Rank: Forum user 
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I know the answer to this but for the life of me I can't remember the reason. Someone please help me: What's the reason that LEV systems are tested and inspected every 14 months? Why isn't it 12 months?
Lee
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I was taught it was a maximum of every 14 months, not with a 14 month period.
However, it has been suggested that at 14 months the I&T would "ripple" through the year missing obvious quiet times in the workshop over a time period. Not sure on that through?
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Rank: Forum user
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That rings true with me too. I think it was to do with *the old days* when factories would often shut for a two week holiday and everyone would trog off to Blackpool (or Brighton or Bognor). The inspection period should be arranged as an annual inspection, which might have fallen within the two weeks but the authorities would allow up to 14 months in case it didn't perform up to spec after the prolonged shutdown. It would give the employer 2 months (or 6 weeks in this case) to get it fixed. Like a lot of plant, it's fine when it's kept running, but switch it off and let it cool down and it never likes re-starting. It also gives time for cleaning, maintenance, lubrication, electrical checks, etc.
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Rank: Forum user 
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I believe it's 14 months for practical reasons. If the I&T was set to 12 months then to be in compliance the test date would move backwards through time when the test is carried out before the due date. (Does that make sense?) With a 14 month period the test can be carried out annually at about the same date without the risk of being out of compliance.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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14 month cycle allows the performance of the LEV exhaust to be measured against seasonal variations in weather.
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Rank: Forum user
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Paragraph 329 of HSG258 "Controlling airborne contaminants at work" says:
"Frequency of thorough examination and test
329 The maximum time between tests of LEV systems is set down in COSHH and for most systems this is 14 months (see the exceptions in Table 18). In practice, this is normally taken to mean annually. If wear and tear on the LEV system is liable to mean that the system effectiveness will degrade between tests then thorough examinations and tests should be more frequent."
See http://books.hse.gov.uk/...alogueCode=9780717664153 and can be downloaded free.
Test should be annually with a maximum allowance of the 14 months.
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Rank: New forum user
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I was told it was to do with boiler inspections etc which were always carried out during the Easter shut down. As Easter moves each year the period had to be 14 months to ensure inspections were current.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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timwilman wrote:I was told it was to do with boiler inspections etc which were always carried out during the Easter shut down. As Easter moves each year the period had to be 14 months to ensure inspections were current.
I concur - although many people (including one of my NEBOSH tutors) think it is to do with seasons (the more you think about it, the more crazy this idea is :) )
When I worked in manufacturing I always booked the tests to coincide with Easter shut-down (which moves) - so it's not just the olden days that this applies too!!
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Rank: Super forum user 
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teh_boy, I'm not so sure that the seasonal aspect is that crazy. A fan's ability to shift contaminated air may be totally overcome by seasonal winds and extremes of temperature may also cause variations in the flow characteristics of ducting, allowing vapours and mists to condense and solidify.
When boiler inspectors were in short supply and everybody wanted their boiler inspected at Easter it makes perfect sense to have allowed some leeway in the retest dates.
Just as an afterthought, what do these people do in summer, autumn and winter?
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Rank: Super forum user
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I agree in principle but the more you think about it....
You would need to ensure 'typical' weather for the time of year
The HSE would have to state - that all seasons should be met in a 4 year period
If it's not windy - or unseasonably cold - would I need to wait until later - and maybe shutdown plant again?
If it's proven that season makes a difference - do I need to adjust controls, surely it should be designed to work in the most 'unfavourable' conditions???
Hmmmm thank goodness it's FridaY.
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Rank: Forum user
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Just to add my few pennys worth - if HSE really wanted to account for seasonal variation it would have been far easier to say this in the Regs / ACOP /Guidance - what it says is at least every 14 months - you can do it more often if you want to.
PS I think its to do with the Easter shutdown / moveable feast theory
But I'm no expert
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Rank: Super forum user
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It's down to the principle of annual with a bit of flex - dates back to the requirements of the Factories Act 1937 or earlier.
Similarly air receivers required to be examined within every 26 months, i.e. biannual with a bit of flex.
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