Quiet Mark

What Quiet Mark does

Quiet Mark is an independent third-party acoustic certification organization founded in 2012 in London, UK, operating as the commercial trading arm of the Noise Abatement Society, a UK charity established in 1959. The company evaluates products from manufacturers and brands across 60+ product categories — spanning home appliances, kitchen equipment, building materials, HVAC, office acoustics, and industrial equipment — through purpose-built laboratory testing combined with declared technical data analysis and expert acoustician assessment. Only the top 10-20% quietest products in each category receive Quiet Mark certification, enabling consumers, architects, and specifiers to identify verified low-noise solutions.

The company generates revenue through per-product certification fees paid by manufacturers, brand partnership and listing fees for premium visibility on its platform, and laboratory testing services conducted in partnership with specialist acoustic labs including Anderson Acoustics, HEAD Acoustics, and Intertek. Quiet Mark has certified over 1,000 products from 90+ brands including Philips, Samsung, Dualit, KitchenAid, Magimix, Elvie, and STIHL. Distribution occurs through major UK retail partners (John Lewis, Harrods, Currys, Argos, Howdens), the NBS construction specification platform for architectural projects, and the company's own regional websites serving the UK, USA, Canada, and Europe.

The business operates with a headcount of 1-10 employees and is owned by the Noise Abatement Society, a nonprofit foundation. Its go-to-market follows a B2B2C model: manufacturers pay for certification, while end consumers discover certified products through retail listings, media coverage, and educational content including the Acoustics Academy, Quiet Mark Podcast, and Quiet Times newsletter. The company maintains RIBA-approved CPD status, partnerships with Good Housekeeping Institute in both the UK and USA, and serves as Official Partner of The Sound of the Year Awards.

Name

Quiet Mark

Legal name

Quiet Mark Approval Ltd.

Website

https://quietmark.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Quiet Mark is an independent UK-based acoustic certification organization that tests and certifies the quietest 10-20% of products across 60+ categories, serving manufacturers, retailers, architects, and consumers globally under the Noise Abatement Society.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Acoustic Certification Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Certification Program Administration & Scheme Management (Standard Owners) (AFALACAC)

Keywords

• Acoustic certification services
• Noise reduction testing
• Product certification programme
• Acoustic testing laboratory
• Building acoustic solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Certification Fees: Quiet Mark charges manufacturers a fee to have their products assessed and certified. Between 10% to 20% of the quietest products in each category are awarded Quiet Mark certification, generating revenue from certification approval.
2. Brand Partnership & Listing Fees: Brands listed on Quiet Mark's platform pay for premium visibility and certification recognition. Certified brands include Alen, Blueair, Dualit, KitchenAid, Philips, Magimix, and others across over 90 brands.
3. Testing Laboratory Services: Purpose-built acoustic testing laboratory conducts assessments of products, with support from specialist acoustic lab partners including Anderson Acoustics, HEAD Acoustics, and Intertek for specific product categories.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Quiet Mark operates an independent third-party acoustic certification programme that tests products against BS EN and ISO acoustic standards in purpose-built laboratory chambers, awarding certification to the top 10-20% quietest products in each of over 60 categories. Manufacturers pay certification fees to have their appliances, building materials, and commercial equipment assessed, after which certified products are surfaced to consumers through retail partnerships and to building professionals through the NBS specification platform and the Acoustics Academy.

Product overview

Quiet Mark is an acoustic certification organization that provides independent third-party expert acoustic testing and certification for products across over 60 categories spanning residential appliances, commercial equipment, and building materials. The core offering is the Quiet Mark certification program, which evaluates products against BS EN and ISO acoustic standards in purpose-built test laboratories, certifying the top 10-20% quietest products in each category. The portfolio includes certified products across Quiet Air (cooling, dehumidifiers, heating, purifiers, humidifiers), Quiet Baby (breast pumps), Quiet Bathroom, Quiet Bedroom, Quiet Central Heating (boilers, heat pumps), Quiet Cleaning (vacuum cleaners, floor cleaners, window vacs), Quiet Garden (lawnmowers, garden power tools), Quiet Kitchen (kettles, coffee machines, dishwashers, blenders, juicers, food processors, ovens, microwaves, and more), Quiet Laundry (washing machines, tumble dryers), Quiet Lighting, Quiet Music, Quiet Office, Quiet Commercial Kitchen, Quiet Hospital, Quiet Material Handling, and Quiet Construction. Supporting platforms include Acoustics Academy for building sector acoustic specifications, the Quiet Mark Podcast exploring acoustics in design, and the Quiet Times Newsletter delivering expert tips on quieter living.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Acoustics Academy: An online platform providing verified acoustic solutions and education for architects, builders, designers and specifiers covering building application areas including residential, commercial, education, healthcare, civic, infrastructure, governmental and public spaces

