What PFS Teco does

PFS TECO (legal entity PFS Corporation dba PFS·TECO) is a US-based, third-party testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) company specializing in the built environment. Founded through the 2015 merger of PFS Corporation and Timberco Inc. dba TECO — with operating roots dating to 1933 — the company operates three divisions: Manufactured Structures (HUD IPIA/DAPIA plan review and in-plant inspection of factory-built housing and modular buildings across all 50 US states and Canada), Building Products (certification and testing of OSB, plywood, engineered wood, mass timber/CLT, structural adhesives, formaldehyde emissions, and building components), and Hearth Products (EPA-accredited testing and certification of gas, wood, and pellet-burning appliances for US, Canadian, and Japanese markets). Services are delivered through three ISO 17025 accredited laboratories in Cottage Grove, WI; Springfield, OR; and Clackamas/Portland, OR, plus a regional office network across the US.

The business model blends professional-services testing fees, recurring subscription-like certification/listing fees (annual, quarterly, monthly), and per-unit label fees — particularly for HUD data plates on manufactured homes — generating a hybrid revenue mix with meaningful recurring economics. Customers include HUD-code home manufacturers, modular construction firms, OSB/plywood mills operating in 15+ countries, engineered wood producers, and hearth appliance OEMs, with no single named customer appearing to dominate. Marketing is conducted through industry alliances (MBI, MHI, AF&PA, APA, ASTM), a quarterly newsletter, an extensive technical library, and PFS Seminars rather than broad consumer channels. Distribution is direct enterprise sales via division-specific contacts and a field auditor network across the US and Canada.

As of August 1, 2025, PFS TECO was acquired by NFPA Global Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Fire Protection Association, ending its 100% employee-owned (ESOP) status that had been in place since 2019. Prior acquisitions include Dirigo Laboratories (December 2017), which expanded the EPA Wood Heater Emissions program capability. The company holds a broad accreditation stack including ANAB, A2LA, CARB TPC-3, SCC (Canada), MAFF (Japan), EPA, HUD IPIA/DAPIA, and Florida Building Commission recognition.

Name

PFS Teco

Legal name

PFS Corporation dba PFS·TECO

Website

https://pfsteco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

PFS TECO is a US-based third-party testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) firm serving HUD manufactured home manufacturers, modular builders, engineered wood and panel producers, and hearth appliance OEMs across North America and select international markets. Acquired by NFPA Global Solutions in August 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Testing, Inspection, and Certification Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Third-Party Certification, Code Compliance & Regulatory Inspection (ASME/API/ISO) (EUAEAHAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Third-Party Verification & Assurance (ISO 14064, ISAE 3000, limited/reasonable) (EUAHADAE), Chain of Custody (CoC) Certification for Forest Products (AFAMALAB), Sustainability Testing, Certification & Compliance (LCA, Recyclability/Compostability Testing, FSC/PEFC) (IMALAMAK)

Keywords

• Testing inspection certification
• Building product testing
• Manufactured housing certification
• Hearth product testing
• Code compliance certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Cottage Grove

HQ country

United States

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 Fees: Fees charged for physical testing of building products, wood panels, adhesives, structural materials, and hearth products conducted in the company's three accredited laboratories.
2. Certification and Listing Fees: Annual, quarterly, and monthly fees for product certification programs. Certified products may bear the PFS or TECO certification mark. Fees cover ongoing surveillance, certification maintenance, and use of certification marks.
3. Label Fees: Fees charged per unit for certification labels/plates affixed to certified products, particularly HUD-manufactured homes, as part of the compliance verification process.
4. Plan Review and Inspection Services: Fees for electronic plan review, DAPIA design package review, in-plant inspections, and quality assurance oversight for manufactured structures (HUD homes, modular buildings, factory-built homes) across the US and Canada.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PFS Teco provides third-party testing, inspection, and certification services for the built environment, operating three ISO 17025 accredited laboratories across the U.S. and Canada. The company evaluates building products, manufactured structures (including homes produced in Mexico serving the U.S. market), and hearth products against major U.S. and Canadian building, mechanical, and fire codes to enable manufacturers to demonstrate code compliance and product performance.

