the actual working position and confirms the filter is right and sound.

Capture at the working position

Flexible arm reach and joints

Onboard filter class and condition

Self-cleaning or disposable filter

Hose and connection integrity

Fan performance and airflow

Airflow indicator or alarm

Logbook and previous readings

How it works

How we test your mobile lev system

We set the arm where the operator would put it for the work the unit does, then measure the capture at that point, because a mobile unit is only protecting anyone when the arm is in the right place. We check the onboard filter is the correct class and in good condition, examine the hose, arm joints and fan, and use a dust lamp to confirm the air is going where it should.

1
Position as used
We set the arm for the real task, not a convenient spot, so the test reflects working conditions.
2
Measure capture
We take the capture velocity at the working position and confirm the arm holds its place.
3
Check the filter
We confirm the onboard filter class and condition, examine the hose and fan, then label and report.

Why businesses choose SEIS

P601 qualified | Tested by an engineer qualified in LEV thorough examination and test.
Tested where it works | Capture measured at the working position, the only place a mobile unit protects anyone.
Filter class confirmed | The right class of filter in good condition, so the unit captures and does not leak.
Clear report | The readings, the verdict and any remedial work, written to act on.

What we test

Mobile LEV system: what a thorough examination and test covers

A healthy reading, no protection

A unit can pull a textbook airflow at the hood and control nothing, simply because the arm is parked too far from the work. With a mobile unit, position beats airflow every time.

The wrong filter looks identical

A filter of the wrong class fits the same housing and looks the same, while letting fine dust straight through. Confirming the class is part of the test, not an afterthought.

Self cleaning, or filling up

A reverse jet filter shakes itself clean and holds its airflow, a disposable one loads until it chokes. Each needs a different eye, and a different replacement plan.

Not a workshop vacuum

Used to control hazardous dust at source, a portable unit is local exhaust ventilation in law, not a cleaner, and it carries the same duty to be examined and tested.

Seeing beats reading on a mobile

Because everything depends on where the arm sits, a dust lamp that shows the cloud being drawn in tells you more than a single number ever could.

A split hose loses it all

A cracked or kinked hose bleeds away the airflow before it reaches the arm. On a unit that is moved and handled daily, the hose is one of the first things to fail.

Intervals and certification

How often, and what you receive

A mobile LEV unit used to control hazardous substances is thoroughly examined and tested at least every fourteen months, and sooner where the dust is carcinogenic or the unit is in heavy use. The test confirms the unit still captures at the working position and that its onboard filter is the right class and in good condition.

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

Mobile LEV system 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

Mobile LEV system testing: common questions

Does a portable unit really need LEV testing?

Yes, where it is used to control a hazardous substance at source. The HSE treats on-tool and portable extraction as local exhaust ventilation, set out in its guidance on local exhaust ventilation, so it needs a thorough examination and test.

Why does the position of the arm matter so much?

Because the hood only captures within a short reach. A unit parked too far from the work controls almost nothing even with a healthy airflow at the hood, so we test capture at the actual working position.

What about the filter?

It is central. The onboard filter has to be the right class and in good condition, since the wrong class lets fine dust straight through and a loaded one starves the airflow.

What is the difference between a self-cleaning and a disposable filter?

A self-cleaning filter pulses itself clear and holds its airflow, while a disposable one loads until it chokes. Each is judged differently and replaced on a different plan.

Is a mobile unit not just a vacuum?

Not when it controls hazardous dust at source. Used that way it is local exhaust ventilation in law, not a cleaner, and it carries the same duty to be examined and tested.

What do I receive after the test?

An LEV test report with the measured capture, the filter assessment and any remedial actions, plus a dated label. The duties behind it are in our guide to COSHH.

Do you check the hose?

Yes. A cracked or kinked hose bleeds away the airflow before it reaches the arm, and on a unit handled daily the hose is one of the first things to fail.

How do I book a mobile LEV system test?

Call us on 0330 043 8191 and we will arrange a visit, test the unit at the working position and have your report with you within a few days.

Is your mobile lev system due an LEV test?

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