MMC Toolkit

Any organisation manufacturing or distributing a construction product or system may apply to evidence the uses of the product or system that are compliant with the Irish Building Regulations.

No, but it is increasingly included in the assessment criteria for tenders, especially in the public sector, and as a mark of credibility and capability in the private sector.

NSAI Agrément offers a wide range of benefits across project lifecycles and teams, including:

Assurance of compliance with the Building Regulations

Improved definition of Roles & Responsibilities to focus coordination and communication across the disciplines delivering a construction project.

Enhanced quality with improved project outcomes and decision-making on specification.

Sustainability through factory controls, waste management and continuous improvement.

Alignment with Ireland's digital construction and public sector procurement strategies

Applicants that hold certification for other schemes may experience shorter timelines as technical information packs are  typically more complete at application stage.

Certification is based on the Irish Building Regulations, with alignment to standards and best practice guidance from national and international sources.

NSAI provides guidance on MMC certification through our website, which includes an MMC Agrément application toolkit;  This outlines each stage from enquiry right up to the award of a certificate and maintenance thereafter.

The assessment fees incurred for building systems are based on the estimated effort including complexity of construction details, analysis of test data and time at factory and site.

The certification process typically takes 6-24 months from initial application. A breakdown of the process steps is included in the MMC Agrément guide which illustrates the time required for the comprehensive assessment.

The NSAI website includes an online application form for Agrément certification. The NSAI ‘Guide to Agrément Certification for Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)‘ details the supplementary documentation for upload with the application form.

NSAI provides templates and process mapping throughout the process, see NSAI.ie/mmctoolkit. This supports the clients project manager. An early-stage document review (‘gap analysis’) is conducted to help organisations prepare for assessment.

NSAI does not provide any consultancy service in respect of technical specification or the operation of the QMS, or factory control plan where applicable.

NSAI does not provide nor recommend contacts for consultancy services. Applicants are advised to contact the ACEI for advice in relation to appropriate sources of competent professionals.

Please visit www.inab.ie/contact-us/frequently-asked-questions/ for information on the role of the Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB).

Please search the NSAI online database of Agrément certificates: www.nsai.ie/certification/agrement-certification/search-agrements-certificates/

NSAI Agrément certificates are valid for 5 years from date of issue. Companies wishing to renew NSAI certificates must reapply to NSAI in advance of the 5 year expiry to initiate a certificate review. If a certificate revision is completed during the initial 5 year period, the revised certificate date commences a new 5 year period.

An annual registration fee and surveillance audit is required to maintain the MMC Agrément certificate.

The assessment of the compliance of a product or system is based on the information submitted and the regulations in place at the time of certification. If regulations change, the certificate holder typically applies to NSAI for a certificate revision to address the relevant changes. This is normally triggered by communication of regulation changes through industry events, such as CPD days hosted by the NBCO. Regulation changes typically include a transition period to facilitate knowledge exchange.