There are three main areas of legislation on extraction equipment:

1. The safety and suitability of the extractors are the responsibility of the manufacturer. In Europe, this is covered by the requisites of CE marking. America and Canada generally ask for equipment to subject to tests and approved for an adequate international standard by UL, CSA or other companies. China and Japan have their own standards but they generally accept the above, like most of the rest of the world.
2. The safety of the workers who use the equipment is the responsibility of the employer. Extraction equipment di is normally used for local exhaust ventilation (LEV) to capture harmful dust, fumes or vapours that, if not captured, could be a risk for the workers’ health. The legislation is in force in many countries to prevent exposure to harmful substances and to ensure that the equipment installed for the purpose operates correctly. The EU issues guidelines for Europe but most European countries have their own occupational exposure limits (OEL). In the United Kingdom, the Health and Safety Executive is the legislative body and the requirements are covered by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH). The regulation and exposure limits are indicated in the EH40 HSE booklet.
3. Dangerous waste is the responsibility of the end user. In detail, the fumes or vapours captured by the filters of the hood can lead to the filters used being considered as dangerous waste. In this case, they must be disposed of in line with the appropriate legislation. In Europe, this is covered by Directive 2008/98/EC.

Please select a country for specific information on current legislation: