A Comprehensive Guide to Local Exhaust Ventilation
Learn how local exhaust ventilation works, its benefits and risks, and safety considerations when operating and maintaining them.
Maintenance
10 Manufacturing industry challenges
Learn how local exhaust ventilation works, its benefits and risks, and safety considerations when operating and maintaining them.
Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) is an engineering control system used to capture and remove airborne contaminants at their source before they can spread throughout the site. It’s an essential part of workplace health and safety programs, as it aims to protect workers from exposure to hazardous dust, mist, vapor, and fumes. LEV systems are used in various industries, such as manufacturing, construction, and healthcare.
LEV systems offer numerous advantages. First, they improve indoor air quality by collecting, containing, and filtering harmful particulates at the place where they are emitted. This ventilation system is also instrumental in limiting exposure to hazardous substances (e.g., silica dust, nanomaterials), minimizing safety risks, and improving work environments for employees in high-risk settings (e.g., welding).
Moreover, a well-maintained LEV system allows for sufficient ventilation in a building. This measure helps decrease the risk of spreading airborne infections and avoid health hazards associated with poor air quality, such as:
Headaches
Dizziness
Eye, nose, and throat irritation
Asthma
Legionnaires’ disease (from the Legionella bacterium)
Other respiratory illnesses
Heart disease
Cancer (from exposure to Radon and other carcinogens)
A local exhaust ventilation system operates in a similar fashion to a household vacuum cleaner. It follows the following process:
The hood collects dust, fume, vapor, and other contaminants at its emission point.
The duct system sucks in the contaminated air and transports it inside the system.
The filters attached to the LEV system clean the contained air before release.
The fan pushes the air inside the LEV until it reaches the exhaust stack.
Through the exhaust valve, the air gets pushed out of the system and into a safe place.
An LEV system typically consists of the following elements:
Components of an LEV system
The hood, also called the inlet or closure, serves as the entry point for contaminated air in the LEV system. It takes a reverse funnel-like shape that gathers harmful particles straight from where it originates. This part comes in the following types, which usage will depend on the work to be performed and the substance to be collected:
Enclosing – captures hazardous fumes and particles in enclosed spaces (e.g., glove boxes, spray booths)
Capturing – utilizes airflow around the emission point to draw in contaminants outside the hood (e.g., fixed, moveable, on-tool)
After getting pulled in by the hood, contaminants pass through a hollow-shaped channel called the duct system. This channel facilitates a seamless flow of air through the LEV system until it arrives at the exit. Ideally, it should have no sharp corners and be easily accessible for cleaning and maintenance.
Located in the interior of the LEV system, the air filter traps hazardous particles to clear out any impurities in the extracted air before it goes out of the system. While it adds a protective layer, it’s not a requirement, as some systems can work without the cleaning function.
For optimal performance, it’s best to choose a filter that works best against the contaminants you’re working with.
Considered a power source of the extraction process, the fan pushes the air from the ducts to the exhaust stack. By creating a negative pressure in the system, it ensures that hazardous substances are not released into the environment.
The exhaust stack discharges air outside the LEV system. Also called an air discharge outlet, this valve is typically placed on the roof or outer wall of the building, away from air conditioning units and public spaces, to release extracted air in a safe manner.
For an LEV system to work at its optimal state, it must be installed correctly and maintained regularly. Here are some things to keep in mind when performing these processes:
Installing a local exhaust ventilation system is a complex process that requires the expertise of a competent and qualified professional. Proper installation is vital to ensure that the LEV system is effective in removing hazardous substances from the air.
The installation process typically involves the following steps:
Identify the area to be ventilated and measure its size.
Determine the size of the system by calculating the air flow rate required to effectively eliminate harmful particles and gases.
Design the system to ensure its effectiveness in removing hazardous substances from the air.
Select the appropriate fan, ducting, filters, and other components.
Assemble all components and proceed with the installation process.
Aside from correct installation, an LEV system also requires regular maintenance to ensure that they are working properly and efficiently. This process involves scheduled maintenance checks, periodic inspections, and thorough testing.
First, periodic maintenance should be carried out to check for any signs of wear and tear and see if the system is operating correctly. It includes:
Checking the filters, ducts, and fans for any blockages or damage
Checking the system for any leaks or other issues that could affect its performance
Gauging if the air flow rate is adequate using a dust lamp, anemometer, or smoke tracer
Replacing filters and collection bags on a regular basis
Cleaning the duct system and other components
Next to maintenance checks are regular inspections. In this procedure, a qualified professional examines the system for malfunctioning parts or potential problems and makes the necessary repairs or adjustments.
Lastly, local ventilation exhaust testing is performed to see if the system is meeting the required safety standards. It must be conducted on a regular basis— at least every 14 months in the UK, for example—to ensure that the system is operating safely and correctly.
Local exhaust ventilation systems may have several benefits, especially for workplace safety, but sometimes, they have drawbacks. Here are 5 common risks and challenges associated with LEV systems:
Incorrectly installing the system can cause air to be drawn in from outside the building, making way for harmful particles to come inside.
Local exhaust systems require frequent maintenance, which can take time to complete.
Poorly maintained LEV systems can become a fire or explosion hazard.
Improper and unsafe disposal of LEV emissions can harm the environment.
LEV systems can be costly to establish and maintain, which can pose a problem to businesses on a tight budget.
Local exhaust ventilation systems must meet specific laws and standards to safely and effectively function. They may vary depending on the country in which a business operates. This section walks you through some of the prominent regulations for LEV systems around the world.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets the standards for designing, installing, operating, and maintaining LEV systems. Here are the laws and regulations to refer to for LEVs in the US:
OSHA Standard 1910.94 (Ventilation)
OSHA Standard 1926.57 (Ventilation)
American National Standard Fundamentals Governing the Design and Operation of Local Exhaust Systems (Z9.2-1960)
In the United Kingdom, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for establishing guidance documents and regulations for local exhaust ventilation systems. Listed below are the laws and regulations that govern these systems:
A Guide to Local Exhaust Ventilation (HSE HSG258)
In Australia, the laws, regulations, and guidelines for LEV systems fall under the responsibility of Safe Work Australia. The following laws and standards generally apply to Australian territories:
Model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act
Guidance on the Interpretation of Workplace Exposure Standards for Airborne Contaminants
AS/NZS 4114:2020 (Spray painting booths, designated spray painting areas and paint mixing rooms)
AS/NZS 2243.8:2014 (Safety in Laboratories – fume cupboards)
Local exhaust ventilation systems are vital for keeping workers safe during operations. For them to continue working in their best condition, they must be regularly checked for wear and tear and accumulation of debris.
Businesses can optimize their inspection and maintenance tasks with the help of digital tools like Mitti (by SafetyCulture). With the world’s leading mobile inspection app, LEV operators and safety officers can:
Perform LEV inspections, testing, and routine maintenance without missing any step using checklists from the Public Library
Schedule inspection and maintenance work with automated alerts to ensure that these tasks are completed
Report issues in the LEV system and assign actions to fix malfunctions as they occur
Train workers in safely and properly handling LEVs with Training by Mitti (by SafetyCulture)
Keep an electronic record of their completed inspection and maintenance checks in a single repository
Browse the following checklists for maintaining and inspecting local exhaust systems:
