Swiss Gas and Water Association

What Swiss Gas and Water Association does

The Swiss Gas and Water Association (Schweizerischer Verein für Gas und Wasser, SVGW) is a non-profit professional association founded in 1863 and headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, serving as the official technical standards body, certification authority, and inspection authority for the country's water, gas, and district heating infrastructure sectors. It operates across four Swiss offices (Zürich headquarters, Schwerzenbach, Lausanne, and Bellinzona) with a staff of 51-100, providing services to utilities, industrial operators, planners, architects, installers, and consultants. The association is governed by a board (Vorstand) and managed by a secretariat (Geschäftsstelle), with no disclosed parent company or external investors.

The organization's core product suite includes the ZIS (Zertifizierungsverzeichnis Online) certification directory — an online database with tiered subscription access (Base, Standard, Premium, Premium Plus) covering certified water and gas products; the TISG (Technisches Inspektorat des Schweizerischen Gasfaches) technical inspection service for gas pipeline systems, industrial gas installations, biogas plants, and gas filling stations; product and personnel certification programs; a technical rule book (Regelwerk) sold through an e-commerce shop; and professional courses and conferences. It also operates a research fund (FOWA) for the water sector and publishes the AQUA & GAS industry journal.

SVGW's business model rests on a diversified mix of member-utility dues, certification and inspection fees, subscription revenue from the ZIS portal, training and conference revenue, and publication sales. Distribution is conducted primarily through direct online channels (ZIS portal, e-commerce shop, website) and educational events, all within Switzerland. Marketing activities include a monthly newsletter, topic-specific web content, training courses, and technical publications. The association also engages in regulatory advocacy, including responses to federal consultations on drinking water quality (e.g., PFAS in drinking water under the TBDV) and certification regulation updates.

Name

Swiss Gas and Water Association

Legal name

Schweizerischer Verein für Gas und Wasser (SVGW)

Website

https://svgw.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1863

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Swiss Gas and Water Association (SVGW) is a Swiss non-profit professional association founded in 1863 that serves as the official certification body, technical standards authority, and inspection service for the country's water, gas, and district heating utility sectors, providing certification, training, and rule-making services to utilities and industry professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Standards & Certification Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Building Inspection Services (54135)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Pressure Equipment, Boilers & Heat Exchanger Inspection (EUAEAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Metering Equipment Testing, Calibration & Certification (EUAJAKAA), Gas Measurement & Regulation Engineering (Sizing, Design, Standards Compliance) (EUAJAKAH), Gas Leak Detection & Gas Safety Testing (HSAOAKAC)

Keywords

• Water utility standards
• Gas utility certification
• Technical inspection services
• Drinking water certification
• District heating standards

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Swiss Gas and Water Association (SVGW) is a Swiss professional association (Fachverband) that provides certification services for products and personnel, technical inspections of gas facilities (via TISG), technical standards and rulebooks (Regelwerk), and professional training courses for Switzerland's water, gas, and district heating sectors. Its core operational pillars are Wasser (Water), Gas, and Wärme (Heat/District Heating), with the ZIS online directory enabling searchable access to certified products for planners, installers, and utilities.

Product overview

The Swiss Gas and Water Association (SVGW) operates as a professional association providing a portfolio of certification services, technical inspection, standards/rule books, and professional education for Switzerland's water, gas, and heating sectors. The core offerings include ZIS (online certification directories for Gas and Water products), product and personnel certification services, TISG technical inspection services, a technical rule book (Regelwerk) shop, and professional courses/conferences. These services are organized around three main pillars: Wasser (Water), Gas, and Wärme (Heat/District Heating), with TISG (Technical Inspectorate) providing specialized safety inspections for gas facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TISG: Technisches Inspektorat des Schweizerischen Gasfaches — the technical inspection authority of the Swiss gas industry, operating under SVGW.
• ZIS

Products and services

• ZIS Wasser (ZIS Water)

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Etertub AGminorOthersMember company listed under SVGW Fachfirmen (SVGW member companies directory), providing pipe and tubing products for water and gas infrastructure
• GWF AGminorOthersMember company listed under SVGW Fachfirmen, providing measurement and monitoring solutions for utilities
• Rittmeyer AGminorOthersMember company listed under SVGW Fachfirmen, providing automation and control systems for water and energy infrastructure
• TMH Hagenbucher AGminorOthersMember company listed under SVGW Fachfirmen
• vonRoll hydro (suisse) agminorOthersMember company listed under SVGW Fachfirmen, providing hydro power and water infrastructure solutions
• HFS Aqua AGminorOthersMember company listed under SVGW Fachfirmen
• Wild Armaturen AGminorOthersMember company listed under SVGW Fachfirmen, providing valve solutions for water and gas
• Ventradex AGminorOthersMember company listed under SVGW Fachfirmen
• CREABETON AGminorOthersMember company listed under SVGW Fachfirmen, providing concrete infrastructure products
• HOLINGER AGminorOthersMember company listed under SVGW Fachfirmen, providing engineering services for water and environment
• CSD INGENIEURE AGminorOthersMember company listed under SVGW Fachfirmen, providing engineering and consulting services

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• AFNOR: France's national standards body and certification operator. Comparable to SVGW in standards-setting and certification, but operates in the French regulatory environment rather than Switzerland.
• Water UK: UK water industry representative body with regulatory engagement, technical publications and member services. Comparable to SVGW's water pillar in industry-association function, though UK-focused.
• AENOR: Spain's national standards, certification and TIC body. Comparable to SVGW's combined standards-setting, product certification and inspection role, but for the Spanish market.
• DWA (Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall): German water/wastewater industry association with strong technical-rules and training portfolio. Directly comparable to SVGW's water pillar in scope and member-driven operating model, though German-focused.

Direct peers

• Kiwa: European TIC group with deep water and gas certification expertise. Directly comparable to SVGW's ZIS and product certification activity, with overlapping scope in certifying products and installers for utility-grade infrastructure.
• DVGW (Deutscher Verein des Gas- und Wasserfaches): Germany's national technical-scientific association for gas and water. Closest direct analogue to SVGW, covering technical rules, certification of products and personnel, and inspection of gas and water infrastructure in the DACH region.
• ÖVGW (Österreichische Vereinigung für das Gas- und Wasserfach): Austrian counterpart to SVGW for gas and water. Provides highly comparable standards, certification, and inspection services in a similarly structured multi-utility framework.

Broad incumbents

• SGS: World's largest TIC company, active in energy, gas and water testing and certification. Competes with SVGW's inspection and product certification franchises at an international scale SVGW does not operate at.
• TÜV SÜD: Global TIC group with industrial and energy infrastructure certification and inspection. Overlaps with SVGW's TISG inspection role and ZIS-style product certification, but across a much wider portfolio and geography.
• Bureau Veritas: Global TIC incumbent with energy, utilities and infrastructure inspection lines. Competes with TISG in gas and pipeline inspections while offering far broader geographic and vertical coverage.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/svgw_ssige
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCldJ4sXaLraphY_S8Ht-Hew
• Facebookfacebook.com/SVGWSSIGE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/svgw-ssige/?originalSubdomain=ch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Swiss Gas and Water Association