What does MCERTS stand for?

MCERTS stands for the Monitoring Certification Scheme. It is administered by the UK Environment Agency to ensure that monitoring equipment used for regulatory purposes meets defined performance standards. The scheme covers equipment for air quality, water quality, emissions, and data handling, as well as personnel competency and organisational quality.

Is MCERTS required for construction dust monitoring?

It depends on your planning conditions. Many local planning authorities now specify MCERTS-certified dust monitoring as a condition of planning consent, particularly for construction sites near sensitive receptors such as homes, schools, and hospitals. If your planning conditions require MCERTS, compliance is mandatory. If they do not explicitly require it, using MCERTS-certified equipment still strengthens your position in any compliance discussions. Check your specific planning conditions or consult with the local authority's environmental health team for clarity.

How long does MCERTS certification take?

The full certification process typically takes 12 to 18 months from initial application to certificate issuance. This includes laboratory testing at CSA Group's facilities, field collocation studies lasting a minimum of 12 weeks (often longer to capture seasonal variation), statistical equivalence analysis, and a manufacturing quality audit. The extended timeline reflects the thoroughness of the process — it is not a rubber-stamp exercise.

What is the difference between MCERTS and non-MCERTS monitoring?

MCERTS-certified equipment has been independently tested and validated by a UKAS-accredited certification body (CSA Group) against the Environment Agency's published performance standards. This testing includes laboratory evaluation, extended field collocation against reference instruments, equivalence demonstration, and manufacturing quality audit. Non-certified equipment may measure the same parameters but has not undergone this independent verification. The practical difference is regulatory acceptance: data from MCERTS-certified equipment is accepted by regulators for permit compliance, planning condition discharge, and enforcement evidence. Data from non-certified equipment may be questioned or rejected.

Who certifies MCERTS equipment?

CSA Group (formerly Sira Certification Service) is the UKAS-accredited certification body that conducts MCERTS testing on behalf of the Environment Agency. CSA Group performs both the laboratory testing and field evaluation, and issues the MCERTS certificate to equipment that meets the performance standards. The Environment Agency sets and maintains the standards but does not conduct the testing directly.

Does MCERTS apply outside England?

MCERTS is administered by the Environment Agency, which is the regulator for England. However, MCERTS certification is recognised and accepted by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Natural Resources Wales (NRW), and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). In practice, MCERTS certification is the standard across the entire United Kingdom.

How often does MCERTS certification need to be renewed?

MCERTS certification is subject to periodic surveillance by CSA Group. The manufacturer must maintain its quality management system and production standards. If the equipment design changes significantly, re-testing may be required. Certificates have defined validity periods, and renewal involves demonstrating continued compliance with the performance standards.

Vad är MCERTS-certifiering?

Om du har fått höra att din övervakningsutrustning behöver vara "MCERTS-certifierad" och du inte är helt säker på vad det innebär, är du inte ensam. Termen dyker upp ofta i planeringsvillkor, miljötillstånd och anbudshandlingar — ofta utan förklaring.

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Vad omfattar MCERTS?

Nyckelstandarden för omgivande luftkvalitet

Certifieringsprocessen

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MCERTS jämfört med andra certifieringssystem

Vanliga frågor

Vad står MCERTS för?

Krävs MCERTS för dammövervakning vid byggen?

Hur lång tid tar MCERTS-certifiering?

Vem certifierar MCERTS-utrustning?

Gäller MCERTS utanför England?

Redo att komma igång med miljöövervakning?