QAI Laboratories

What QAI Laboratories does

QAI Laboratories is an independent third-party testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) organization founded in 1995 by Steven Harris and headquartered in Burnaby, Canada. It operates accredited laboratories in the United States and Canada, holding NRTL designation under OSHA's NRTL program, accreditations from International Accreditation Services (IAS) and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), and EPA WaterSense Licensed Certifying Body status. The company delivers three core service lines — product certification, product testing, and quality inspection — supported by in-house capabilities across electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC/EMI), fire and flammability, building products, plumbing, fenestration, materials testing, geotechnical engineering, RV and park model trailers, factory-built structures, gas products, and emerging categories such as carbon footprint certification, SEMI S2 semiconductor safety, solar/PV fire testing, and China-specific CCC and SRRC schemes.

The revenue model is quote-based professional services with multi-year contracts, augmented by a recurring Listing Directory subscription for certified-product listings. Customer engagement is sales-led, conducted through US (888.540.4024) and Canadian (877.461.8378) phone lines, regional email channels for Europe, China, and South Korea, and a website-based 'Get a Quote' workflow. QAI primarily serves vertical manufacturers across recreational vehicles, plumbing, building products, and electrical products, with named customers including Forest River (14-year relationship), Audio Control, Heartland RV family of brands, OPCO, and Altro USA. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is structured project-by-project around testing scope and standards.

The business has expanded through a combination of inorganic and organic moves: the 2019 acquisition of Fenestration Testing Laboratories broadened window/door capabilities, while 2025 saw strategic cooperation agreements with xSiTE (October 2025) and Korea Testing & Research Institute (August 2025), an expansion of Code Evaluation Report services into Canada (October 2025), and ongoing introduction of new certification programs in sustainability and Asian regulatory regimes. The company remains privately held under founder Steven Harris, with no disclosed institutional funding, parent, or exit events.

Name

QAI Laboratories

Legal name

QAI Laboratories

Website

https://qai.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

QAI Laboratories is an independent, accredited third-party testing, inspection, and certification organization headquartered in Burnaby, Canada, operating in-house laboratories in the USA and Canada. It serves vertical manufacturers across RV, plumbing, building products, electrical safety, EMC/EMI, fire, and fenestration industries, holding NRTL, IAS, SCC, and EPA WaterSense designations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Testing, Inspection and Certification Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Quality Assurance/Quality Control & Accreditation (QA plans, proficiency testing, ISO/IEC 17025) (EUANAJAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Laboratory Quality Systems, Accreditation & Proficiency Testing Programs (HLAJAIAM)

Keywords

• Product testing services
• Certification services
• Inspection services
• Compliance testing
• EMC testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Burnaby

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Testing Services: Accredited laboratory testing services including building products, EMC testing, electrical safety testing, fire testing, materials testing, and plumbing testing
2. Product Certification Services: Certification program offering accredited evaluation and analysis of products followed by inspection for conformance to standards and quality procedures
3. Inspection Services: Quality inspection services monitoring manufacturing processes, final products, and quality documentation for compliance
4. Listing Directory Services: Value-added listing directory service allowing companies ease, convenience and speed in getting their product to market

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

QAI Laboratories is an independent third-party testing, inspection, and certification organization providing accredited laboratory testing, product certification, and quality inspection services to manufacturers. The company operates in-house laboratories in the USA and Canada covering building products, EMC/EMI, electrical safety, fire testing, plumbing, RV and park model trailers, fenestration, materials, geotechnical engineering, and related compliance disciplines, supported by NRTL, IAS, SCC, and EPA WaterSense accreditations.

