COSHH 2002 · County coverage

LEV testing and certification in County Durham

Thorough examination, testing and certification of local exhaust ventilation by a P601 qualified engineer

Engineering and manufacturing sites across County Durham use extraction to draw dust, fume and mist away from the people working the process. COSHH makes that local exhaust ventilation the employer's responsibility, with a thorough examination and test required at least every 14 months.

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  • Independent & impartial
  • Competent engineer surveyors
  • County-wide coverage
What we cover

LEV testing and certification across County Durham

COSHH talks about control measures, and the HSE is clear those are more than just the hardware: extraction has to be backed by the way people work, by supervision and, where needed, by respiratory protection. The thorough examination concentrates on the engineering control, confirming the system still draws the contaminant away the way it was meant to.

To judge that we record how fast air is captured at each hood, the speed along the ducts and the state of the filters and fan, weighing them against the original design and HSG258. A system that looks the part can still be failing, which is why the verdict rests on measurement rather than appearance.

Why businesses choose SEIS

  • Independent and impartial: we examine, we do not sell or maintain the equipment
  • Competent engineer surveyors with real field experience
  • Clear reports issued promptly, with the next due date flagged
  • One item or a whole site, one town or the whole county
Towns we cover

LEV testing across County Durham

We provide LEV testing to businesses right across County Durham. Choose your town below for local detail, or call us and we will arrange a visit to suit your schedule.

LEV testing in DarlingtonView Darlington →
COSHH FAQs

LEV testing and certification: common questions

Do you provide LEV testing throughout County Durham?
Yes, we cover County Durham from end to end, for anything from one extraction unit to a full ducted system. Choose your nearest town below or call 0330 043 8191 to arrange a visit.
How quickly can you visit a site in County Durham?
We cover County Durham from end to end, normally on site within a few working days and sooner for an urgent re-test. Call 0330 043 8191 to arrange a visit.
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 County Durham?

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

0330 043 8191 Request a quote