If you’re responsible for health and safety at work, LEV testing frequency isn’t just paperwork. It’s a legal duty that plays a direct role in protecting your people and keeping your business compliant.
A lot of companies assume that testing once a year covers them. In reality, the law sets clear inspection intervals, and those timelines must be followed to stay compliant and keep your workforce safe.
At DevineAir, we support businesses across the UK and Ireland with LEV Thorough Examination and Test services, system design, and ongoing maintenance support. We regularly help organisations review their testing schedules to ensure compliance with current legislation.
Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), employers must ensure that control measures are maintained in efficient working order and good repair.
Regulation 9 requires that LEV systems be thoroughly examined and tested at least once every 14 months, unless a shorter interval is specified.
For most workplaces, 14 months is the legal maximum interval between thorough examinations.
The 14-month interval is designed to prevent testing from falling into the same calendar month each year. This helps ensure examinations do not drift and provides flexibility for scheduling.
However, the important point is this: exceeding 14 months places you in breach of COSHH.
Many organisations mistakenly schedule testing “annually” without tracking the precise date. Over time, this can unintentionally push the interval beyond 14 months. Active management of your testing schedule is therefore essential.
While 14 months is the general rule, it does not apply universally. Your COSHH risk assessment may require shorter intervals depending on:
For example:
Testing frequency must reflect risk. If your risk assessment identifies elevated exposure potential, you must adjust accordingly.
A Thorough Examination and Test (TExT) is a detailed technical check to make sure your LEV system is still doing the job it was designed to do — controlling exposure properly and protecting your workforce.
It usually involves:
The aim isn’t just to see whether the system switches on. It’s to make sure it’s actually working effectively and keeping hazardous substances under control, in line with your COSHH risk assessment.
LEV Testing must be carried out by a professional team with appropriate training, technical knowledge, and practical experience.
No. A Thorough Examination and test confirm system performance at a specific point in time. It does not replace routine monitoring and maintenance.
Between statutory examinations, employers should:
If airflow gradually decreases or the ductwork becomes damaged, the exposure risk may increase well before the next scheduled examination. Ongoing management is essential to maintaining safe conditions.
Other companies offer LEV testing alone; however, you can also find those that provide maintenance contracts, airflow indicator installation, LEV logbooks, and system consultancy to help your businesses maintain performance between statutory tests.
If your LEV system exceeds the 14-month examination interval, you are in breach of COSHH.
During inspection, the Health and Safety Executive may issue:
Beyond regulatory consequences, delayed testing increases operational risk. Reduced airflow or system degradation may go unnoticed, potentially exposing employees to hazardous substances.
Timely examination protects both compliance and workforce health.
COSHH requires that records of LEV examination and testing be retained for at least five years.
Reports should clearly document:
These records must be available for inspection and demonstrate that your organisation is actively managing its legal duties.
LEV testing should never sit on its own. It works best when it’s part of your wider health and safety system, not a separate task you deal with every year and forget about.
That means linking it properly with:
When LEV examinations are properly built into your overall compliance system, they become more than a box-ticking exercise. They help you stay ahead of potential problems, protect your team day to day, and show that you’re managing risks properly, not just stepping in once something has already gone wrong.
LEV systems must be thoroughly examined and tested at least every 14 months under COSHH, unless risk justifies a shorter interval. That timeframe is a legal maximum, not a flexible target.
Effective compliance requires accurate scheduling, competent examination, proper documentation and ongoing maintenance.
If your LEV testing deadline is approaching or you need clarity on whether your current interval is appropriate, contact DevineAir today. Our team can support your LEV testing, maintenance, and wider compliance needs across the UK and Ireland, helping you maintain safe, legally compliant operations.
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