Formally launched on the 1st of August 2018 the SITMA Certification Scheme is a not-for-profit organisation that provides individual Sound Insulation Testers with a recognised and valued method of demonstrating their professional competence in Sound Insulation Testing. It provides the construction industry with a standardised certified report that ensures continued compliance with the requirements of Local Governments, Building Regulations, and relevant Testing Standards.
From its original inception under the lengthy name “ATTMA Registered Testers Scheme for Sound Insulation Testers” to its present-day incarnation, the SITMA Certification Scheme has always been dedicated to promoting the technical excellence of its members which is assured through SITMA’s refined certification process and maintained through a combination of annual recertification, specialised sound testing CPDs, dedicated technical & non-technical support as well as access to SITMA’s unique and highly specialised Lodgement Portal.
The SITMA Certification Scheme is a voluntary scheme, which over 120 industry sound insulation testers have chosen to operate within the Scheme. SITMA is proud to promote its popularity among industry professionals. Between these testers, over 120,000 tests from more than 23,000 unique sites located across the length and breadth of the UK have already been completed.
The Scheme itself is spear-headed by Managing Director Barry Cope, an experienced industry expert, who has been heading the highly successful and internationally recognised Air Tightness Testing & Measurement Association (ATTMA) and is joined by SITMA’s very own dedicated Site Liaison and Audit Manager Lee Thompson. Lee is active in the field being SITMA’s main point of contact for testers, with over 15 years of acoustic testing, technical management and auditing experience to provide support to members and ensure industry standards are maintained.
In order to back up the human expertise, SITMA has developed its own world class Lodgement Portal. Designed for sound testers, by sound testers, the Lodgement Portal is an excellent tool that allows certified persons to efficiently lodge each sound test and to create the required certified reports for clients and relevant building control bodies. In addition, the Lodgement Portal is capable of flagging test reports that fail to meet the criteria as defined within the Building Regulations as well as ensuring that all certified persons have up-to-date insurances and calibration certificates. Where documents are not valid, the Lodgement Portal is capable of automatically stopping certified reports from being issued.
SITMA strives to constantly develop itself and in line with the Dame Judith Hackitt report, specifically section 5.22 that reads:
“As a minimum, anybody which accredits competence in any trade or profession associated with the built environment should themselves be accredited by a rigorous, publicly recognised and accepted method of accreditation, for example by accreditation by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS)”.
Dame Judith Hackitt, Building a Safer Future – Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety: Final Report, May 2018
The SITMA Certification Scheme has endeavoured to achieve UKAS accreditation to ISO 17024:2012 with the understanding that this level of accreditation would add substantially to industry confidence in the SITMA Certification Schemes work as well as status of its certified persons. In February 2024, SITMA achieved UKAS Accreditation to ISO 17024:2012
If you are interested in joining the SITMA Certification Scheme the full scope of certification is available here and additional information regarding entry into the scheme, scheme fees, members code of conduct etc, are also available on the website.
If the information you’re looking for isn’t covered on the website don’t hesitate to contact us:
(SITMA) The Sound Insulation Testing and Measurement Association
Unit 3 Tannery Road Industrial Estate
Tannery Road
High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire
HP13 7EQ
+44(0)1494 358 159
SITMA are committed to running impartial schemes. Our impartiality statement, GDPR data management, data, whistleblowing policies can be accessed using the links above. This also include SITMA’s full complaints procedure if you are not happy with SITMA’s service.
The Sound Insulation Testing & Measurement Association
Head Office
Unit 3 Tannery Road Industrial Estate
Tannery Road
High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire
HP13 7EQ
+44 (0)1494 358 159
admin@bcta.group