Fume cupboard guidance, written by the engineers who do the testing
Short, practical articles for technicians, lab managers and estates teams: what the standards require, what the readings mean, and how to plan maintenance you can afford.
Engineer recording fume cupboard test readings on a clipboard beside a lab bench
How often should a fume cupboard be tested in the UK?
COSHH Regulation 9 sets a maximum interval of 14 months for the thorough examination and test of local exhaust ventilation. That single number drives your whole maintenance calendar — and the two spare months are the most useful part of it.
We cover what counts as a thorough examination, what your records must show, why annual scheduling beats 14-monthly in practice, and how to bring a lapsed register back under control without closing the lab.
Latest articles
Practical reading for people who look after labs
No product pitches. Each piece answers a question we are asked on site every month.
Anemometer held at the face of a fume cupboard to measure airflow
Face velocity explained: what the numbers on your report mean
Why 0.3–0.5 m/s is the usual target, how a measurement grid is set out, and what an uneven pattern tells you about the fan, the sash or the room.
Carbon filter cartridge being changed in a ductless fume cupboard
Ductless or ducted? Five questions before you spend the budget
Chemistry, building fabric, lease length, running costs and relocation plans — the five answers that decide it, in the order they matter.
School science technician preparing a practical in a laboratory prep room
Planning school fume cupboard testing around the academic year
A term-by-term calendar for technicians: when to book, what to check yourself between visits, and how to protect practicals in exam season.
Laboratory compliance records and test reports arranged on a desk
What your LEV records must show when an inspector asks
The register, the examination reports, the remedial evidence and the user checks — with a simple structure that survives staff turnover.
Extract fan motor and impeller during a maintenance inspection
Seven early warnings that a fume cupboard is about to fail
Noise changes, sash drift, condensation patterns, alarm nuisance trips and four more signs worth reporting before test day.
Estates manager reviewing laboratory maintenance budget figures
Repair or replace? Costing an ageing fume cupboard honestly
A simple framework comparing repair spend, remaining life and disruption — the same one we use when advising clients.
Quick answers
Three things worth knowing today
The shortest version of the guidance we give most often.
Months, maximum
The longest gap COSHH Regulation 9 permits between thorough examinations of LEV, including fume cupboards.
Metres per second
Typical face velocity band at the working sash opening. Consistency across the opening matters as much as the average.
Weeks’ notice
How far ahead we remind contract clients that an examination is due, so dates can be placed in a holiday window.
Got a question about your own cupboards?
Ask an engineer directly. No obligation, no sales script — and the answer might become the next guide.