McCarthy Environmental Ltd

McCarthy Environmental Ltd provides professional LEV design services for businesses requiring effective, compliant, and efficient air pollution control solutions. With over 25 years of industry experience, we design bespoke Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) systems tailored to the specific requirements of industrial, commercial, and educational environments across the UK.

Our BOHS P602-qualified system designers work closely with clients to develop practical extraction solutions that effectively control dust, fumes, oil mist, vapours, and other airborne contaminants at source. Every system is designed to meet current COSHH regulations and HSE guidance while also considering operational efficiency, energy usage, maintenance accessibility, and long-term system performance.

We provide comprehensive design consultation packages covering every stage of a project, from initial site surveys and concept development through to detailed system specifications and technical drawings. Using advanced 2D and 3D modelling software, we create fully detailed designs that allow clients to visualise the proposed system layout, airflow performance, ducting arrangements, extraction points, and equipment integration before installation begins.

Our design team carefully assesses workplace processes, contaminants, machinery, production layouts, and environmental factors to ensure each LEV system delivers optimal extraction performance while integrating efficiently into existing operations. We can design systems for a wide range of applications including welding fume extraction, dust extraction, oil mist filtration, pharmaceutical containment, woodworking extraction, and specialist industrial processes.

In addition to complete turnkey designs, we also support clients with upgrades, system modifications, performance improvements, and replacement designs for existing LEV installations. Our expertise allows us to identify opportunities to improve airflow efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and enhance overall system reliability and compliance.

McCarthy Environmental Ltd works with leading manufacturers including Nederman, oberA, ESTA, BOFA, Filtermist, Airbench, Absolent, Dustcontrol, and Kemper, alongside our own bespoke manufacturing capabilities. This enables us to provide fully tailored solutions using the most suitable equipment and technologies for each individual project.

By combining technical expertise, practical industry knowledge, and a strong focus on compliance and performance, McCarthy Environmental Ltd delivers LEV design solutions that help businesses create safer working environments, protect employee health, and maintain long-term operational efficiency.

McCarthy Environmental Ltd provides professional LEV installation and commissioning services for industrial, commercial, and educational environments across the UK. Our experienced in-house installation teams are fully trained and certified to deliver safe, efficient, and high-quality installations tailored to each client’s operational requirements.

We install a wide range of Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) systems, including dust extraction, welding fume extraction, oil mist filtration, and bespoke air pollution control solutions. Working closely with clients from project planning through to final handover, we ensure every system is installed to meet current COSHH and HSE compliance standards while achieving optimum performance and reliability.

Our commissioning process includes full system checks, airflow balancing, performance verification, and operational testing to confirm the system is functioning correctly and efficiently before completion. By combining technical expertise with industry-leading equipment and manufacturers, we deliver complete LEV solutions that improve workplace air quality, protect employee health, and support long-term operational performance.

McCarthy Environmental Ltd provides specialist LEV interfacing solutions designed to improve the efficiency, sustainability, and performance of Local Exhaust Ventilation systems across a wide range of industrial and manufacturing environments. 

Our electrical interfacing systems intelligently connect extraction equipment directly to production machinery, ensuring LEV systems only operate when required, helping businesses significantly reduce energy consumption, operating costs, and unnecessary equipment wear.

In many production facilities, extraction systems continue running throughout the entire working shift, even during machine downtime, tool changes, or production pauses. This results in excessive energy usage, increased CO₂ emissions, avoidable noise pollution, and additional strain on extraction equipment. Our LEV interfacing solutions are designed to eliminate this inefficiency by automatically controlling the operation of extraction systems based on machine activity.

When production equipment is in operation, the LEV system automatically activates to provide effective airborne contaminant control. Once machinery stops, the extraction system continues operating for a programmed clearance period before shutting down safely in line with HSG258 guidance. This ensures harmful dust, fumes, and airborne particulates are fully extracted while preventing unnecessary system runtime.

LEV interfacing offers a wide range of benefits for businesses looking to improve workplace efficiency and sustainability. By reducing extraction system operating times, organisations can significantly lower electricity usage, reduce carbon emissions, and support environmental management objectives such as ISO 14001 accreditation. Many businesses experience a rapid return on investment through lower energy costs, with typical ROI periods ranging from 3 to 24 months, depending on system usage and operating conditions.

In addition to energy savings, interfacing also helps create quieter and more comfortable working environments by reducing unnecessary extractor noise during non-productive periods. This can improve employee wellbeing, reduce workplace noise pollution, and minimise the likelihood of operators switching extraction systems off manually, helping maintain compliance with COSHH regulations and HSE requirements.

Our BOHS-qualified engineers and designers carry out detailed site surveys to assess existing LEV systems, identify opportunities for electrical interfacing, and design bespoke solutions tailored to each client’s operational requirements. We provide complete installation, commissioning, and ongoing support services for a wide range of dust, fume, and oil mist extraction systems across industries including manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, composites, engineering, and education.

