What this is
What is a local exhaust ventilation examination?
What is a local exhaust ventilation examination?
It is a periodic thorough examination and test of a local exhaust ventilation system, the engineering control that captures a contaminant at the point it is generated. A competent examiner measures face velocity, duct velocity and static pressure, compares them against the system's design performance, and records whether it remains effective.
How is this different from general ventilation?
Local exhaust ventilation is a captured-extraction control positioned at the source of a specific contaminant, engineered to a design airflow. General ventilation moves and dilutes air across a space and is not aimed at a source. A general ventilation performance check is a different, lighter instrument answering a different question.
Who is a competent examiner?
Someone with the training, instrumentation and experience to measure airflow correctly and interpret the result against the system's design, usually not the person who operates the equipment day to day. Several jurisdictions expect this competence to be demonstrable, not asserted.
Scope
When is a local exhaust ventilation examination required?
This is the specific, measured examination for a captured local exhaust system, distinct from both general ventilation and the daily operator check that sits beneath it.
Use this template when
- A local exhaust system, hood, booth, downdraught bench or similar, is due its periodic thorough examination and test
- The system has undergone a design, ducting, hood or fan change that warrants re-examination before the next statutory date
- A previous examination or defect report needs a follow-up confirming the system was restored to specification
- The workspace is being set up for the Respiratory Protection programme and this record is one of its steps
- A linked record needs this one to exist, including exposure control and preventive maintenance plans
Do not use it for
- Ventilation Performance Check, the frequent, operator-level indicator check that sits between examinations
- Occupational Hygiene Programme Review, which assesses the whole hygiene programme rather than one system's measured performance
- General ventilation or air-conditioning performance, a whole-room dilution system rather than a captured-extraction control, examined against a different standard
- Anything outside KnowHealth, which belongs in the workspace that owns that process
Compliance mapping
Which ISO 45001 cl.8.1 requirements does this satisfy?
Where a captured local exhaust system is the control for a hazardous substance, several jurisdictions attach a specific, named periodic-examination duty to it, unusual for a control measure and reflecting how easily degraded extraction goes unnoticed.
| Clause | Requirement | Where it lands |
|---|---|---|
| COSHH 2002 reg.9(2) and Schedule 4 (GB) | Thorough examination and test of LEV at the statutory interval, fourteen months by default and shorter for named processes | Against design |
| ISO 45001 cl.9.1.1 | Monitoring and measurement of the performance of engineering controls | Against design |
| ISO 45001 cl.8.1.1 | Operational controls established, maintained and verified to remain effective | Condition |
| ISO 45001 cl.7.2 | Competence of persons carrying out work affecting OH&S performance, determined and evidenced | Header |
| ISO 45001 cl.6.1.2.1 | Human and organisational factors in how a control is actually used, not only its physical condition | Use in practice |
| ISO 45001 cl.10.2 | Nonconformity identified and corrective action initiated, assigned and closed | Outcome |
What it does not cover
- Ventilation Performance Check, the frequent operator-level gauge and visual check that runs between examinations and cannot substitute for the measured test.
- Occupational Hygiene Programme Review, which reviews the whole hygiene programme rather than one system's measured performance.
- The exposure or COSHH assessment that determined a local exhaust system was the required control and set the performance standard.
- Corrective maintenance itself, which belongs in the linked work order once a defect has been raised here.
- General ventilation assessment, which addresses whole-room air exchange and dilution rather than a captured, source-point extraction system.
Global
Local Exhaust Ventilation Examination requirements by country
This is one of the few control measures with a named, numbered statutory examination interval in some jurisdictions, sharply contrasting with jurisdictions that leave the method open.
COSHH 2002, regulation 9(2) and Schedule 4
Local exhaust ventilation must be thoroughly examined and tested at least once every fourteen months, with shorter intervals set for specified higher-risk processes.
This is a hard statutory clock, not recommended practice; missing the interval is itself a breach independent of whether the system happens to be performing adequately.
OSH Act General Duty Clause; ANSI/ASSP Z9.2 and substance-specific standards
No general federal standard sets a periodic examination interval for local exhaust systems; the obligation is inferred from maintaining a control a substance standard already requires.
