LEV System Design Consultancy

Full LEV design consultation packages are available from concept through to final finished design and specification including 2D and 3D modelling, to enable you to competitively tender your project.

LEV Systems Designed for Compliance and Employee Safety

Designing systems compliant with COSHH regulations and HSG258 guidance since 2002
LEV is an essential preventative measure regulated by COSHH 2002
The effective design is a joint responsibility between the LEV owner, LEV Supplier, and LEV Service Provider
Well-designed LEV systems provide a clean, safe working environment for your employees
We offer a comprehensive 5-step design service to create a solution that meets your needs and aligns with HSG258 standard

By understanding your processes and the materials your operators work with, our highly-skilled and experienced project engineers will work with you for the duration of the project.

We design LEV solutions that are fit for purpose, meet HSE regulations, and effectively protect people in your working environment, which in turn increases productivity and staff retention.

LEV Design Regulations

Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) is regulated by HSE through a selection of publications, primarily:

HSE’s HSG258 guidance
COSHH Regulations 2002 (as amended)
DSEAR Regulations (2002)

These regulations provide guidance to ensure LEV systems remain compliant with EH40/2005 Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs) to protect employees from exposure to harmful levels of airborne contaminants.

McCarthy Environmental engineers are qualified by BOHS and utilise these HSE regulations through every step in the process to design and implement systems that keep your workforce safe.

“LEV suppliers provide goods (an LEV system) and may then act as a service provider. Designers are responsible for interpreting the requirements of the employer and advising on an effective LEV system which is capable of delivering the required control”

— HSG258 (2011) 2.18

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Finding the Right LEV Solution for your Extraction Needs

At McCarthy Environmental, we have a dedicated Projects & Design department with a competent team capable of fulfilling design requirements for a variety of project types such as designing central systems or single extraction solutions.

Our BOHS qualified staff have over 60 years of combined experience working with large-value projects, high-profile customers in various sectors including Formula 1, Education, Aerospace, Automotive, and Composites, providing a value-added partnership.

Step 1: Site Survey

Our BOHS qualified designers visit your site to understand your extraction requirements, your production materials and processes, and the available layout of your production space.

Step 2: Benchmarking

We consult the relevant HSE regulations and guidelines to determine what type of LEV capture hood is the most suitable for your processes and materials. This determines the exposure benchmark.

Step 3: Technical Drawings

We create 2D and 3D drawings to scale, mapping out the route of the LEV, finding the most efficient path through your building.

Step 4: Extraction Calculations

We calculate the exact extraction power needed to run the LEV system efficiently, choosing a suitable air mover solution from our range of quality suppliers.

Step 5: Proposed Solution

Once the extraction hoods, ductwork and air movers have been determined, we can provide a quote for your ideal LEV solution that will ensure your extraction is HSE compliant and keep your workforce safe from airborne contaminants.

Why Choose McCarthy Environmental

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Partnered with a variety of trusted suppliers

Frequently Asked Questions

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What regulations are there for LEV?

There are a number of publications with influence LEV design:

HSE’s HSG258 guidance
CoSHH Regulations 2002 (as amended)
EH40/2005 – Workplace Exposure Limits
EH44 – Dust in the workplace
DSEAR 2002 – Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations

What calculations determine the most suitable extraction solution?

From HSG258, we can determine the recommended face velocities and capture velocities (the speed of air at the point where the substance is being extracted). This tells us, depending on the size of the hood, what volume of air needs to be pulled through.

Duct velocities are also recommended in HSG258. The contaminant will determine what speed is needed. For example, heavy dusts need to be pulled through ductwork at a high speed to avoid deposits dropping out (collecting within the ductwork). On the other hand, fumes and gases have a lower recommended duct velocity, and therefore will not require such a powerful air mover.

Any additional bends or extensions to the ductwork will affect the required air velocity, which will be considered in your proposed solution.

Additional calculations include air density, to adjust for air temperature, and maximum vapour concentration of a liquid.