COSHH 2002 · Tyne and Wear

LEV testing and certification in Newcastle

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

Newcastle's manufacturers, workshops and process sites use local exhaust ventilation to control the dust, fume and vapour they generate. COSHH requires it to be examined and tested at least every 14 months, an interval that is a legal ceiling rather than a target.

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  • Independent & impartial
  • Competent engineer surveyors
  • Reports issued promptly

Extraction we test

Newcastle, Tyne and Wear

  • Welding & soldering fume
  • Wood, MDF & fine dust
  • Fume cupboards & cabinets
  • On-tool & capture hoods
  • Spray booths & paint lines
  • Grinding, polishing & mist
Extraction we test

LEV testing and certification for Newcastle businesses

Fourteen months is the maximum the law allows between examinations, and higher-risk processes in COSHH Schedule 4 and HSG258 need testing far more often. Whatever the interval, the test itself is the same: capture velocity at the hood, airflow and duct velocities, filter and fan condition, all measured against the design and HSG258.

That covers the full spread of extraction, from welding fume and dust systems to fume cupboards, mist control and solvent vapour. The point is always whether the contaminant is captured at source, because that is what keeps people's exposure under control.

How it works

Booking your LEV test in Newcastle

On the visit we record each extraction point, take readings throughout the system, and check it from hood to discharge. You get a written report with a clear verdict at every point, photographs, any remedial actions and the date your next test is due.

  • 1

    Get in touch

    Tell us about the extraction on your Newcastle site.

  • 2

    Examination and test

    We measure airflow and capture performance at each hood.

  • 3

    Your report

    You receive a report with measured data and remedial actions.

Why businesses choose SEIS

  • Independent and impartial: we examine, we do not sell the equipment
  • Competent engineer surveyors
  • Clear reports issued without delay
  • Single items or whole sites
Areas we cover

LEV testing and certification across Newcastle and nearby

Our engineer surveyors cover Newcastle and the towns around it across Tyne and Wear. If your site is nearby, we can almost certainly reach you, so just ask.

NewcastleGatesheadSunderlandWallsendSouth Shields
Other inspections in Newcastle

Related compliance for Newcastle businesses

Many sites need more than one statutory regime. If you use lifting gear, pressure systems, work equipment or extraction in Newcastle, we can examine all of it.

LOLER lifting equipment in NewcastleView this service PUWER work equipment in NewcastleView this service PSSR pressure systems in NewcastleView this service
COSHH FAQs

LEV testing and certification: common questions

Do you provide LEV testing in Newcastle?
Yes, our P601 engineers cover Newcastle and the surrounding Tyne and Wear area, for single units or full systems. Call 0330 043 8191 and we will arrange a visit to suit your schedule.
Can you test LEV near Newcastle?
Yes, our engineer surveyors cover Newcastle and the rest of Tyne and Wear, and we can usually attend within a few working days. Call 0330 043 8191 to arrange a convenient time.
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 Newcastle?

Talk to an engineer surveyor, get a quote and book your inspection in Newcastle.

0330 043 8191 Request a quote