ANSI/ASSP Z9.2 provides the technical basis examiners typically test against even though not itself mandatory; ad hoc inspection is weaker ground than a defined periodic test.
ISO 45001 cl.9.1.1
Monitoring and measurement of control performance is required as part of the management system, with interval and method set by the organisation.
Certification auditors expect a defined, risk-based interval and evidence of a competent examiner, even where no external statute names a number.
How to complete it
How to complete a local exhaust ventilation examination, step by step
Every field here can be filled in by someone who walked around the system rather than measured it, exactly the shortcut the record exists to prevent.
Face velocity, duct velocity and static pressure only mean something set against the figure the system was designed and commissioned to achieve. Comparing only with last year's reading can mask a system drifting downward across several examination cycles.
An undamaged hood, intact duct and running fan are necessary but not sufficient. Record both, because a system can be in good physical condition and still fail its performance test, and the two findings call for different responses.
A hood positioned wrong for the task, or operators who have learned to work faster than its intended cycle, defeats a correctly performing system just as thoroughly as a fouled duct. An examiner who only takes readings misses this category entirely.
A defect recorded here is a finding, not a repair. Route it to a corrective record with an owner, and confirm at the next examination the fix was made and held, rather than simply noting the defect again.
What auditors find
Most common local exhaust ventilation examination findings
Findings here fall into two groups: examinations that measured condition but not performance, and performance data with no baseline to judge it against.
| Finding | Clause | What fixes it |
|---|---|---|
| Face or duct velocity not measured; examination limited to visual condition. | ISO 45001 cl.9.1.1 | Measure face velocity, duct velocity and static pressure at every examination, not only at commissioning. |
| No design specification or commissioning data available to compare results against. | COSHH 2002 reg.9(2) | Recover or reconstruct the design specification; record the baseline against the system reference. |
| Examination carried out beyond the statutory interval. | COSHH 2002 reg.9(2) and Sch.4 | Schedule the next examination from the statutory interval, not from the date the last one happened to run. |
| Examiner competence not evidenced. | ISO 45001 cl.7.2 | Record the examiner's competence basis, not only their name, against the examination. |
| System performs to specification but hood position or operator practice defeats capture in actual use. | ISO 45001 cl.6.1.2.1 | Observe the task in progress as part of the examination, not only the static system. |
| Defect found with no work order raised, or a repeat defect from the previous examination. | ISO 45001 cl.10.2 | Link every defect to a work order when raised and verify closure before the next examination. |
Case in point
Case in point: the examination that measured the wrong thing
A metal finishing shop had its local exhaust system examined every fourteen months as required. Each report recorded the hood as undamaged, the fan as running, and the duct as free of visible blockage, signed off satisfactory. No face or duct velocity figures appeared in any of the three most recent reports, because the examiner was checking condition rather than testing performance.
An occupational hygiene survey commissioned after workers reported throat irritation measured face velocity at roughly half the original design figure. The duct had partially fouled with fine particulate over several years, a gradual process a condition check would never reveal and that only a velocity measurement against the design specification could have caught.
The template
The template, field by field
The form exactly as it installs. Every field, option, score and conditional rule is editable, and the links to other templates come with it.
5 sections
- Reference
- HLT-054
- Archetype
- Inspection
- Record ID
- LEV-2026-000
- Scoring
- Systems compliant
- Direction
- High is good
- Singleton
- Yes
- Basis
- ISO 45001 cl.8.1
- Links
- Links Exposure control, PM plans
- Tags
- Hygiene, LEV
- Sections
- 5
- Fields
- 50
- Follow up fields
- 3
- Repeating sections
- 0
- Links out
- 3
Header
13 fieldsExamination ID*
Auto sequence. Format LEV-2026-000.
The record's own ID. Other templates point at this value.
Status*
Drives who this goes to next.
- Planned2 pts
- In progress2 pts
- Complete3 pts
- Deferred0 pts
- Open0 pts
- Closed3 pts
- Overdue0 pts
Date and Time*
Completed By*
Site*
Site ID*
Format SITE-000.
