MCERTS – Product Certification Focus

MCERTS promotes public confidence in monitoring data and provides industry with a proven framework for choosing monitoring systems and services that meet the Environment Agency’s performance requirements. There are a variety of MCERTS performance standards for monitoring systems, broadly split into three areas: Air, Water and Software. Currently, over 160 MCERTS certificates have been issued by Sira against
these standards.

The route to MCERTS certification: a 5 stage approach

1: Pre-contract. Client contacts Sira explaining their compliance requirements. Sira sends application pack and arranges an initial meeting.
2: Test Plan. Manufacturer places a contract with Sira for certification work. Certification committee meeting: Existing evidence is reviewed and a test plan generated.
3: Implementation. Commission of additional tests (direct with test house). Sira performs MCERTS manufacturing audit.
4: Assessment /approval of work. Client collates evidence and submits to Sira. Submitted evidence is assessed by certification committee.
5: Certification. Client now able to sell MCERTS compliant products. MCERTS requirements are fulfilled: certificate issue

Ecotech has recently received MCERTS certification on 4 of their Serinus ambient air analysers.

Steve Chamberlain-Ward , Manager, Sales Strategy & Marketing at Ecotech, commented on why they have sought certification, the potential benefits and the overall certification process.

- Why did Ecotech seek MCERTS certification?
The Serinus range of analysers is a new and updated analyser range from Ecotech which achieved USEPA approvals in early 2009. We decided that it was also critical to obtain MCERTS and EN approval in accordance with the EN testing regime so as to further establish ourselves in the European market. We recognised that it was important to our customers that our analysers, unlike some of our competitors, have approval across the actual EN measurement range and so we enlisted Sira to assist us in obtaining these approvals.

- What do you feel the benefits will be?
Obtaining MCERTS approvals in accordance with EN requirements guarantees to our customers and distributors that the Ecotech Serinus range is both accurate and precise and can be relied upon to produce results that they can rely upon when implementing their air quality monitoring programs. This combined with our expertise offered by our distribution network will further strengthen Ecotech’s position in the European market.

- Any comments on the overall certification process?
The approval progress was rigorous and extensive and Sira, while being very demanding and closely scrutinising our testing in order to ensure that our analysers achieved the necessary specifications, was also very helpful and cooperative. The achieving of MCERTS approvals once again testifies to the high level of performance that Ecotech analysers provide. Sira’s attention to detail and thoroughness is to be commended and we are delighted to have chosen them as a partner in the approval process.

All MCERTS certificates can be viewed on the Sira website, www.siraenvironmental.com and the MCERTS standards can be freely downloaded from www.mcerts.net. For more information please contact Sira on 01322 520 500, or alternatively email mcerts@siraenvironmental.com