Preparing Your LEV System for 2026: Compliance Updates and Best Practice for the Year Ahead
As 2026 approaches, many businesses are planning maintenance schedules, compliance checks and operational improvements for the year ahead. Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) is a critical part of workplace safety, yet it is often overlooked until a test is due or a problem is spotted.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) continues to highlight the importance of effective ventilation and exposure control. Preparing early ensures your systems remain compliant, efficient and capable of protecting the workforce throughout 2026.
This guide outlines the key actions businesses should take, supported only by official UK and international references.
1. Why LEV preparation matters for 2026
LEV systems help control exposure to dusts, fumes, vapours and airborne contaminants. Without routine testing and maintenance, performance can drift and legal compliance can be lost. HSE guidance states clearly that employers must ensure exposure is prevented or adequately controlled.
Preparing for 2026 now helps:
- Avoid last minute testing backlogs
- Ensure budgets are allocated correctly
- Identify systems that need upgrades
- Keep employees safe
- Maintain full COSHH compliance
2. Review findings from recent HSE research into recirculating LEV systems
In 2024, HSE published research report RR1224, which reviews the performance of recirculating LEV systems. The report identifies that some recirculating systems may:
- Use filters that are not appropriate for the contaminant
- Lose efficiency over time without operators noticing
- Recirculate air that still contains harmful concentrations
- Give a false sense of protection if not maintained correctly
If your business uses recirculating or filtered return LEV, the report’s findings mean you should consider reviewing system performance and filtration capability before 2026.
3. Check your building wide ventilation, not only LEV
HSE guidance on workplace ventilation emphasises that general ventilation must support healthy indoor air as well as LEV systems. It highlights the need for fresh air supply, risk assessment of enclosed spaces and verification that ventilation is adequate.
As expectations around Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) increase, businesses should review:
- Fresh air supply rates
- Cross ventilation in work areas
- Ventilation in offices, welfare areas and storage rooms
- How general ventilation interacts with LEV systems
The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology also recognises the growing importance of IAQ in UK buildings.
4. Update maintenance schedules for 2026
LEV systems need more than annual testing. HSE states that systems should be properly maintained so they continue to work as intended.
For 2026, audits should include:
- Filter changes
- Fan cleaning and performance checks
- Duct condition inspections
- Hood and arm movement checks
- Airflow indicator checks
- Seal and joint integrity checks
A planned maintenance programme reduces the likelihood of test failures, breakdowns and unplanned downtime.
5. Ensure documentation is complete and ready for audits
HSE requires that a commissioning report and every LEV Thorough Examination and Test (TExT) report be kept, and recommends retention of user manuals, system documentation and maintenance/inspection records to show the system continues to control exposure as intended.
- Commissioning results
- Thorough Examination and Test reports
- Maintenance logs
- Operator checks
- Any records relating to system alterations or repairs
Before 2026 begins, review your documentation to ensure it is complete, up to date and easy to access.
7. Consider improvements or upgrades for 2026
Based on HSE research, new evidence and IAQ expectations, 2026 may be the right time to consider upgrades such as:
- Reconfiguring hoods for better capture
- Improving fan efficiency
- Adding airflow indicators
- Upgrading filters in recirculating systems
- Integrating LEV and general ventilation more effectively
- Reducing energy consumption with modern equipment
Upgrading early helps maintain compliance and reduces long term operational costs.
Contact Us Today
If you would like support reviewing your LEV or ventilation arrangements for 2026, LEV Engineering Ltd can help. Our qualified engineers can assess performance, identify improvements and ensure your systems continue to meet regulatory expectations.
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