Product overview

PFS Teco is a third-party testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) company specializing in the built environment. The company operates through three divisions: Manufactured Structures Division (providing HUD and modular structure certification, plant audits, and plan review), Building Products Division (offering certification for panel products, engineered wood, mass timber/CLT, building components, formaldehyde certification, and evaluation reports), and Hearth Products Division (certifying gas and wood burning appliances, special projects testing, and auditing). Testing services are delivered through three ISO 17025 accredited laboratories in Wisconsin and Oregon. In August 2025, PFS Teco was acquired by NFPA Global Solutions, becoming part of the National Fire Protection Association family.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Building Products Testing & Certification Third-party testing, design evaluation, and certification of building products (e.g., engineered wood, fasteners, structural components) against IBC, IRC, AWC SDPWS, NDS, AISI S100, and related standards, used by building product manufacturers to demonstrate code compliance and qualify for programs such as ENERGY STAR.
• Manufactured Structures Design Evaluation & Certification Third-party design evaluation, certification, and in-plant quality assurance inspections for manufactured housing producers under the federal HUD Code and ANSI A119, including homes produced in Mexico for the U.S. market.
• Hearth Products Testing & Certification Third-party testing, certification, and quality assurance inspections for gas, wood, and pellet hearth appliances (fireplaces, stoves, inserts) against NFPA 31, NFPA 54, UL 127, and related standards.
• ISO 17025 Accredited Laboratory Testing Physical performance testing in three ISO 17025 accredited laboratories covering structural, fire, durability, thermal, mechanical, weathering, and hurricane performance, supporting the building products, manufactured structures, and hearth products divisions.
• In-Plant Quality Assurance Inspections

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and moderate.

