What SGS Search does

SGS Search B.V. is a Dutch engineering consulting and inspection firm operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of SGS, the Geneva-headquartered global leader in inspection, control, analysis, and certification. Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Heeswijk-Dinther, the company employs between 251 and 500 staff and provides independent research, advisory, and training services across hazardous substances (asbestos, chromium-6, lead, heavy metals), fire safety (via subsidiary SGS Floriaan), soil and environmental investigation, building inspections (NEN 2767, technical due diligence), biodiversity monitoring (e-DNA), and energy/sustainability consulting (LCA, BREEAM, Carbon Due Diligence).

Its technical platform combines field inspections with specialized laboratory capabilities including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for asbestos analysis, handheld X-ray fluorescence (HXRF) for on-site chromium-6 detection under a nuclear energy law permit, qPCR-based DNA analysis for bat and bedbug species detection, and a mobile laboratory for rapid on-site hazardous substance assessment. The firm holds proprietary methods such as the minister-approved e-DNA Vleermuizenmethode and the registered FiberCover® asbestos remediation foam.

The business model is professional services revenue, generated through three primary streams: inspection and testing, advisory and consulting, and training. Pricing is quotation-based with multi-year contracts, distributed through direct enterprise and government engagement, supported by digital channels, industry events (PROVADA), and educational webinars. Customer segments span construction and demolition contractors, real estate owners and managers, industrial and energy companies, and Dutch government and public institutions.

Name

SGS Search

Legal name

SGS Search B.V.

Website

https://sgssearch.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

SGS Search B.V. is a Dutch engineering consultancy and subsidiary of SGS that provides independent inspection, laboratory analysis, and advisory services in hazardous substances, fire safety, soil, buildings, and sustainability for enterprise, real estate, and government clients in the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Testing and Inspection Services

NAICS

Building Inspection Services (541350), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Process Safety & Major Hazard Risk Management (PSM) (BPAHAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Compliance Technology, GRC Platforms & Controls Automation Advisory (BPAHAFAO), Process Safety Management (PSM) & High-Hazard Operations (EDABAEAD)

Keywords

• Environmental testing services
• Asbestos inspection services
• Building condition assessment
• Fire safety consulting
• Sustainability advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Heeswijk

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Inspection and Testing Services: Independent inspection and testing services for asbestos, hazardous substances, soil, buildings, fire safety, and environmental compliance. Includes on-site sampling, laboratory analysis, and certification.
2. Advisory and Consulting: Expert advisory services including HSE management, project management for demolition/renovation, technical due diligence, and sustainability consulting including LCA and ESG.
3. Training and Education: Professional training programs including asbestos training, BHV (emergency response), VCA safety, and custom in-company training for organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SGS Search is an engineering and environmental consulting firm that provides independent inspection, laboratory analysis, and advisory services for organizations, institutions, and industry across the Netherlands. Core offerings include hazardous substances research (asbestos, chromium-6, lead, heavy metals), soil and environmental site assessment, building inspections and Technical Due Diligence, fire safety services, energy/sustainability/LCA consulting, and HSE project management, complemented by accredited training programs (asbestos, BHV, VCA, chromium-6). The company operates as the Dutch subsidiary of SGS, the global leader in inspection, control, analysis, and certification.

Product overview

SGS Search is an inspection, analysis, and advisory company providing independent research services for environmental, health, and safety matters. The company operates as part of SGS, the global market leader in inspection, control, analysis, and certification. SGS Search offers a comprehensive portfolio of specialized services organized around core domains: (1) Hazardous Substances Research covering asbestos, chromium-6, lead pipes, and heavy metals; (2) Building and Construction services including technical due diligence, NEN 2767 condition measurement, and fire safety; (3) Environmental services including soil research, biodiversity/eDNA monitoring, and exposure research; (4) Energy and Sustainability including LCA, BREEAM assessment, and Carbon Due Diligence; (5) Project Management and HSE advisory; and (6) Training and education programs. The services integrate specialized laboratory analysis (including SEM and XRF technology), field inspections, and advisory capabilities to help organizations achieve safe and sustainable environments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SGS Floriaan: Expertise center for fire safety operating under the SGS Search umbrella.

