Air Monitoring - UK Focus MCERTS Confusing You?


MCERTS is the Environment Agency’s (EA) certification scheme for instruments, monitoring and analytical services. The scheme is built on international standards and provides industry with a framework for choosing monitoring systems and services. The original scheme was established in 2002 with the purpose of:- Provision of good quality monitoring data, Building on European Standards called up by WID and LCPD and Clear and efficient implementation.


The original scheme was set up to cover continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS) but was quickly adapted in other areas. The MCERTS accreditation mark can now be found on:- Testing Personnel, Test laboratories, Effleunt Analysers, Soil Analysis and Data Acquisition Software


Ten years since its introduction, the MCERTS scheme reflects the growing requirements for environmental monitoring to meet European and international standards. MCERTS is now a scheme that can be easily accessed by manufacturers, operators, regulators and test houses. With over 100 systems certified for a variety of different parameters, MCERTS is a proven success


The current version of MCERTS (version 3.1 onwards) for CEMS is aligned with a European certification standard EN 15267-3, Air quality - Certification of automated measuring systems, performance specifications and test procedures, for monitoring emissions from stationary sources. This standard is recognised across Europe and is used by TÜV Rheinland to certify CEMS in Europe. To satisfy the requirements of MCERTS version 3.1, and therefore EN 15267-3, the CEMS have to satisfy a variety of in depth tests:- CEMs undergo laboratory and field tests, Quality assurance and design control of manufacturing and Proves CEMs meet the requirements of Directives


As the certification has a life span of five years, the current list of MCERTS products show version 2 & version 3.1 certification. It is therefore of paramount importance that operators select the correct equipment, as the incorrect MCERTS accredited equipment could be a costly mistake. Site operators have to prove they can deliver their permit requirements and meeting MCERTS is a big part of the required compliance.


a1-cbiss (UK) have over 20 years expertise in designing and supplying CEMS equipment. With extensive knowledge of UK and European standards and offer ongoing support, in understanding and complying with site permits and the changes to come as the MCERTS standards grow and evolve.


Reader Reply Card No. 107


Osiris-Portable, Direct Reading, Airbourne Particle Sampler


Popular Analysers are Portable and Rentable


One of the family of Turnkey's direct reading airborne particle monitors, Osiris is a general purpose instrument which can be used as a portable instrument or deployed in a semi- permanent installation. Fitted into a Turnkey Lamp Post Box, Osiris can be quickly deployed to study short or long term pollution hotspots in towns and cities and exceedance areas rapidly determined. Osiris will


continuously indicate the concentration of TSP, PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 particles with a resolution of 0.1 micrograms per cubic metre. In its


workplacemode, it will indicate inhalable, thoracic and respirable concentrations. Osiris has achieved the Environment Agency's MCERTS certification, ensuring its accuracy in recording data.


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Dustmate-Hand-Held Direct Reading Fume and Dust Detector


The MCERTS approved HORIBA PG-250 has been one of the most popular instruments in Ashtead Technology’s (UK) fleet of rental equipment for a number of years. Jay Neermul, the company’s Environmental Product Manager says “This is because


it is able to analyse CO, NO/NOx, SO2 and CO2 using standard reference methods in a portable instrument that can be easily and safely transported from site to site.”


The PG-250 uses NDIR measurement technology for


CO, SO2, and CO2, and chemiluminescence for NOx, so it is directly comparable to larger rack-mounted CEMS in terms of methodology and accuracy. However, Jay believes that portability has been key to the instrument’s success. “Weighing just 17Kg, the PG-250 is ideal for test houses and for operators with multiple stacks that only require occasional testing,” he says. “It is also often employed to check fixed monitoring equipment or as emergency cover when online systems are not working.”


For flue gas monitoring applications the Testo 350 XL portable analyser is also MCERTS approved and is


used for cost-effective monitoring of O2, CO, NO, NO2 and SO2. The Testo 350 XL is portable and well suited to rental applications; it operates on mains power but


will also operate on internal rechargeable batteries for up to 3 hours, so it provides a high level of flexibility when accessing emissions from combustion processes.


Whilst Jay believes that the portability and flexibility of these instruments have been important factors in their popularity, he adds: “There are two other important reasons for the high demand that these instruments enjoy: firstly, we test and calibrate them prior to dispatch so that they are delivered ready to go. Secondly, our engineers are factory trained to ensure that they provide the best possible help and advice both when customers are choosing equipment and when they are using it.”


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DustMate is a hand-held instrument with a very fast response which has been designed to locate sources of workplace airborne dust and fumes even at very low concentrations. Highly effective for checking air quality within buildings. Its one second time resolution also allows it to be used as a road-side indicator to identify high pollution vehicles as they pass. The instrument will continuously indicate the concentration of thoracic, inhalable and respirable particles down to 0.1 micrograms per cubic metre. In its environmental mode, it will indicate TSP, PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 concentrations.


Reader Reply Card No. 111


Topas - Turnkey Optical Particle Analysis System


Topas (Turnkey Optical Particle Analysis System) is a fixed station monitor designed to continuously record


environmental TSP, PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 particles. Topas has achieved the Environment Agency's


MCERTS certification, ensuring its accuracy in recording data. The instrument is housed in a compact, unobtrusive stainless steel wall box with


IP66 protection. Inlet heating is fitted as standard. All controls and displays are located behind a lockable door. Several sites can be networked together to form a city wide monitoring system. Sites can be connected by radio, telephone or GSM modems, or fixed wiring and controlled by one PC using AirQ software.


Reader Reply Card No. 110


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www.envirotech-online.com IET March / April 2012


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