Links to FDN-001 Site ID
System Reference*
System Type*
Previous Examination
Examiner*
Examiner Competent*
- Yes3 pts
- No0 pts
Within Statutory Interval*
- Yes3 pts
- Overdue0 pts
Extraction Nobody Has Measured
A hood that hums is not a hood that works. Airflow degrades as ducts foul and fans wear, and without measurement the decline is invisible until somebody gets ill.
Against design
6 fieldsDesign Performance Specification Available*
- Yes2 pts
- No0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Face Velocity Measured*
- Yes3 pts
- Partly1 pt
- No0 pts
Duct Velocity Measured*
- Yes3 pts
- Partly1 pt
- No0 pts
Static Pressure Measured*
- Yes3 pts
- Partly1 pt
- No0 pts
Results Compared With Commissioning Data*
- Yes3 pts
- Partly1 pt
- No0 pts
Performance Within Specification*
- Yes3 pts
- Partly1 pt
- No0 pts
Condition
6 fieldsHoods Undamaged And Correctly Positioned*
- Yes3 pts
- Partly1 pt
- No0 pts
Ducting Free Of Damage And Blockage*
- Yes3 pts
- Partly1 pt
- No0 pts
Filters Within Service Life*
- Yes3 pts
- Partly1 pt
- No0 pts
Fan Operating Correctly*
- Yes3 pts
- Partly1 pt
- No0 pts
Discharge Point Safe And Unobstructed*
- Yes3 pts
- Partly1 pt
- No0 pts
Make Up Air Adequate*
- Yes3 pts
- Partly1 pt
- No0 pts
Use in practice
6 fieldsHood Position Suits The Actual Task*
- Yes3 pts
- Partly1 pt
- No0 pts
Operators Using It Correctly*
- Yes3 pts
- Partly1 pt
- No0 pts
Gauge Or Indicator Fitted And Readable*
- Yes3 pts
- Partly1 pt
- No0 pts
Daily Check In Place*
- Yes2 pts
- No0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
System Switched On When Needed*
- Yes3 pts
- Partly1 pt
- No0 pts
Contaminant Actually Captured*
- Yes3 pts
- Partly1 pt
- No0 pts
Outcome
19 fieldsSystem Effective*
- Yes3 pts
- Partly1 pt
- No0 pts
Defects Found*
Immediate Action Required*
- No3 pts
- Yes0 pts
Report Issued*
- Yes3 pts
- Pending1 pt
- No0 pts
Work Order ID
Links to MNT-002 Work Order ID
Next Examination Due*
Items Assessed*
Excludes anything marked N/A.
Items Failed*
Score Percent*
Calculated on submission. High is good. N/A items leave the denominator.
Result Band*
- Pass3 pts
- Caution1 pt
- Fail0 pts
Completeness Percent*
How much of the template was actually answered. A high score on a half completed form is not a high score.
Action Required*
Raise the action record, then enter its reference here.
- No2 pts
- Yes0 pts
Priority
- High0 pts
- Medium1 pt
- Low3 pts
CAPA ID
Format CAPA-2026-00000.
Links to FDN-014 CAPA ID
Action Owner
Examiner*
Signature*
Engineering Manager*
Second Signature*
HLT-054 · record IDs look like LEV-2026-000 · Links Exposure control, PM plans
Open in KnowellaRun it with agents
From a document you fill in to a programme that runs itself
The examination itself is a specialist visit every fourteen months or so. What fails around it is the missing baseline, the defect that never became a work order, and the interval that quietly slips past its statutory date.
Holds the examination against the system register and linked exposure control plan, confirming every LEV system has a current, in-date examination on file.
Converts a logged defect into a work order with an owner, linking the repair back to this record so the next examination can verify it held.
Tracks the statutory examination interval per system against jurisdiction, and raises the next examination before the date, not after it.
Watches for examinations recorded without velocity or pressure figures, and flags them as incomplete before they are treated as a pass.
This template lives in KnowHealth — employee wellbeing. Exposure monitoring, health surveillance, case management and return to work.
