Planned preventative maintenance (PPM) is a scheduling mechanism utilised by management to minimise the risk of equipment failure. In this article, we’ll look into the features and benefits of having a comprehensive local exhaust ventilation (LEV) planned preventative maintenance scheme in place and how they can positively impact your business.
What’s The Definition of Planned Preventative Maintenance
Planned preventative maintenance is also known as planned maintenance, scheduled maintenance, PPM maintenance, preventive maintenance or a PPM. In relation to LEV systems, a PPM would typically consist of both a thorough examination and test (also commonly know as LEV testing) and LEV servicing.
Together, these two maintenance services ensure that maintenance is carried out at set intervals and ensure that LEV equipment adequately controls airborne contaminants at work.
The benefit of having a comprehensive PPM in place is to ensure that both LEV testing and servicing are undertaken at regular intervals. They should be utilised by businesses and management teams as an audit tool to ensure that extraction systems are in good working order and is compliant with the legislation.
A comprehensive PPM scheme usually involves careful planning and scheduling and can sometimes become a very complex process to manage. This is particularly essential for companies that have large and/or multiple properties with numerous LEV systems on each site.
Planned Preventative Maintenance Types
There are two main types of PPMs, they can either be time-based or condition monitored. Time-based PPMs involves the scheduling of maintenance at regular intervals, for example, annually, bi-annually or quarterly.
Whilst condition-based PPMs involves the performance of preventative maintenance being based upon certain key indicators. These key indicators are most often based on potential deteriorating elements of a LEV.
What are the Benefits of Planned Preventative Maintenance?
We’ve put together six key benefits of PPMs, they include:
Improved Equipment Life Cycle
The primary aim of a PPM scheme is to enhance the productivity of LEV systems and prolong their longevity. By ensuring that extraction systems are well maintained, they’ll stay operational for a longer period of time. This will reduce the risk of replacing worn-out parts, whilst also ensuring that the system’s running efficiently and lasting for a longer period of time.
Decreased Equipment Downtime
If a part were to break unexpectedly, there may be a long downtime period whilst a replacement part and an engineer can attend the site to reinstate the extraction system back to its maximum working capacity. This, in turn, reduced the equipment downtime, thus increasing productivity and output.
Reduced Overhead Costs
A PPM schedule can enhance the system’s longevity, which reduces potential expenditure on replacement equipment. Because of this, there is also likely to be a reduction in the volume of energy consumed by the equipment; as it’s in good working order. Using less power means the company can increase profits with reduced operating costs.
Improved Work Scheduling
A PPM can enable more economical use of a company’s labour, as a maintenance engineer’s time can be planned for when the system’s not being used. Planning PMMs into a schedule in this way allows for tasks to be completed before issues become serious, for example through reactive maintenance. If issues are left and the severity of issues worsen, essential maintenance would be completed on an ad-hoc, reactive or emergency basis.
Circumvention of Large-Scale Repairs
The nature of PPM maintenance prevents the trickle-down phenomena, which is simply the accumulation of small problems into a larger one. Parts and components may be in need of repair, however, these may be picked up at earlier stages of deterioration and failure during maintenance checks.
Improved Workplace Safety
By putting a comprehensive PPM in place, you’ll rest assured knowing that LEV systems are in the best condition and legally compliant as possible. It is a legal requirement under the HSE’s (Health and Safety Executive) Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 that engineering controls, such as LEV “Is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order, in good repair and in a clean condition” and ” In the case of local exhaust ventilation plant, at least once every 14 months.”
There is also a potential to reduce business insurance premiums by documenting that LEV systems are well-maintained and are considered safe.
What are the Disadvantages of Planned Preventative Maintenance?
We’ve put together three key disadvantages of PPMs, they include:
Initial Investment Costs
The cost of starting a PPM maintenance plan is often considered an expense to an organisation. However, more often than not, the savings that can be made against the initial cost of the PPM can pay dividends against ad-hoc maintenance fees.
Over Maintained
If a LEV system’s PPM is undertaken and no signs of faults or issues are identified, it can often be seen as a waste of time, resources and most importantly, money. Though it’s imperative to remember that should a fault be identified, it would outweigh the disadvantages. This can be considered a waste of resources, however, should a fault or issue be found, it would be nullified.
Failures Still Happen
Despite the time and effort put in to ensure LEV equipment is working safely, efficiently and effectively, it does not eliminate the potential for failures to occur; it only minimises the risk.
Save Yourself Time and Money
Money Saving Illustration
Save yourself time and money out of maintaining your LEV systems with a comprehensive Service Level Agreements (SLA). we offer comprehensive LEV PPMs, through the use of Service Level Agreements (SLAs). We have four kinds of SLAs, built up of both LEV Testing and LEV Servicing works to help businesses effectively maintain their LEV systems and come bundled in four packages:
- Bronze – An annual LEV Test. This is a mandatory requirement under the HSE’s regulations
- Silver – An annual LEV test and an annual LEV service
- Gold – An annual LEV test and a bi-annual LEV service
- Platinum – An annual LEV test and a quarterly LEV service
SLAs are carried out by specially trained engineers to prevent the potential for breakdown, confirm safety and ensure it is efficient in operation.
 | Fully Qualified Engineers
Our highly skilled and qualified spray booth engineers are capable of completing spray booth testing and LEV testing on all spray booth equipment in accordance with the current legislation. Our engineers have undertaken all the mandatory and ongoing training assessments to ensure they are fully compliant with the current spray booth regulations, guidelines and best practices. |
HSE advise in the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations and in HSG258 – Controlling Airborne Contaminants: A Guide to Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) LEV tests should be “Carried out by a competent person.”
Why Choose Auto Extract Systems?
Auto Extract Systems is the UK’s leading LEV company. Over the last 20 years, we’ve helped thousands of businesses create dust and fume free workplaces. We have steadily been building and diversifying into new industries to help businesses provide pollution-free workplaces with comprehensive LEV (local exhaust ventilation) systems. Our team of P602 qualified LEV system design engineers have over 80 years of combined experience, the know-how, and the ability to specify comprehensive LEV systems to help your business meet HSE’s HSG258 guidance.
As experts in all things LEV, we can help your business become Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulation 2002 compliant with a tailored LEV solution. We provide comprehensive design, installation, testing, maintenance and remedial works services across a range of industry sectors. Find out more about us here.
Get in touch with our team today to discuss your requirements. Call us on 01942 267444, email info@autoxtract.co.uk.
Request your FREE LEV Site Assessment Today!
We’ll call to arrange a convenient time and date to visit your site. We’ll analyse your working processes, assess the substances used and the contaminants generated. We’ll work out how best to control the dust and fume in a way that’s in line with your COSHH risk assessment. Next, we’ll design you a comprehensive LEV system that adheres to HSG258 guidance and send this you to via email.
We’ll do all this to ensure we fully understand your dust and fume extraction requirements and help you to provide a pollution-free workplace!
This is an amazing service we do for thousands of businesses throughout the UK and Ireland every year. We work with such a wide variety of industries, from manufacturing, industrial, woodworking, pharmaceutical and automotive workshops to schools, colleges and military establishments.
Request your FREE, no-obligation LEV site assessment today!