Products and services

• Onderzoek naar gevaarlijke stoffen (Hazardous Substances Research) Research and inspection services for hazardous substances including asbestos inventory, sampling and end control, chromium-6 inventory and end control, and heavy metals analysis. Targeted at construction, demolition, and industrial clients needing compliance and remediation support.
• Bodemonderzoek (Soil Investigation) Environmental soil assessment, asbestos in soil/rubble/dredged material testing, and project and environmental guidance. For construction, industrial, and government clients requiring site investigation.
• Bouwkundige inspecties (Building Inspections) Technical Due Diligence (TDD), NEN 2767 condition measurement, and maintenance planning including multi-year maintenance plans (MJOP). For real estate owners, investors, housing corporations, and facility managers.
• Brandveiligheid (Fire Safety) Fire protection systems, fire safety and hazardous substances advisory, and fire safety inspections delivered through SGS Floriaan. For property owners, facility managers, and government institutions.
• Energie, duurzaamheid en LCA (Energy, Sustainability and Life Cycle Analysis) EED (Energy Efficiency Directive) audits, BREEAM sustainability assessment, and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) for products and services. Supports ESG reporting and circular construction goals for real estate, infrastructure, and industrial clients.
• Biodiversiteit en eDNA (Biodiversity and eDNA) Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis services for biodiversity monitoring, including targeted species detection, bat research, and biodiversity baseline measurements. Supports environmental permitting and impact assessments.
• Blootstellingsonderzoek (Exposure Research) Exposure measurements and indoor climate research to assess health risks from environmental factors. For industrial, institutional, and government clients.
• Projectmanagement en advies (Project Management and Advisory) Hazardous substances project management, new build/renovation/demolition management, and HSE management and advice. For construction and industrial clients needing end-to-end project oversight.
• HSE-management en HSE-advies Health, Safety and Environment management and advisory including risk inventory and evaluation (RI&E), demolition safety plans, V&G plan and V&G audit, and complete HSE management solutions. For construction, demolition, industrial, and institutional clients.
• Onderzoek naar loden leidingen (Lead Pipe Investigation) Lead pipe investigation and water quality testing following ISO 17294 standards to identify lead pipes and analyze water quality in buildings. For property owners, housing corporations, and government institutions.
• Inkaderen gevolgen na brand (Assessment of Consequences After Fire) Assessment of contamination after fires involving asbestos or solar panels, including mobile laboratory analysis and expert inventory services for solar panel incidents (DIZI). For property owners, insurers, and government.
• Carbon Due Diligence Carbon Due Diligence service for companies and real estate owners to measure and reduce CO2 footprint. Supports ESG strategy and corporate sustainability commitments.
• Bedwantsentest met DNA (Bedbug DNA-test) DNA-based bed bug detection using e-DNA analysis with qPCR testing to identify bed bug presence in hotels and other locations. For hospitality operators, property owners, and housing corporations.
• SGS InsectScan Insect biodiversity monitoring through e-DNA, providing effective detection of insect species diversity. For environmental and agricultural stakeholders, as well as research applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• e-DNA bat detection method approved by Dutch Minister, enabling faster and non-invasive species identification
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MadastercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to identify circularity opportunities in existing real estate. Madaster is a platform for material passports and circular economy in the built environment. Joint efforts focus on reusing building materials and reducing raw material consumption.
• NVM (Nederlandse Vereniging van Makelaars)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerExtended free helpdesk collaboration for NVM members. Provides sustainability advice and energy label assistance for commercial real estate, supporting members with label C compliance requirements.
• Van OordminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner for Afsluitdijk project. SGS Search provides BHV scenario training services for workers on this major infrastructure project.
• RebelminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner for Afsluitdijk LEVVEL project. SGS Search provides training and safety services as part of the construction consortium.
• MetabolicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Metabolic to develop Amsterdam's Roadmap Circulaire Gronduitgifte (Circular Land Tender), the world's first instrument for embedding circular construction in public procurement.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• TÜV Rheinland / TÜV SÜD: TÜV Rheinland and TÜV SÜD are global TIC incumbents with Dutch operations spanning industrial inspection, fire safety, asbestos, and certification — overlapping directly with SGS Search's hazardous-substances and fire-safety service lines.
• Arcadis: Arcadis is a major Dutch-originated global design and consultancy firm with practices in environmental services, sustainability, and building advisory. While broader in scope, Arcadis overlaps with SGS Search's LCA, BREEAM, and real estate due diligence offerings for Dutch clients.
• Royal HaskoningDHV: Royal HaskoningDHV is a large Dutch engineering and consultancy firm with environmental impact assessment, building, and sustainability practices. They compete with SGS Search for HSE advisory, environmental, and building-related consulting mandates in the Netherlands.
• Bureau Veritas: Bureau Veritas is a global TIC incumbent alongside SGS, offering inspection, certification, and HSE advisory. The two firms are traditional rivals in TIC, with Bureau Veritas' Dutch operations competing with SGS Search for the same enterprise and government testing contracts.

Direct peers

• Kiwa: Kiwa is a leading Dutch TIC (testing, inspection, certification) provider covering fire safety, building inspections, asbestos audits, and training. As a Dutch-headquartered accredited testing body, Kiwa competes directly with SGS Search across inspection and certification services in the Netherlands.
• Tauw: Tauw is a Dutch environmental and infrastructure consulting firm offering soil investigation, asbestos surveys, environmental compliance, and sustainability advisory — directly mirroring SGS Search's hazardous-substances, soil, and LCA service lines for many of the same Dutch enterprise and government clients.
• RPS Group: RPS Group is a global environmental and engineering consultancy with strong Dutch operations in soil, asbestos, chromium-6, and environmental testing. SGS Search and RPS explicitly partner to harmonize chromium-6 testing methodologies, and RPS competes head-to-head for the same Dutch TIC contracts in construction and demolition.
• Normec: Normec is a Dutch-based TIC group with strong presence in fire safety, building inspections, asbestos, and environmental services — directly competing with SGS Search and SGS Floriaan across the Dutch inspection and certification market.
• Eurofins Environment Testing Netherlands: Eurofins operates environmental and soil testing laboratories in the Netherlands competing directly with SGS Search's analytical laboratory services for asbestos, heavy metals, soil, and water samples across the same client base.

Regional players

• Hobéon SKO: Hobéon SKO is a Dutch certification and inspection body active in fire safety, building, and facility management audits. As a Netherlands-focused certifier, it competes for smaller-scale Dutch inspection contracts that overlap with SGS Search's offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SGSSearch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sgssearch
• Instagraminstagram.com/sgs_search

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 SGS Search