Meet KnowHealth→Glossary
Local Exhaust Ventilation Examination definitions and key terms
- Face velocity
- The speed of air moving into the hood opening, measured directly in front of it, and the primary figure a design specification sets a minimum for.
- Duct velocity
- The speed of air through the ductwork, which must stay high enough to keep captured particulate airborne rather than settling and building up inside the duct.
- Static pressure
- The pressure differential across a point in the system, commonly a filter, used as an indirect indicator of airflow and of how loaded a filter has become.
- Thorough examination and test
- The statutory term, under COSHH, for the periodic measured inspection of a local exhaust system against its design performance, by a competent examiner.
- Local exhaust ventilation (LEV)
- An engineering control that captures a contaminant at or near the point it is generated, distinct from general or dilution ventilation acting across a whole space.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about local exhaust ventilation examination
What is the statutory interval for a thorough examination?+
Under COSHH in Great Britain, at least every fourteen months, with named higher-risk processes set shorter, six months or, for some blasting processes, one month. Most other jurisdictions have no general statutory interval, though ISO 45001 requires one be defined.
Can the daily performance check replace this examination?+
No. The daily check reads one indicator at operator level and cannot measure velocity or static pressure against a design specification. The two are complementary; clean daily checks say nothing about whether design performance is still achieved.
What counts as a competent examiner?+
Someone with the training, instrumentation and experience to take the airflow measurements and interpret them against the system's design, typically a specialist role distinct from the day-to-day operator, with their competence basis recorded, not assumed.
What if there is no design specification to compare against?+
The examination should still run and should record the missing baseline as a finding in its own right, since a measured result with nothing to compare it to cannot answer the question. Recovering the design figure is then an outstanding action.
Does a system that passes its measurements automatically pass the examination?+
No. Use in practice, hood position and correct operator use, is assessed separately, because a system measuring correctly at the duct can still fail to capture the contaminant if not positioned or used as intended.
How is a local exhaust system different from general ventilation for this purpose?+
Local exhaust ventilation captures a contaminant at its source, examined against a design airflow at the hood and duct. General ventilation dilutes air across a space and has no equivalent figure, so it is assessed by a different, lighter instrument.
Keep going
Related templates and programmes
Industries this is written for
Programmes this belongs to
Used together in Respiratory Protection
Respirator Fit Test Record
Records a fit test proving a respirator seals correctly on a specific worker
Respirator Medical Clearance
Confirms a worker is medically able to wear a respirator before fit testing
Respiratory Protection Program Plan
Sets out how respirators are selected, issued, maintained, stored and replaced
Respirator Inspection Record
Records inspection of respirators for damage, cartridge date and cleanliness
Ventilation Performance Check
Checks daily and weekly indicators on extraction hoods, including gauges, damper positions and visible capture
Safety Data Sheet Review
Checks each safety data sheet is current, complete and available to the people who use the product
More in Occupational Hygiene
Ventilation Performance Check
Checks daily and weekly indicators on extraction hoods, including gauges, damper positions and visible capture
Occupational Hygiene Programme Review
Reviews the whole hygiene programme, covering exposure groups, monitoring coverage, control performance and surveillance links
Written and reviewed by
Siddarth Singh
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Knowella
Certified Safety Professional and industrial and systems engineer with more than a decade inside food supply chain, freight and manufacturing operations. This page was written against the current text of the standards it cites, not against secondary summaries of them.
- Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Board of Certified Safety Professionals
- MBA, University of Chicago Booth School of Business
- MS and BS, The Ohio State University, Industrial and Systems Engineering
- Six Sigma Black Belt
Sources and last review. Reviewed 16 August 2026 against:
- COSHH 2002, regulation 9(2) and Schedule 4 (GB)
- ISO 45001:2018 clauses 8.1.1, 9.1.1, 7.2 and 10.2
- HSE HSG258, Controlling airborne contaminants at work
- ANSI/ASSP Z9.2, Fundamentals governing the design and operation of local exhaust ventilation systems
This page is general guidance, not legal advice. Confirm requirements with your jurisdiction’s regulator.