• American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA)minorOthersIndustry alliance partner. AF&PA (now American Forest & Paper Association) was founded in 1902 and represents manufacturers of wood products and paper. The association was linked to the origins of TECO in 1933 when the National Lumber Manufacturing Association determined that structural timber data was needed.
• American Institute of Timber Construction (AITC)minorOthersIndustry alliance partner providing information about glulam timber construction standards and related topics.
• American Wood Council (AWC)minorOthersIndustry alliance partner. AWC develops and maintains building codes and standards for wood products. PFS TECO donated NDS (National Design Specification) for Wood Construction sets to Gonzaga University engineering students, referencing AWC's Wood Design Standards Committee.
• ASTM InternationalcoreTechnology or IntegrationIndustry alliance partner. ASTM standards are referenced extensively throughout PFS TECO's testing and certification programs, including ASTM E84, D1761, D2395, D5456, and dozens of others for structural, adhesive, and formaldehyde testing.
• Building Systems Councils (BSC)minorOthersIndustry alliance partner of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) focused on manufactured housing and modular construction.
• Canadian Standards Association (CSA)coreOthersIndustry alliance and standards body. PFS TECO holds certification agency accreditation from the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) for Canadian market certification programs. CSA standards (O121, O151, O153, O325) are referenced for Canadian structural panel certification.
• Canadian Wood Council (CWC)minorOthersIndustry alliance partner providing information on Canadian wood construction standards and building codes.
• Engineered Wood Products Association (EWPA)minorOthersIndustry alliance partner. TECO is noted as a founding sponsor of the Engineered Wood Products Association.
• USDA Forest Service — Forest Products Laboratory (FPL)minorOthersResearch alliance partner. FPL conducts wood products research. Their publication 'An Evolutionary History of Oriented Strandboard (OSB)' (FPL-GTR-236) is referenced in PFS TECO's technical literature.
• Forest Products SocietyminorOthersIndustry alliance partner connecting wood products researchers and industry professionals.
• International Wood Products Association (IWPA)minorOthersIndustry alliance partner for international wood products trade. PFS TECO certifies panel products manufactured in more than 15 countries for global markets.
• Modular Building Institute (MBI)moderateOthersIndustry alliance partner. PFS TECO VP Bob Gorleski was featured in Modular Advantage magazine published by MBI, and PFS TECO is recognized by the IBC for modular construction programs across all states.
• Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI)moderateOthersIndustry alliance partner representing manufactured housing manufacturers. PFS TECO is a HUD-approved IPIA serving this industry.
• Wood I-Joist Manufacturers Association (WIJMA)minorOthersIndustry alliance partner representing wood I-joist manufacturers, a product category certified by PFS TECO.
• NFPA Global SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPFS TECO was acquired by NFPA Global Solutions on August 1, 2025. NFPA Global Solutions is an independently operated, wholly owned subsidiary of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The acquisition is described as strategic, expanding compliance solutions, digital products, and advisory services. Both companies share a similar mission of enhancing safety. The acquisition came from employee-owners.
• Dirigo Laboratories (acquired)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcquired December 31, 2017 (effective January 2, 2018). Dirigo was an EPA-accredited Testing Laboratory; PFS TECO was already an EPA-accredited Third Party Certifier. The combination provided full service in the EPA Wood Heater Emissions program and greatly expanded hearth products testing and certification capabilities. Sebastian Button, Dirigo's Laboratory Supervisor, joined PFS TECO as Laboratory Supervisor for the Hearth Products testing laboratory.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• NTA, Inc. (now ICC NTA): ICC NTA is a direct competitor providing third-party testing, inspection, and certification for modular, manufactured, and off-site construction as well as building products. Highly comparable given overlap on HUD IPIA/DAPIA services, modular plan review, and Evaluation Reports.
• Radco Greenbrier Modular Services: Radco provides third-party design and inspection services for modular and manufactured buildings across the US, with overlapping HUD/state modular certification work directly competing with PFS TECO's Manufactured Structures Division.
• Timber Products Inspection (TP): Timber Products Inspection is a long-standing accredited wood-panel and lumber certification agency, directly comparable to PFS TECO's Panel Products certification and structural panel compliance work; co-defendant with PFS TECO in the 2019 Plywood Coalition lawsuit.
• ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES): ICC-ES issues Evaluation Reports and PMG listings for innovative building products, directly competing with PFS TECO's Evaluation Report product; both serve code officials, manufacturers, and specifiers across similar end-use building product categories.
• QAI Laboratories: QAI Laboratories provides third-party testing, inspection, and certification for building products, including structural, mechanical, and fire testing; directly comparable TIC service portfolio to PFS TECO's Building Products Division across testing and certification programs.
• LabTest Certification Inc. LabTest Certification is an accredited TIC provider for building products, hearth appliances, and electrical equipment, with overlapping scope on gas and wood-burning appliance certification that competes directly with PFS TECO's Hearth Products Division.

Broad incumbents

• Underwriters Laboratories (UL Solutions): UL Solutions is a global TIC incumbent offering safety certification, testing, and inspection services overlapping with PFS TECO's hearth products and building component certification work, with significantly broader scale and brand recognition.
• Intertek: Intertek is a global TIC leader with services covering building products, construction materials, and consumer goods certification; competes with PFS TECO across building product testing, structural testing, and certification programs at larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Architectural Testing (now part of Intertek): Architectural Testing provided fenestration, building envelope, and structural product testing with overlapping scope to PFS TECO's structural testing services; now operates within Intertek's Building & Construction group, broadening the competitive threat from a global incumbent.
• Element Materials Testing: Element is a global TIC provider offering materials testing, structural testing, and product certification services across multiple industries; comparable to PFS TECO's laboratory capabilities in structural, adhesive, and formaldehyde emission testing, albeit at greater scale and across more verticals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance16 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about PFS Teco