Product overview

QAI Laboratories is an independent third-party testing, inspection, and certification organization offering comprehensive services across multiple industries. The company operates as a unified platform providing three core services—Product Certification Services, Product Testing Services, and Product Quality Inspection Services—which form the foundation of its offerings. These core services are complemented by industry-specific focus areas including Electrical Safety, EMC/EMI Testing, Building Products, Plumbing, Gas Products, Factory Built Structures, RVs and Park Model Trailers, Fenestration, Geotechnical Engineering, and Materials Testing. QAI also provides specialized solutions such as EPA WaterSense Product Certification, Hazardous Location Testing, Semiconductor Safety (SEMI S2), Solar Panel Fire Testing, China Compulsory Certification (CCC), China Wireless SRRC Certification, and Carbon Footprint Certification. The company serves as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) under OSHA's program and holds accreditations from International Accreditation Services (IAS) and Standards Council of Canada (SCC). The Listing Directory provides a comprehensive record of all certified products across various categories including building products, electrical products, plumbing products, windows & doors, factory built structures, RV products, and code evaluation reports.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Product Testing Services Accredited laboratory testing services for building products, EMC testing, electrical safety testing, fire testing, and other industries, provided to manufacturers and government clients.
• Product Certification Services Accredited evaluation and analysis of products followed by inspection for conformance to standards and quality procedures, covering RV components, plumbing, and building products.
• Product Quality Inspection Services Monitoring and inspection of manufacturing processes, final products, and quality documentation for compliance, including evaluation of manufacturing plants.
• Code Evaluation Report Service (CER) Code evaluation report services for assessing product compliance with building codes and standards, supporting manufacturers seeking jurisdictional approvals.
• Geotechnical Engineering Services Expert testing, analysis, and certification services for soil and foundation systems to ensure safety, stability, and compliance.
• Electrical Safety Testing and Certification Full spectrum of certification, safety testing, inspections and evaluations for virtually any electrical product, leveraging QAI's NRTL designation.
• Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC/EMI) Testing and Certification In-house EMC/EMI testing capabilities for compliance testing and certification of electronic products.
• Machinery Safety and Compliance Testing Safety testing, inspection, and certification services for machinery compliance.
• Materials Testing (Metallurgy and Polymers) Comprehensive testing and certification for metals, polymers, and composites to ensure strength, durability, and compliance across industries.
• Calibration Services Calibration services supporting laboratory and manufacturing measurement accuracy.
• Factory Built Structures Certification Certification program for Factory Built Housing and Commercial Structures demonstrating compliance with building codes.
• Certification of RVs and Park Model Trailers Certification services for recreational vehicles and park model trailers including components and running gear.
• Transport Canada Pre-clearance Services Compliance services to meet requirements of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act in Canada.
• Plumbing Certification Testing and certification services for plumbing PLC, PEX fittings, pressures, fixtures and tubing systems.
• Testing and Certification of Gas and Solid-Fuel Products Certification services for gas and solid-fuel products including vented gas fireplace heaters and solid fuel type room heaters.
• Building Products Testing and Certification Complete suite of testing, certification, and inspection services covering building products from roof to foundation, exterior to interior, including coatings, coverings, fillers, and fire testing.
• Fenestration Testing and Certification Testing and certification services for windows and doors including energy performance and physical performance.
• Fire Doors Testing and Certification Testing and certification for fire-resistant door hardware and fire door assemblies, plus field evaluation and labeling services.
• EPA WaterSense Product Certification Authorized to test and certify plumbing products to EPA WaterSense water conservation requirements, including flushometer-valve toilets, high-efficiency urinals, lavatory faucets, tank-type toilets, and showerheads for US and Canada.
• Carbon Footprint Product Certification Certification services for products related to carbon footprint and environmental sustainability.
• Solar and Photovoltaic Panel Fire Testing Fire resistance testing for solar and photovoltaic panels and racking system certification.
• Fire and Flammability Testing for Materials Fire and flammability testing services for materials including fire-resistant door hardware and fire door assemblies.
• Hazardous Location Testing and Certification Explosion proof testing and certification for hazardous locations electrical safety.
• Special Inspections on Electrical Devices (SPE-1000) Special inspection services for electrical devices under SPE-1000 standards.
• Semiconductor Safety Services (SEMI S2) Safety evaluation services for semiconductor manufacturing equipment under SEMI S2 standards.
• China Compulsory Certification (CCC) Certification services for products requiring CCC compliance for the Chinese market.
• China Wireless SRRC Certification Wireless certification services for products requiring SRRC approval in China.
• Listing Directory Online directory service providing listing of certified products including building products, electrical products, plumbing products, windows and doors, gas products, factory built structures, RV products, and ICC-ES report holders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30-year track record with 14+ year client relationships (Forest River)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• xSiTEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2025QAI announced a new strategic cooperation with xSiTE in October 2025. The partnership aims to enhance capabilities and expand service offerings in the testing and certification industry.
• Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 August 2025QAI Laboratories and KTR signed a partnership agreement in August 2025 marking a new chapter in global testing and certification collaboration. The signing ceremony represents mutual cooperation in testing and certification services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SGS: SGS is one of the world's largest testing, inspection, and certification companies, with overlapping capabilities in electrical, building products, EMC, and industrial compliance testing.
• CSA Group: Canada-based CSA Group is a Standards Council of Canada–accredited certification body offering product testing and certification for electrical, plumbing, gas, and building products — directly competitive with QAI in the Canadian market.
• Intertek: Intertek is a global TIC provider with electrical safety, EMC, building products, and certification services, competing for the same OEM and manufacturer customers QAI serves across North America and internationally.
• UL Solutions: UL Solutions is the largest US product safety testing and certification organization, operating the NRTL program and offering EMC, electrical, building, and sustainability certification services that directly overlap QAI's core TIC portfolio.
• Element Materials Technology: Element Materials Technology is a global testing and certification provider with fire, materials, EMC, and product safety labs that overlap QAI's building products, materials testing, and EMC service lines.
• Bureau Veritas: Bureau Veritas is a global TIC company offering electrical, EMC, building, and industrial certification services, with comparable accreditations and a broader geographic footprint than QAI.
• TÜV SÜD: TÜV SÜD is a global TIC firm offering electrical safety, EMC, building products, and machinery certification, often competing with QAI for North American manufacturers seeking international certification.
• DEKRA: DEKRA is a global TIC organization with strong electrical safety, EMC, and product testing capabilities, frequently cited as a competitor in the same NRTL-eligible certification space.

Emerging players

• MET Laboratories: MET Laboratories is a US-based NRTL and EMC testing laboratory with overlapping electrical safety and EMC services; smaller than QAI but competing for similar mid-market OEM accounts.

Broad incumbents

• NSF International: NSF International is a broad public-health and product certification body active in plumbing (lead-free, water quality), electrical, and sustainability programs, partially overlapping QAI's plumbing and EPA WaterSense work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/QAILaboratories

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about QAI Laboratories