EFSG

What EFSG does

EFSG (European Fire and Security Group) is a France-headquartered association of seven well-established European certification bodies that facilitates multi-country third-party certification for manufacturers of fire protection, intrusion alarm, and secure storage products. Its member bodies — AFNOR (France), BRE Global/LPCB (UK), CNPP (France), DBI (Denmark), IMQ (Italy, joined August 2025), SBSC (Sweden), and VdS (Germany) — issue individual quality marks (A2P, LPCB, NF, VdS, SBSC, DBI, IMQ) that are mutually recognized under EFSG's framework. EFSG's core offering is the Multiple Certification program built on Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs), enabling a manufacturer to obtain multiple European certification marks through a single testing and evaluation process rather than repeating testing in each country.

The technical foundation comprises a network of Associated Testing Laboratories (ATLs) that undergo regular audits and inter-laboratory comparisons to ensure test result homogeneity, harmonized common application forms and product-specific appendices (e.g., for EN 54 and EN 14604 standards), and coordinated factory production control audits across member bodies. EFSG certifies products in three domains: fire detection and alarm components, intrusion alarm system components, and secure storage units and high security locks. The organization also cooperates with Euralarm (5,000+ member companies in fire safety and security) and Eurosafe (European safe manufacturers) to engage with industry stakeholders.

EFSG's business model is association-based rather than direct fee-for-service. The organization does not sell certification directly; instead, its member bodies issue individual marks under the MRA framework, with revenue accruing to the member bodies rather than to EFSG itself. Governance is provided by a Board of Management drawn from member organizations, with a rotating Chairman (Peter Schramm of VdS was elected in September 2025, succeeding Guillaume Savornin of CNPP). The Secretariat is hosted by VdS in Cologne, Germany, and led by Sylvia Kelly.

Name

EFSG

Legal name

EFSG - European Fire and Security Group

Website

https://efsg.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EFSG is a France-based association of seven European certification bodies (AFNOR, BRE/LPCB, CNPP, DBI, IMQ, SBSC, VdS) that facilitates multi-country third-party certification for manufacturers of fire detection, intrusion alarm, and secure storage products through Mutual Recognition Agreements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-marcel

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Multiple Certification Services: EFSG facilitates third-party certification services through its member bodies, enabling manufacturers to obtain multiple European certification marks (e.g., A2P, LPCB, NF, VdS, SBSC, DBI, IMQ) through a single process, reducing redundant testing and certification costs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

EFSG is an association of European certification bodies that facilitates multi-country third-party certification for manufacturers of fire protection, intrusion alarm, and secure storage products. Through Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) among its seven member bodies (AFNOR, BRE/LPCB, CNPP, DBI, IMQ, SBSC, VdS), a manufacturer can complete a single testing process and obtain multiple accredited European certification marks (A2P, NF, LPCB, DBI, SBSC, VdS, IMQ), reducing redundant testing, costs, and time-to-market.

Product overview

EFSG offers a portfolio of third-party certification services for fire protection and security equipment manufacturers. The core offering is a Multiple Certification program through Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) that enables manufacturers to obtain multiple European certification marks through a single testing process. The certification services span three main domains: Fire Detection Certification (for fire alarm system components), Security Intrusion Certification (for intrusion alarm system components), and Secure Storage and High Security Locks Certification (for safes, strongrooms, and high security locks). The MRAs enable cost-efficient multi-country certification recognized across European markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fire Detection Certification Third-party certification service for fire detection and fire alarm system components, including control and indicating equipment, sounders, power supplies, heat detectors, smoke detectors, flame detectors, manual call points, short circuit isolators, input/output devices, and visual alarm devices. Delivered through EFSG member bodies using harmonized European standards and mutual recognition.
• Security Intrusion Certification Third-party certification service for intrusion alarm system components, including control and indicating equipment, passive infrared detectors, microwave detectors, combined detectors, opening contacts, supervised premises transceivers, wireless interconnections, and power supplies. Delivered through EFSG member bodies under mutual recognition agreements.
• Secure Storage and High Security Locks Certification Third-party certification service for secure storage units — including safes, ATM safes, strongroom doors, strongrooms, deposit systems, and secure cabinets — and high security locks, verifying resistance to burglary and unauthorized opening. Delivered through EFSG member bodies (notably CNPP/A2P, SBSC, VdS).
• Multiple Certification via Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRA) Streamlined multi-country certification offering that allows manufacturers to obtain multiple European certification marks through a single testing and evaluation process under EFSG's MRAs, preventing redundant testing and accelerating market access across European markets.

