Local exhaust ventilation systems operate in buildings wherever there is a potential health risk involved, either to the user or other people.
LEVs use a combination of hoods, ducting and filters to remove a contaminant or pollutant from the room’s atmosphere. It can then either be discharged or recirculated back into the room.
Tecomak has all the expertise needed to deal with all aspects of an LEV system service, including examination, testing and maintenance, whether the system is located in a school, college, workshop or lab.
Healthcare Services
In a hospital environment, it is vital that any LEV is working efficiently, because of the risks involved in dealing with potentially harmful contaminants and their closeness to staff as patients.
We offer a thorough LEV testing regime for isolation wards and rooms, mortuaries and containment laboratories, plus individual products like fume cupboards and microbiological safety cabinets.
The specific tests we carry out vary. For fume cupboards, for instance, we will take face velocity measurements and perform containment tests to make sure the harmful material is being removed effectively and safely. In containment laboratories, we check any ceiling and wall filters.
We can carry out your LEV system test on a one-off or regular basis. If we find anything wrong with it we will normally carry out any maintenance on the spot. It will make sure you meet all the regulations of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, and the laws set down by the Health and Safety Executive in its guidance document HSG258.
Educational Services
Tecomak’s LEV services in schools, colleges and universities broadly cover two main areas, design and technology departments and science labs.
Our work in CDT departments means we are expert in testing wood dust extraction systems, particularly for workshops, and hotworks extraction systems, where the LEV is likely to consist of a canopy or extraction arm which removes the contaminants created by forges and brazing hearths. We can also test portable extractors, such as those fume systems used by welding students.
For pupils using high-tech equipment, our extraction systems will remove smoke and dust created by laser cutting. We also test and examine kiln extraction systems, which can remove the unwanted pollutants created by kilns used in pottery classes.
Similar systems are used in industry and we have a number of commercial clients.
Our expertise also covers specialist systems in science labs. Many chemistry departments will have fume cupboards or biological safety cabinets which need to be subjected to a rigorous testing programme.
Meeting Health and Safety Requirements
Tecomak is fully compliant with all the relevant law set down by the Health and Safety Executive in the guidance document HSG 258. This means we can advise you on the intervals at which your LEV system service should be carried out.
We will also carry out a visual examination to make sure it is in a clean condition and in a good state of repair. We will then measure the LEV’s technical performance to make sure it is in good working order in line with the manufacturers’ specifications and assess whether your LEV is offering safe levels of protection.
We can inspect and maintain all makes of LEV system, so if there is a problem we should be able any remedial work necessary, including fitting any replacement parts, on the spot.
Tecomak carries out LEV testing and maintenance at educational and healthcare establishments across the UK. Our engineers are all professionally qualified, in line with the British Occupational Hygiene Society’s requirements, with at least five years’ experience.
We keep meticulous records, maintaining them over periods of up to 10 years, and can issue reminders so you know exactly when the next service is due. We offer fixed-price contracts and buy our equipment in bulk, to keep our prices competitive. Click here to find out more about our LEV maintenance services.
