Monitoring Certification Scheme
Glossary of common terms used in the management of land contamination, published on the Planning Portal, defines The Monitoring Certification Scheme (MCERTS) as: ‘…a quality assurance scheme for providers of monitoring services, equipment and systems, which is administered by the Environment Agency and accredited by UKAS.’
It establishes standards for monitoring equipment, systems, and professionals to ensure high-quality environmental monitoring, particularly for emissions, water quality, and other environmental parameters. The scheme is widely recognised as a benchmark for accuracy, reliability, and compliance in environmental monitoring.
Its purpose is to ensure that environmental monitoring data is accurate, reliable, and fit for regulatory and reporting purposes and to promote the use of high-quality monitoring equipment and competent personnel for compliance with environmental regulations.
MCERTS applies to various areas of environmental monitoring, including:
- Air emissions monitoring (e.g., from industrial chimneys).
- Water and wastewater monitoring (e.g., effluent discharge quality).
- Continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS).
- Ambient air quality monitoring.
- Soil sampling and gas monitoring.
Key Areas of MCERTS include:
- Equipment Certification.
- Personnel Certification.
- Laboratory Certification.
- Site-Based Monitoring.
MCERTA helps organisations demonstrate compliance with environmental permits and regulations and ensures that monitoring results are accurate, consistent, and reliable. It provides a standardised approach to environmental monitoring across industries and boosts confidence in monitoring data among regulators, industry stakeholders, and the public. Certified products and services are listed on the MCERTS database, allowing industries to select approved equipment and providers.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
We're expanding our collaborative mission by launching DB Intelligence, an exclusive market research advisory panel. Built environment professionals can now get paid to share their expertise on industry trends, products and services.
Panel members receive direct financial incentives for participating in research projects like short surveys, 1-2-1 interviews and focus groups. Register today to shape the future of the construction sector.
Building Safety Wiki Interviews
Chief executive of the British Woodworking Federation.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief exoplanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.