Quantifiable outcome

• Single testing and evaluation process yields multiple accepted certification marks across Europe
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• IMQ (Istituto Marchio Italiano)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 August 2025IMQ, the only Italian certification body in EFSG, joined the group by signing a mutual recognition agreement. IMQ test reports covering intrusion alarm control panels, power supplies, and wireless interconnections are now accepted by all EFSG member bodies signatory to the agreement. IMQ actively participates in EFSG's Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs).
• AFNOR (Association Française de Normalisation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFNOR is a founding member of EFSG and one of Europe's most recognized certification bodies. AFNOR participates in the EFSG mutual recognition framework for fire detection and intrusion alarm system components, issuing the NF quality mark.
• BRE Global / LPCBcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRE Global (UK), operating the LPCB certification brand, is a founding member of EFSG. LPCB participates in MRAs for fire detection and intrusion alarm components, providing the LPCB quality mark recognised internationally.
• CNPP (Certifikation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNPP, a French certification body, is a founding member of EFSG. CNPP issues the A2P quality mark and participates in all EFSG mutual recognition agreements including fire detection, intrusion alarm, safes, strongrooms, and high security locks.
• VdS SchadenverhütungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVdS, based in Germany, is a founding member and hosts the EFSG Secretariat. VdS participates in all EFSG mutual recognition agreements and its Managing Director (Peter Schramm) serves as EFSG Chairman.
• SBSC (Svenska Brand- och Sprängskyddscentralen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBSC, the Swedish certification body, is a member of EFSG and participates in mutual recognition agreements for secure storage units, strongrooms, and high security locks, issuing the SBSC quality mark.
• DBI (Danish Building Research Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDBI, the Danish certification body, is a member of EFSG and participates in the mutual recognition agreement for fire detection and fire alarm components.
• EuralarmmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerEFSG cooperates with Euralarm, the association of European manufacturers of fire safety and security equipment with over 5,000 member companies. A joint steering group addresses fast-track methods for component shortages, system compatibility, and common application forms for multiple certification.
• EurosafemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerEFSG cooperates with Eurosafe, the European committee of safe manufacturers, through joint quarterly meetings and EFSG's participation in Eurosafe Annual General Assembly events, promoting certified products and engaging with industry representatives.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• SGS: World's largest TIC company offering fire/security product testing and certification alongside broad industrial services. Directly competes for the same manufacturer's testing budget with global laboratory footprint EFSG lacks.
• Intertek: Global product testing and certification firm with fire/security electronics testing capability and the ETL mark. Comparable as an alternative one-stop multi-market certification route for manufacturers, competing against EFSG's network-led approach.
• DEKRA: German-headquartered global TIC firm with fire/security certification offerings, especially active in automotive and industrial testing. Provides a competing European-rooted certification brand (DEKRA Seal) overlapping with EFSG member mark categories.
• TÜV Rheinland: Large global TIC firm offering product testing and certification across industrial, fire/security, and consumer categories. Overlaps with EFSG in fire/security conformity assessment but offers a far wider service portfolio (inspection, training, advisory) and global geographic reach.
• Bureau Veritas: Global TIC incumbent providing conformity assessment, certification, and testing across multiple verticals including fire/security. Comparable as a third-party certifier serving manufacturers seeking multi-market access, but operates as a single commercial entity versus EFSG's network model.
• Applus+ IDIADA / Applus+ Laboratories: European-origin TIC group providing product testing and certification across multiple sectors including fire/security. Comparable as a Spanish/European-rooted third-party certifier offering alternative multi-market access to EFSG members.

Direct peers

• FM Approvals: US-based third-party certification body affiliated with FM Global, focused on fire protection and security products. Comparable because it issues quality marks (FM Approved) for alarm, detection, and storage products with insurer/specifier endorsement analogous to EFSG member marks.
• UL Solutions: Global TIC organization that operates fire/security product testing and certification programs with global brand recognition. Closest direct comparator because UL also issues recognized marks (UL Listed) used by specifiers/insurers for fire and security product approval in regulated markets.

Emerging players

• CertAlarm: Pan-European certification scheme for intruder alarm and security equipment, with partial overlap to EFSG's Security Intrusion certification domain. Comparable as a competing multi-country certification mark scheme for the same manufacturer segment.

Regional players

• KIWA: Dutch-based TIC with European fire/security certification activity (Kiwa NCP, Kitemark). Comparable to EFSG members as a national certification body issuing marks for fire/security products, but operates as a single commercial firm rather than a multi-body association.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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 EFSG