At McCarthy Environmental Ltd, we combine technical expertise, industry experience, and innovative engineering solutions to help businesses reduce operational costs, improve sustainability, and maintain safe, compliant working environments through intelligent LEV interfacing systems. 

McCarthy Environmental Ltd provides comprehensive LEV testing services to help businesses maintain safe, compliant, and efficient working environments. Our experienced engineers carry out thorough Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) examinations and testing (TExT) in accordance with COSHH Regulation 9 and HSE guidance HSG258, ensuring extraction systems continue to effectively control hazardous airborne contaminants and protect employee health.

Regular LEV testing is a legal requirement for employers using extraction systems to control dust, fumes, vapours, mists, and other airborne contaminants. Over time, LEV systems can experience reduced performance due to wear and tear, filter blockages, damaged ductwork, airflow imbalances, or changes in the working environment. Our testing service is designed to identify these issues before they become a risk to workforce safety, productivity, or compliance.

Our fully qualified LEV test engineers are trained to the latest BOHS P601 standards, as required by HSE, allowing us to test and inspect all types of LEV systems across a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, engineering, fabrication, woodworking, automotive, education, pharmaceuticals, and industrial processing facilities.

During the testing process, our engineers carry out a complete examination of the LEV system, including airflow measurements, static pressure readings, hood face velocity checks, filter condition assessments, fan inspections, and system performance evaluations. We assess whether the system is effectively capturing and controlling airborne contaminants at source and verify that it continues to operate in line with its original design specifications and current workplace requirements.

Following completion of the examination, clients receive a detailed LEV test report outlining system performance results, any defects or areas of concern identified, and recommendations for remedial actions or improvements where required. These reports provide essential documentation to demonstrate compliance with COSHH regulations and support health and safety audits or inspections.

In addition to statutory LEV testing, we also provide system troubleshooting, airflow balancing, commissioning verification, and ongoing maintenance support to help maximise system efficiency and lifespan. Our team works closely with clients to minimise operational disruption while ensuring extraction systems remain fully functional and compliant.

At McCarthy Environmental Ltd, we understand the importance of maintaining effective LEV systems to protect both employees and business operations. With nationwide coverage, experienced BOHS-qualified engineers, and extensive industry knowledge, we deliver reliable and professional LEV testing services tailored to the specific needs of each customer and working environment.

McCarthy Environmental's Service Department provides comprehensive support, maintenance, and aftercare solutions for Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) and air quality control systems across a wide range of industries throughout the UK. Our dedicated service team works closely with customers to ensure that extraction systems continue to operate safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with COSHH regulations and HSE guidance.

We understand that regular servicing and preventative maintenance are essential to maintaining the performance and reliability of LEV systems. Without routine inspections and maintenance, systems can experience reduced airflow, filter blockages, component wear, and operational failures that may compromise employee safety, system efficiency, and legal compliance. Our service department is focused on helping businesses minimise downtime, extend equipment lifespan, and avoid costly breakdowns through proactive support and planned maintenance programmes

Our experienced engineers are fully trained to work on a wide variety of LEV systems and extraction equipment, including dust extraction units, welding fume extraction systems, oil mist filtration systems, portable extraction equipment, fan systems, ductwork installations, and bespoke air pollution control solutions. We work with equipment from leading manufacturers, including Nederman, oberA, ESTA, BOFA, Filtermist, Airbench, Absolent, Dustcontrol, and Kemper, as well as servicing custom-built systems.

Our servicing solutions include scheduled preventative maintenance visits, filter replacements, airflow checks, fan inspections, system cleaning, fault finding, emergency breakdown support, repairs, and replacement parts supply and installation. We tailor maintenance contracts to suit the specific requirements of each customer, helping ensure systems remain fully operational and compliant throughout their lifecycle.

In addition to servicing and repairs, our service department also supports customers with system upgrades, modifications, performance improvements, and commissioning support where operational requirements may have changed over time. Our engineers can identify opportunities to improve system efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and enhance extraction performance to better protect workplace environments and employee health.

At McCarthy Environmental Ltd, we pride ourselves on delivering responsive, reliable, and professional support to our customers nationwide. With extensive industry knowledge, experienced engineers, and a strong commitment to customer service, our Service Department helps businesses maintain high-performing LEV systems that continue to operate safely, efficiently, and in line with current regulations.

Need Spares?

Check out what McCarthy Environmental can provide.

The filter is the core of any extractor. A damaged, worn, or improperly fitted filter can allow dust to bypass, defeating its purpose, while a blocked filter reduces airflow and compromises control of emitted substances.

The McCarthy Environmental Centre of Excellence, located at our Swan Valley headquarters, is unique in the region and provides a variety of LEV (local exhaust ventilation) and Occupational Hygiene courses.

Under the COSHH Regulations 2002 (as amended), employers are legally required to protect employees by preventing or controlling exposure to any workplace contaminants classified as substances hazardous to health.

