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After the visit

Understanding your LEV test report

The report is the evidence behind the test result and the plan for any work needed. Start with the summary, then check the measurements against the system benchmark before filing it.

Checked 23 September 2026

An engineer records readings on a tablet beside an extraction hood and filter unit.

The standard report template

ILEVE publishes its LEV Thorough Examination and Test report template for competent professional use. Version 1.5 sets out twelve sections so the result, plant details and evidence sit in a consistent order. ILEVE says using the template does not ensure compliance with the COSHH Regulations or HSE requirements. It does not ensure competence either.

The sections are executive summary and actions; client; site; plant details; engineer; additional plant information; DSEAR and ATEX; conclusions; schematic; photographs; assessment; and calibration certificates. The assessment contains the detailed hood, airflow, pressure, filter, fan, duct and discharge information that applies to the system. Empty sections should have a clear reason rather than simply disappearing.

Start with the executive summary

The ILEVE template starts with the result: satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Its executive summary lists actions with a responsible person and due date. The report lists the actions the tester recommends, each with a priority. The priority tells you which to do first.

In his ILEVE conference presentation of 25 February 2020, hosted by BOHS, Adrian Sims of Vent-Tech says employers should hear about critical defects immediately, without waiting for the completed report. Read the actions with the person who maintains the system and the person responsible for health and safety. Ask the examiner to explain any unclear priority or timescale.

Compare benchmark and measured results

A benchmark is the intended performance recorded when the LEV was commissioned or established from another suitable source. The report should place it beside the current measured result for relevant points. These may include hood face velocity, duct velocity, static pressure, volume flow, clearance time or pressure across a filter.

A reading below its benchmark can show that something has changed, but the number needs context. A blocked filter, damaged duct, moved damper, worn fan or changed process may affect performance. The examiner should diagnose discrepancies and assess actual control, not rely on one number alone. If no commissioning data exists, the report should say what reference was used and how the examiner reached the judgement.

Act on it and keep it

Read the full report with the person responsible for health and safety and the engineer who maintains the system. Assign every action, agree its completion date and record repairs, adjustments and replacement parts in the LEV logbook. Where the examiner asks for a retest or other confirmation, arrange it and attach the result to the original report.

Keep the thorough examination and test record for at least five years and keep a copy at the workplace containing the LEV. Retain commissioning information and the user manual as the continuing benchmark. Put the next due date in the maintenance calendar now, allowing time before the maximum interval. A label can help operators, but it does not replace the report or the repair record.

If information is missing

Ask the examiner if the report gives measurements without the intended performance beside them. Without commissioning data or another stated benchmark, it can be difficult to show whether the LEV still performs as designed. HSE says the examiner should identify this limitation and explain the information and method used to judge control.

Check that the report identifies the system, conditions, process and hazardous substances. It should name the examiner and include their signature or declaration, the test methods, findings, result and actions. Query blank assessment fields, missing calibration evidence or photographs that do not identify what they show. A clear answer may resolve the gap. If the evidence is still incomplete, ask for the report to be corrected.

Questions duty holders ask

What should the first page of an LEV report tell me?

It should identify the system, give the test date and result, and summarise prioritised actions with who is responsible and when each is due.

What is an LEV benchmark?

It is the intended performance used for comparison, usually recorded during commissioning. It may include airflow, velocity or pressure at named points.

When should I hear about critical defects?

Adrian Sims's ILEVE conference presentation of 25 February 2020, hosted by BOHS, says employers should hear about critical defects immediately, without waiting for the report.

How long should I keep an LEV report?

Keep the thorough examination and test record for at least five years. Keep commissioning information and the user manual for continuing comparison.

Is your next test due?

Put in the date of the last test and get the deadline, with a reminder if you want one.

LEV test due date calculator

Use the directory to find an LEV tester near you.

Sources

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