Solar mounting products that lost certification to the Solar Mounting Product Standard (MCS 012) on 10 May 2025 will have their listings expired in the MCS Installations Database and the MCS Product Directory on 10 August 2026, MCS has confirmed. From that date the products will no longer be selectable when creating an MCS certificate1.
MCS said it opened an investigation after several products lost certification, to understand differences in approach between Product Certification Bodies (CBs) on the withdrawal of product certificates. A six-month grace period was opened at the time, and MCS has since extended it by a further nine months, to 10 August 2026. MCS stated this will be the final extension1.
"On 10/08/2026, product listings will be expired in the MCS Installations Database and MCS Product Directory and will no longer be available to installers to select when creating an MCS certificate."
During the grace period, installers can use products that already hold certification to the latest version of MCS 012, and can continue to use affected products that previously held certification. Affected products are marked in the MCS Installation Database and MCS Product Directory with the label "GRACE PERIOD" after the certification number, and certification dates are displayed as 10/05/2025 to 10/08/20261.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Certification lost | 10 May 2025 |
| Original grace period | Six months |
| Extension | Nine months |
| Grace period ends | 10 August 2026 |
| Listing status from 10 August 2026 | Expired in MCS Installations Database and MCS Product Directory |
MCS said the extension is intended to give CBs and manufacturers additional time to make the certification process under the standard transparent and clearly communicated, to increase consistency in testing across CBs, and to provide confidence for installers. MCS said it consulted with manufacturers and product Certification Bodies over recent months1.
Why it matters for households
Solar mounting products hold the panels on a roof, so their certification status sits behind the paperwork a household receives for an installation. A product in the grace period can still be used and can still be selected for an MCS certificate until 10 August 2026, which means installations completed before that date are not affected by the expiry itself1.
After that date, an installer will not be able to select an expired product when creating an MCS certificate. Households whose installation uses an affected product and who later need a certificate, for example for a warranty claim or a sale, may find the product no longer appears as selectable in the database. The MCS Product Directory is the reference point for checking whether a product falls under the grace period1.
The wider context is the MCS certification for solar PV installations that underpins how a rooftop system is recognised, and the manufacturer certification and approvals route that a mounting product must follow to stay listed. Households comparing mounting options can check the MCS certified product directory for current listings.
What happens next
MCS said affected manufacturers that have not started the certification process should do so as soon as possible, and should contact all available CBs that offer solar mounting certification to understand their offer and timescales1. MCS said it will continue to provide updates throughout the extended grace period. No further extension has been reported.
Sources1 cited
- Grace Period Extension for Solar Mounting Products - News - MCS, mcscertified.com