Client Overview
A leading secondary and sixth form school in Cheshire, Northwest England, provides a broad range of science subjects to its students. As part of the school’s commitment to maintaining a safe and compliant learning environment, our team was invited to carry out Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) Thorough Examination and Testing (TExT) on the fume cupboards located throughout the science classrooms.
Having partnered with the school previously, this project formed part of their routine 14-month LEV testing schedule — an essential part of keeping their systems compliant, efficient, and ready for everyday use in busy teaching environments.
The Challenge
Science lessons and experiments rely on the safe handling of chemicals — and that means reliable fume extraction is critical. The school’s science block includes several fume cupboards across classrooms and prep areas, each requiring detailed inspection to confirm that fumes were being effectively contained and safely extracted.
With a mix of single, twin, and shared extraction systems, consistency of performance was a key focus. Every system needed to be tested for both safety and efficiency, ensuring students and staff could work with confidence.
Our Solution
Our LEV engineers carried out a comprehensive Thorough Examination and Test across the school’s science block. Each fume cupboard was tested under realistic conditions to ensure safe control of fumes generated during experiments involving substances such as:
• Acetic anhydride
• Phenylamine
• Bromine
• Phenol
• Cyclohexane
• Cyclohexene
• Hexane
• Glacial acetic acid
• Ethyl ethanoate
• Concentrated hydrochloric acid
• Ammonia
• Sulfuric acid
Our team worked efficiently to minimise disruption to lessons while completing all inspections and performance tests to the highest standards.
The Result
Every fume cupboard system passed the performance tests and met current LEV compliance standards, confirming that the school’s science facilities remain safe for use.
We recorded all findings in the onsite LEV logbook and discussed them with the Site Appointed Responsible Person (SARP). A detailed LEV report was also issued, outlining results and minor recommendations to help the school maintain optimal performance going forward. Our DBS-certified technicians will carry out the suggested improvements as part of the school’s proactive maintenance plan.
By partnering with us, the school continues to provide a safe and inspiring environment for science learning — fully compliant with COSHH Regulation 9.