Many industries and processes produce dusts considered hazardous to health. It is well established that exposure to these dusts can cause a range of health problems, so they must be prevented or properly controlled in accordance with the COSHH Regulations 2002 (as amended).

Our fume extraction (LEV) systems are engineered to efficiently manage and reduce exposure to hazardous fumes, vapours, gases, smoke, and aerosolised solids.

The COSHH Regulations 2002 (as amended) mandate that exposure to metalworking fluids—whether by inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact—must be prevented where possible, or, if prevention isn’t feasible, effectively controlled.

Industrial vacuum systems are available in a wide range of types and sizes, serving numerous industries including food production, CNC machining, general construction, and many others.

Our flexible design allows for customised solutions tailored to specific requirements. Depending on airflow and particle load, units can be adjusted or converted, handling 500–40,000 m³/h of airflow and particle loads from 70 mg/m³ to 10 mg/m³. Each system is modular, with a main unit configured based on flow and particle load, and additional sub-units can be added or removed as future needs arise. All units feature IE5-class EC motors for optimized energy efficiency and safer operation.

With A•line, you get a versatile, adaptable filter suited to your specific needs. It works equally well for small, demanding machines or those producing a moderate amount of oil mist in the workshop. A•line is future-ready—changes in coolant, cutting speed, or pressure won’t affect its performance. Plus, it features intelligent monitoring equipment that delivers the right amount of airflow exactly where and when it’s needed.

When running CNC machines at high speeds or with high coolant pressure, or during die casting or hardening, the machines can produce thick oil smoke made of tiny particles. These particles can penetrate surfaces and even enter the bloodstream. A similar issue occurs with minimal quantity lubrication (MQL). To effectively remove this type of pollution, a robust filter like A•smoke is essential.

The Airbench BD is a self-contained blow-down station designed for workplaces needing to remove coolant mist, swarf, and other contaminants. The suction system is operated via a foot pedal, which controls the compressed air gun, allowing the user to manually dislodge debris. A polycarbonate screen prevents mist and droplets from escaping.

Two models are available: the BD500 (500mm width) and BD1000 (1000mm width). Both operate solely using a compressed air source, requiring no electrical power.

The Airbench FN series are heavy-duty downdraught benches with a fully ventilated top surface. They can be supplied with custom filter configurations to suit specific needs, and the filters are easily accessible via a hinged front panel. Each bench includes a pressure loss gauge to monitor filter condition, with optional speed control available.

To ensure the benches meet your specific workplace requirements, please contact us before purchasing at 01604 635333 or enquiries@mccarthy-environmental.co.uk

The Airbench FP series consists of five heavy-duty downdraught benches, specially designed for industrial workplace use.

The Airbench FPK series of heavy-duty downdraught benches are designed for both dust and fume applications and are ideal for tasks where the user is seated for extended periods. Available in five standard sizes, the benches feature a perforated top for easy access to filters for removal and maintenance, and a pressure loss gauge allows operators to monitor filter condition efficiently.

User control options range from a simple on/off switch for single units to centrally controlled or timed operation, with the ability to daisy-chain multiple units. The top surface is almost fully ventilated, ensuring consistent extraction quality across the entire bench for efficient work.

To ensure the benches meet your specific workplace requirements, please contact us before purchasing at 01604 635333 or enquiries@mccarthy-environmental.co.uk

The Airbench FPW and FPT series are heavy-duty downdraught benches, with two models specifically designed for grinding and welding fume applications. Both feature a spark trap design and a three-stage filter system, extending filter life by ensuring the final filter is protected from sparks and other contaminants.

The Airbench FX series features three downdraught ATEX-rated benches, ideal for use in areas classified as potentially explosive under DSEAR regulations. The FX series is specifically designed for handling dust-only applications.

The Airbench RP series of downdraught benches is ideal for applications generating high volumes of non-explosive dust, particularly stone dust. The benches feature on-demand compressed air filter cleaning and are available in various sizes and configurations to meet specific requirements.

The Airbench VertEx cross-draught extraction series consists of modular wall units, starting with a single 1200×600 module that can be expanded to create walk-in dust and fume extraction booths of any size. Suitable for sanding, grinding, and fume applications, these modules can serve as the foundation for a full extraction booth. When combined with VP or VertEx VA units, the modular booth becomes a complete dust extraction system, featuring high-efficiency EC fans and a pressure gauge.

Cyclone dust extractors can achieve abatement efficiencies of 85%–95% and are ideal for dust with a specific weight over 300 kg/m³. They are particularly effective for coarser particles, handling dust larger than 10 µm for weights of 1000–1500 kg/m³, and over 50 µm for dust around 500 kg/m³.

The mobile AT1-JET filter is the most compact model in the range, handling airflow up to 1,450 m³/h. It is available with or without an extraction arm and comes standard with an automatic cartridge cleaning system using compressed air jets.