COSHH FAQs
LEV testing and certification: common questions
Do you cover the whole of Derbyshire?
Yes, our P601 engineers work right across Derbyshire, from a single extractor to a full system, so select your nearest town below. Call 0330 043 8191 to arrange a thorough examination and test.
Do you cover the whole of Derbyshire at short notice?
We work across Derbyshire and can usually attend within a few working days, faster for a failed system. Call 0330 043 8191 to book a convenient slot.
How often does LEV need to be tested?
Under COSHH Regulation 9 every local exhaust ventilation system must have a thorough examination and test at least every 14 months, and that interval is a legal maximum rather than a target. Higher-risk processes in COSHH Schedule 4 are tested far more often, in some cases monthly or six-monthly; the HSE sets this out in its
guidance on LEV examination.
Is LEV testing a legal requirement?
Yes. The duty sits with the employer under COSHH Regulation 9, which requires extraction that controls a hazardous substance to be examined and tested by a competent person, and that responsibility stays with you even when the work is outsourced. You can read the duty in plain terms in our
COSHH regulations guide.
What does an LEV thorough examination and test involve?
It is a structured check that the system still controls the contaminant the way it was designed to, not a service or a filter swap. We measure airflow and capture velocity at each hood, check duct velocities, filters and fan condition, and compare every reading against the design data and the HSG258 benchmarks.
Who is qualified to carry out LEV testing?
The HSE expects a competent person, which it links to BOHS-recognised training such as the P601 qualification. Our engineer surveyors hold P601 and report to the HSG258 standard, so the examination stands up to scrutiny.
What is in the LEV report, and how long must I keep it?
You receive the measured airflow and capture data, a pass or fail verdict at each test point, photographs, any remedial actions and the next due date, and it is this report an inspector asks to see rather than a service record. COSHH requires the records to be kept for at least five years, so we log every result against your system.
What happens if my LEV system fails the test?
The report sets out exactly why, for example low airflow, a worn fan or a badly positioned hood, and the remedial work needed to bring it back into adequate control. Once the work is done we can return to re-test and confirm the system is protecting people again.
Due an LEV test or certificate in Derbyshire?
Talk to an engineer surveyor, get a quote and book your inspection anywhere in Derbyshire.
