Laboratories and research facilities often work with substances that can affect workplace air quality without people immediately noticing the risk. Chemical vapours, fumes, fine powders, and airborne particles are common in many laboratory and R&D environments.
That is why LEV testing for laboratories and R&D facilities is so important. Local Exhaust Ventilation systems help remove harmful contaminants before they spread throughout the workspace or are inhaled by employees.
According to HSE guidance on Local Exhaust Ventilation, employers are responsible for making sure workplace exposure risks are properly controlled under COSHH regulations. Regular LEV testing helps laboratories verify that extraction systems are still functioning as they should, supports safer day-to-day working conditions, and reduces exposure risks for employees in research and testing environments.
LEV testing for laboratories and R&D facilities involves verifying that Local Exhaust Ventilation systems continue to effectively control airborne contaminants such as chemical vapours, powders, fumes, and fine particles. In many laboratory environments, these contaminants are part of everyday work, so it is important to ensure that extraction systems continue to perform properly over time.
Regular testing helps laboratories maintain safer working conditions, support COSHH compliance, and identify problems early, before they affect workplace air quality or employee exposure in busy research and testing environments.
LEV testing is the process of inspecting and assessing Local Exhaust Ventilation systems to confirm that they effectively remove airborne contaminants from laboratory and research environments.
In laboratories and R&D facilities, airborne contaminants are often generated during routine daily activities without employees fully realising how much exposure may be accumulating over time. Even in controlled environments, air quality issues can arise if extraction systems are not functioning properly.
LEV systems may be used to control:
Testing helps determine whether the system is still capturing contaminants effectively before they spread through the laboratory or enter employees' breathing zones.
During a Thorough Examination and Test, engineers may assess:
Under COSHH regulations, many LEV systems require regular testing to ensure they continue providing effective protection for workers.
Many laboratory contaminants are not always visible in the air, which means problems with workplace exposure can go unnoticed for long periods. In busy laboratory environments, staff may become accustomed to certain smells, vapours, or processes without realising that extraction performance has gradually declined.
For example:
Without effective extraction, these contaminants can remain suspended in the air around nearby employees.
Over time, working around these contaminants every day can affect people more than they realise, especially in laboratories where chemicals, powders, or fumes are handled for long periods. Depending on the substances involved, employees may begin to experience symptoms such as respiratory irritation, headaches, skin irritation, or general discomfort during normal day-to-day work.
According to HSE COSHH guidance, employers are responsible for controlling exposure to hazardous substances and ensuring suitable safety measures are in place in the workplace. LEV systems help support this by capturing harmful vapours, fumes, and airborne particles as close to the source as possible before they spread through the laboratory or into surrounding work areas.
Laboratory LEV systems are designed to remove contaminated air from specific work areas before employees are exposed to it. The goal is to capture airborne contaminants as close to the source as possible so they do not spread throughout the room or affect surrounding workstations.
A typical system may include:
This captures contaminants near the source of the work.
Examples include:
Contaminated air travels through ducting toward filtration or discharge systems. If ductwork becomes damaged or develops leaks, extraction performance may be reduced significantly.
Filters may remove harmful particles or contaminants before air is released or recirculated back into the environment.
The fan creates airflow that pulls contaminants away from the workspace and through the ventilation system.
If any part of the system becomes blocked, poorly maintained, or damaged, the effectiveness of the entire system can quickly be reduced.
Even well-maintained laboratories can experience ventilation issues over time, especially in facilities where extraction systems operate continuously throughout the working week.
Common problems include:
Weak airflow may prevent contaminants from being captured properly at the source. Employees may not notice the issue immediately if the system still appears to be operating normally.
Filters can gradually become less effective depending on the type of substances being extracted and how frequently the system is used.
Leaks or damaged sections in the ducting may allow contaminated air to reenter the laboratory environment.
If the extraction equipment is positioned incorrectly, contaminants may spread into the surrounding workspace before they are captured.
Some systems continue operating for years without anyone checking whether they are still performing effectively. Because many contaminants are invisible, problems are not always obvious during normal laboratory activities.
Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH), employers have a legal responsibility to control exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace.
For laboratories and R&D facilities, this includes maintaining effective ventilation and extraction systems to reduce employee exposure risks.
Employers are expected to:
According to HSE guidance, LEV systems should be maintained in efficient working order and thoroughly examined by competent professionals at suitable intervals.
Regular testing not only helps businesses maintain compliance but also confirms that employees are working in a safer, properly controlled environment.
LEV testing is not simply about producing paperwork for inspections or audits. It helps laboratories understand whether their extraction systems are effectively controlling airborne contaminants in day-to-day working environments.
In many laboratories, problems with airflow or contaminant capture are not immediately obvious. A system may still appear to be functioning normally while its extraction performance has already been reduced significantly.
During LEV testing, engineers may assess:
These checks help laboratories identify hidden problems early, before they begin to affect workplace air quality, employee exposure, or laboratory operations.
Professional LEV testing also provides important documentation that may be required during inspections, audits, or compliance reviews.
Many laboratories combine LEV testing with wider workplace assessments, such as:
Looking at these areas together can help employers build a clearer understanding of overall workplace exposure risks across laboratory environments.
Many laboratory LEV systems require Thorough Examination and Test procedures at least every 14 months under COSHH guidance.
However, some laboratories may require more frequent inspections depending on:
Laboratories should also review systems if employees notice:
Small ventilation issues can gradually become larger workplace safety concerns if they are left unresolved for long periods.
LEV testing for laboratories and R&D facilities plays an important role in helping employers maintain safer working environments and properly control airborne contaminants. In many laboratory settings, exposure risks are not always visible, which makes effective extraction and regular testing especially important.
Regular LEV testing helps laboratories confirm that ventilation systems are still functioning properly, supports COSHH compliance, and identifies issues before they affect employee safety or laboratory operations.
For laboratories, research facilities, and technical environments where airborne contaminants are part of everyday work, regularly reviewing extraction systems can help ensure cleaner air, safer working conditions, and more reliable long-term performance.
If your laboratory or R&D facility uses Local Exhaust Ventilation systems, it may be worth reviewing when they were last tested and whether they are still performing effectively for your working environment.
To learn more about LEV testing, workplace air quality, or ventilation assessments for laboratories and R&D facilities, businesses can contact DevineAir for further guidance and support.
LEV testing involves verifying that Local Exhaust Ventilation systems effectively remove airborne contaminants, such as chemical vapours, fumes, and powders, from laboratory environments.
Under COSHH regulations, many LEV systems require regular Thorough Examination and Test procedures to confirm they remain effective and safe.
Equipment such as fume cupboards, extraction arms, containment booths, and certain biological safety cabinets may require regular LEV testing.
Many systems require testing at least every 14 months, although some laboratories may need more frequent examinations depending on the substances and processes involved.
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