What is Local Exhaust Ventilation?

Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) systems are ventilation systems designed specifically to take dusts, mists, gases, vapours and fumes out of the air before they can reach a persons breathing zone. A correctly designed system will:

• Collect the contaminated air
• Take the collected air away from people
• Clean the air, if needed, and get rid of the contaminant safely

What Makes up an LEV System?
Hoods - to capture airborne contaminants locally at the source of fume, dust etc... (whether this is a moveable or fixed hood or whether contained within a fume cabinet)
Fan, motor & ducting - to move the contaminant into the hood and through the ductwork which will carry the airborne contamination, to exhaust and disburse, or to a filter system to clean satisfactorily.
Filter system / air cleaner - to filter out the contamination and exhaust the clean air (will be present for recirculating systems and may also be present in a fixed system where specific contaminants require removing from the duct prior to being emitted to the environment).
Discharge / exhaust - safe release of air into atmosphere (will be present for fixed systems).

Further information relating to LEV is contained on the main University Health, Safety & Wellbeing webpages.

What do I do if I need an LEV System in Engineering?

If your risk assessment determines a need for a local exhaust ventilation system to remove the contaminants you intend to work with from the work environment it is essential that you consult with the School's Facility Manager, adrian dot seymour at warwick dot ac dot uk in the first instance. Systems such as this require specialist design by a competent person to ensure that they will work effectively and they need to be integrated into the examination and testing regime which is statutorily required under COSHH.

Further guidance on the main University webpages

HSE Guidance