Why commissioning and verifying your LEV system is worth the investment

When organisations invest in local exhaust ventilation (LEV) systems, it’s because they know the importance of controlling airborne contaminants and want to protect the health of their workforce. Welding fumes, wood dust, vapours, lab emissions - they’re all things you don’t want drifting around a workspace. 

So, the system gets installed, and from that point on, it’s easy to assume the problem has been solved. But ventilation systems have moving parts, which means they’re always going to be prone to decline. Unless you have something to measure against, it’s impossible to track any change in performance.

That’s why we offer LEV commissioning and periodic verification. To give you a clear picture of how your system performs when it’s working properly, and whether it stays that way.

LEV commissioning sets the benchmark for system performance

After a ventilation system is first installed or significant changes are made, it should be working at its best. Airflows should be balanced, and the system operating as designed. That’s valuable data you’ll want to capture. 

By measuring airflow, capture performance, and how the system behaves under normal working conditions, you establish a benchmark. In other words, you record what “good” looks like for that particular setup.

Later on, if performance starts to dip, you have something concrete to compare against.

Without that reference point, test results become much harder to interpret. Numbers might tell you how the system is performing today, but not whether that represents a change.

LEV verification confirms your system is still performing

Even well-designed systems will change over time. Filters start to load. Ducting develops small leaks. Airflow drops a little. None of these results signal an obvious failure. The fan still runs, the system still pulls air, and from an observer's point of view, everything appears to be working as it should. But the reality is that your team can’t really know if the system is doing its job or not. 

LEV testing and verification lets you check those assumptions. When we carry out LEV testing we look at how the system performs within the conditions it ordinarily operates in. We’ll look at airflow, capture performance, and how the extraction is being used during normal work. We can also include exposure monitoring to better understand how well contaminants are being controlled.

The result is a report evidencing how your system is functioning, along with recommendations on improving its performance. Peace of mind and proof of process. 

Why LEV commissioning and verification work together

Ultimately, LEV systems are installed for one reason, to control exposure to contaminants. Commissioning gives you a clear picture of how that system performs when everything is working as intended. Verification ensures it continues to do that job as conditions change.

One without the other only tells part of the picture, and means you’re making decisions blind. And the results aren’t always about uncovering problems; sometimes, it’s opportunities. For example, your data may show that your controls are performing better than expected. In those situations, organisations may be able to review aspects of their respiratory protection plan and adjust requirements, where appropriate.

At Air Matters, we tell our clients that the best time to get your LEV commissioned is straight after installation - the next best time is now. Book an appointment with our team to arrange LEV testing or commissioning, and let’s bring some clarity into your air quality management.