Products and services

• Quiet Mark Acoustic Certification
• Acoustics Academy
• Built Environment Sector Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 84% of Brits say it is important to have quiet time to recharge themselves
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• NBScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2021Industry-milestone partnership with NBS, a leading construction data and specification platform, empowering architects to specify acoustics first by providing quick access to Quiet Mark certified products.
• Appliance CityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK retailer partnership offering Quiet Mark certified products to consumers through Appliance City's retail and online channels.
• ArgoscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor UK retailer partnership with extensive Quiet Mark certified product listings across home appliances.
• CurryscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeading UK technology and appliance retailer partnership featuring Quiet Mark certified products.
• Good Housekeeping Institute UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing acoustic testing association with the Good Housekeeping Institute in the UK for consumer product testing and endorsement.
• Good Housekeeping Institute U.S.A.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished partnership with Good Housekeeping Institute in North America and Canada for acoustic testing.
• HarrodsflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLuxury department store partnership showcasing Quiet Mark certified premium products.
• Heat GeekminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialist heating and heat pump retailer partnership serving the UK market with Quiet Mark certified heating solutions.
• HowdenscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTrade kitchen and joinery business partnership providing Quiet Mark certified products for kitchen installations.
• John Lewis & PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium UK retailer partnership featuring Quiet Mark certified products, including interview with John Lewis Technology Director Laurence Mitchell on BBC.
• Trusted ReviewsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProduct review platform partnership providing consumer reviews and recommendations of Quiet Mark certified products.
• Anderson AcousticscoreTechnology or IntegrationLeading acoustic measurement partner affiliated with the Institute of Acoustics and Association of Noise Consultants.
• HEAD AcousticscoreTechnology or IntegrationWorld-leading company in comprehensive analysis of sound and vibration, providing specialist acoustic testing for Quiet Mark.
• IntertekcoreTechnology or IntegrationLeading Total Quality Assurance provider providing acoustic testing for Quiet Mark in specialist laboratories.
• Noise Abatement SocietyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuiet Mark is the trading arm of the UK's Noise Abatement Society charitable foundation established in 1959, funding its noise pollution work and hosting the annual John Connell Awards at the Houses of Parliament.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute: Standards organization administering the Cradle to Cradle Certified product mark across multiple sustainability and material-health criteria. Comparable as a multi-attribute, category-spanning certification mark with a similar 'top-quartile' certification philosophy to Quiet Mark.
• Which?: UK consumer advocacy organization that conducts independent product testing (including noise measurements on appliances) and uses the Which? Best Buy endorsement to influence purchase decisions. Comparable as an independent testing-driven trust signal in the UK appliance market.

Broad incumbents

• Intertek: Global Total Quality Assurance provider offering testing, inspection, and certification services across a vast range of products and industries. Comparable as a specialist acoustic testing partner and broader testing/certification competitor, though far larger and more diversified than Quiet Mark.
• TÜV Rheinland: Global testing and certification body offering product safety, EMC, acoustics, and quality marks across consumer and industrial categories. Comparable as an established third-party certification mark recognized by consumers and required by manufacturers for market access.
• SGS: World's leading testing, inspection, and certification company operating across consumer goods, industrial, and environmental verticals. Comparable in business model (third-party testing/certification generating recurring fees from manufacturers) and global footprint.
• Bureau Veritas: International testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) company serving building & infrastructure, marine, and consumer products markets. Comparable as a broad incumbent operating adjacent acoustic and product certification services at much greater scale.
• NSF International: Global public health and safety organization providing testing, inspection, and certification across water, food, consumer products, and building materials. Comparable as an independent certification body whose marks drive manufacturer investment in third-party validation.

Direct peers

• UL (Underwriters Laboratories): Global independent safety science organization that develops standards and operates third-party testing and certification programs across consumer products, building materials, and electronics. Highly comparable to Quiet Mark as a category-leading third-party mark that consumers recognize on product packaging.
• Good Housekeeping Institute: Established product testing laboratory that awards the Good Housekeeping Seal across consumer appliances and household goods. Quiet Mark's existing strategic testing partner and the most directly comparable consumer-facing third-party endorsement mark in the UK and US.

Others

• B Lab (B Corporation): Nonprofit network administering the B Corp certification for companies meeting social and environmental performance standards. Comparable as a nonprofit-rooted, mission-driven certification brand that has built consumer awareness through media presence and retailer partnerships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/QuietMark
• Facebookfacebook.com/QuietMark
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/quiet-mark
• Instagraminstagram.com/quiet_mark
• TikToktiktok.com/@quietmark_fyq?lang=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Quiet Mark