Why do you need an Airflow Indicator for your LEV

Local Exhaust Ventilation systems do a fantastic job of making the air surrounding an operator safe, they are designed to efficiently and quickly remove hazardous fumes from the operators breathing zone.

Many harmful fumes are invisible, so how can an operator know at a glance if their LEV is operating effectively, or not at all? It may be easy if the task they are performing produces smoke, they would see that being pulled away, but what about those particulates in the air that are hard to see or completely invisible, dust particles being one example.

Adding an Airflow indicator to a new or existing LEV system is the simple solution to this issue. The AFI is simply fitted to the system in a location where the operator can easily check. As soon as the LEV equipment is switched on, the operator will have a clear indication whether the LEV is working or not.

What are airflow indicators?

Airflow indicators are simple, low maintenance devices that provide a visual signal of the airflow levels within an LEV system. Airflow indicators provide instant feedback to operators to show whether a system is performing within the required airflow parameters.

Benefits of using an airflow indicator

Airflow indicators ensure continuous safety, simplify maintenance checks and prevent exposure to hazards. They offer a quick visual reference, allowing operators to quickly assess system performance. If airflow drops below optimal levels, then corrective action can be taken before hazardous fumes or dust have a chance to accumulate.

Common types of airflow indicator

Available in several different forms, you can find airflow indicators as digital displays, or analogue versions such as mechanical gauges, rotating vanes and coloured markers. The choice you make will be determined by system and application.

How to choose the right airflow indicator

To choose the right airflow indicator, consider factors such as system size, airflow volume and the type of contaminants being extracted. Consult with our clean air experts to determine the correct type of airflow indicator for your system.

Integration with other LEV equipment

Airflow indicators work seamlessly with other components of your LEV system, such as extraction arms and filtration units. They help to effectively monitor and maintain the overall systems performance, ensuring hazardous dust and fumes are constantly removed from the workplace.

Potential issues with airflow indicators

While airflow indicators are reliable, it is still important to check them for wear and tear. If an indicator isn’t able to provide a clear reading, this could potentially cause hazardous dust or fume to be released into the local environment due to misreadings or inaccurate feedback on system performance.

Part of the responsibility of owning/providing LEV includes ensuring regular LEV testing is performed on your equipment from day one. LEV testing ensures that your equipment is effective in its location at removing those hazardous fumes or particles from the air ensuring that the operator is capable of maintaining a safe workspace.

But is passing a LEV test enough? No, the HSE guidance on continued operation (HSG258 Paragraph 106) states:-

"Employers need to ensure that LEV systems continue to work properly. There are several ways of checking this, such as using an anemometer, dust lamp or smoke tracer – with the work process running. But the simplest way is probably to use an airflow indicator. This will give the operator a simple indication that the hood is working properly."

Nederman provides a range of Airflow Indicators which will suit almost any LEV system and can be fitted by one of our engineers to Nederman systems and third-party LEV equipment.

For more information on our LEV equipment, Air Flow Indicators or LEV testing, please contact Nederman today.