At Teledyne ISCO, many of our water and wastewater measurement systems and samplers are “MCERTS" (Monitoring Certification Scheme) accredited. While MCERTS is a designation of the United Kingdom's Environment Agency for environmental permit holders, most nations have environmental regulations to which companies must abide.
MCERTS is based on international and European emissions standards and is recognized globally for designating high standards for equipment design and construction that meet or exceed regulatory requirements for industrial emissions, data monitoring, personnel certification, organizations, and instruments.
According to the U.K.'s Information Commissioner's Office, a certification scheme consists of two key elements:
- The criteria outlining specific data protection requirements. These form the “standard" against which the conformity of a product or service is assessed.
- The audit methodology and testing methods that are used by the certification body to carry out that assessment.
The Environment Agency has published performance standards for continuous ambient air monitoring systems, handheld emissions monitoring equipment, continuous emissions monitoring systems, and continuous water monitoring equipment.
Water and wastewater management
For our purposes today, water monitoring equipment, including water and wastewater samplers and flow meters, are the focus. Accuracy obviously is paramount in these instruments, and the MCERTS designation tells you accuracy and dependability are built right into the product. MCERTS stipulates test procedures and performance standards in the U.K. for continuous water monitoring equipment, portable water monitoring equipment, and event duration monitors.
MCERTS prescribes water and flow monitoring performance standards in the U.K. for environmental permit holders that may produce potentially harmful pollutants. The MCERTS permit sets out how to monitor emissions and encompasses MCERTS for flow monitoring, water monitoring equipment and accreditation of analysis laboratories.
For the purposes of this standard, a flow meter is an instrument which either:
- measures the flow-rate, or totalised volume, of fluid passing along a pipe or channel
- calculates these quantities from measurements of one or more properties which have a defined relationship with the flow-rate
The following U.K. government links apply to England and Wales and provide further details:
The U.K.'s CSA Group is the sole provider of the Environment Agency's MCERTS scheme. CSA sets out a five-stage process for certification:
- Manufacturer contacts CSA Group explaining their compliance requirements
- Manufacturer places a contract with CSA Group for certification
- Commission of tests (direct with test house)
- Manufacturer collates test data and submits to CSA Group
- Test data reviewed and if satisfactory, manufacturer now able to sell MCERTS compliant products
Beyond MCERTS certification, it is important to work closely with your Teledyne ISCO representative or distributor to assure you are using a sampler or flow meter properly. These experts have intimate knowledge of the equipment you need and the experience to help you set up your system or troubleshoot any issues you may have.
How does “Others monitor, ISCO measures" relate to MCERTS?
Per ISO 9001, "monitoring is used to observe something closely so that you can record or detect," while “measurement is used to determine the actual characteristics of something." Other companies monitor flow; Teledyne ISCO provides accurate, actionable measurements. That's part of what makes many of our products MCERTS certified.
For example, Teledyne ISCO's LaserFlow® is the only non-contact, open-channel flow measurement sensor that measures velocity below the surface. It's also the only non-contact, area velocity sensor to receive MCERTS Class 2 certification. The difference? Others monitor; ISCO measures.
What Teledyne ISCO instruments are MCERTS certified?
Thanks for your time today. Learn more now at www.teledyneisco.com. If you are located in the U.K. and would like to speak with a Teledyne ISCO representative, please contact
Matthew Brownhill
U.K. Country Manager
[email protected]
(+44) 7867 136 542
