Fume cupboard testing
A fume cupboard is LEV, and COSHH treats it like any other extraction: a thorough examination and test at least every 14 months, a report kept for five years, and a label on the sash. Most schools and labs test every year so the date sits in the same holiday.
Where several cupboards are tested on one visit, expect roughly £60 to £120 per cupboard excluding VAT, with a minimum visit charge for one or two.
- Per cupboard, several
- £60 to £120
- Test at least every
- 14 months
- School guidance
- CLEAPSS G9
Who needs fume cupboards tested
Secondary schools and sixth form colleges, further and higher education labs, hospital and pathology labs, pharmaceutical and chemical companies, water and environmental testing labs, and quality control labs in manufacturing.
Schools use CLEAPSS guide G9 for fume cupboards alongside HSG258. A school test is best booked in a holiday or a free period so the cupboards can be emptied and the sash run through its full range.
Recirculating (filtered) cupboards need the filter checked as well as the airflow, because a saturated filter lets fumes straight back into the room.
Typical fees for fume cupboard testing
| Item | Typical fee, ex VAT |
|---|---|
| One or two cupboards Minimum visit, report included | £150 to £300 |
| Each cupboard, several on one visit Ducted or recirculating | £60 to £120 |
| Recirculating filter check Filter test or replacement priced separately | on quote |
| Other lab LEV on the same visit Extraction arms, snorkels, canopies, balance enclosures | £25 to £60 |
Typical UK fees read from testing firms’ published prices, November 2026. A guide, not a quote.
What the examiner checks on a fume cupboard
- Face velocity
Air speed across the sash opening, measured at a grid of points at the working sash height, and compared with the design figure.
- Containment
Smoke released inside the cupboard should stay inside. Draughts from doors, windows and people walking past are common causes of failure.
- Sash and stops
The sash should run freely and stop at the marked working height, and the alarm or airflow indicator should work.
- Ducts and fan
For ducted cupboards, the duct run, the fan on the roof or in the plant room, and the discharge clear of air intakes.
- Filters
For recirculating cupboards, the filter type for the chemicals used, and its saturation or age.
Science block cupboards due their annual test? Get a quote.
Get a quoteHow a fume cupboard test runs
Clear the cupboards
the day beforeRemove stored chemicals and equipment, because a cluttered cupboard does not perform as designed and cannot be tested properly.
Grid and smoke tests
on the dayFace velocity is measured across the sash, then smoke tests show containment.
Label each cupboard
end of the visitA pass label with the next due date, or a fail label and a note to stop using it.
Report to the science team
after the visitKeep the report with the logbook, and give the head of science or lab manager a copy.
Asked before booking
How often should a school fume cupboard be tested?
At least every 14 months under COSHH. Schools usually test every year, often in the summer holiday.
Do recirculating fume cupboards need testing?
Yes, and the filter needs checking too. The test covers airflow and containment, and the report should say whether the filter is right for the chemicals used.
Can the cupboard be used while waiting for a repair?
Not one with a fail label. Move the work to a cupboard that passed, or postpone it.
What about microbiological safety cabinets?
They protect against biological agents and are tested to their own standard, often by a different specialist. Mention them on the form if you have them.
Sources for this page
Fee bands are our own reading of what UK testing firms publish (2024 to 2026); we do not name or link them. The rules come from the regulations and official guidance below.
- COSHH 2002, regulation 9: maintenance, examination and testing of control measures
- HSE HSG258: Controlling airborne contaminants at work, a guide to local exhaust ventilation (3rd edition, 2017)
- CLEAPSS G9: Fume cupboards in schools
- HSE: LEV information for designers, installers and examiners
- BOHS P601: Thorough Examination and Testing of Local Exhaust Ventilation Systems
Get a quote for fume cupboard testing
Postcode first, then a few details about the system, then your contact details. Two minutes, start to finish.
Received. We are on it.
- Within a working day we contact you with the name of a qualified examiner who covers your postcode and tests this kind of extraction.
- They only see your details once you have said yes.
- They agree the hoods, the date and a written fee with you directly. There is no mailing list.