Why Local Exhaust Ventilation Matters More Than Most Businesses Realise

If you run a factory, laboratory, or any kind of production environment, the air your team breathes every day is a responsibility that sits squarely on your shoulders. Most businesses take this seriously in theory. In practice, though, a lot of workplaces are still relying on general ventilation systems that weren't designed to deal with hazardous dust, fumes, or vapours — and that gap is where real harm tends to happen. 

Local exhaust ventilation, or LEV, is the engineered solution to that gap. Rather than diluting contaminants across an entire workspace, an LEV system captures them right at the point where they're generated — before they have any chance to reach your team's breathing zone. It's a straightforward principle, but the difference it makes in practice is significant. 

What the law says — and why it matters

Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations — COSHH — employers have a legal duty to control exposure to hazardous airborne substances in the workplace. Where engineering controls like local exhaust ventilation are in place, those systems have to be properly maintained and examined at least every 14 months. This isn't optional, and it's not a box-ticking exercise. It's a legal requirement with real consequences if ignored. 

At Ventxlabs, every LEV system we install is designed and commissioned to comply with BS EN 14175 and DW/154 standards. When we carry out an examination, we produce a full written report detailing performance, airflow measurements, and any remedial action needed. That report is your evidence of compliance — and it's the document that could protect your business if anything is ever called into question. 

The business case — beyond compliance

It's tempting to think of LEV as a compliance cost. But look at it from a different angle and the picture changes. A well-functioning LEV system means fewer sick days, lower staff turnover, reduced insurance risk, and a workplace where people actually feel looked after. Those aren't small things — and they're certainly not abstract. The £800,000 fine referenced at the top of this page was real, and it came with reputational damage that no business can easily recover from. 

There's also a productivity angle that often gets overlooked. When hazardous fumes or dust are properly controlled at source, you don't need to stop work and evacuate. Processes can run continuously, and your team can focus on the work rather than worrying about what they're breathing in. 

What Ventxlabs does differently

Ventxlabs has been working in fume extraction and local exhaust ventilation for over 20 years. We don't sell off-the-shelf solutions — we assess your site, understand your processes, and design systems that actually fit how you work. That means the capture efficiency is right, the ducting runs make sense for your layout, and the ongoing maintenance is planned from the start rather than bolted on as an afterthought. 

Whether you're fitting out a new laboratory, upgrading an ageing extraction system in a production facility, or just not sure whether your current setup is doing what it should — we're happy to start with a straightforward conversation, no pressure attached.