SGS completes acquisition of Govmark Fire Laboratories in Farmingdale, NY

SGS completes acquisition of Govmark Fire Laboratories in Farmingdale, NY

On September 1, 2017, SGS completed its acquisition of Govmark Fire Laboratories in Farmingdale, New York.

GENEVA, 25-Oct-2017 — /EuropaWire/ — The integration of Govmark Fire Laboratories into our global network further extends our furniture flammability testing capabilities, which already includes two facilities in China and one each in India and the UK.

Operating since 1971, Govmark is a highly-regarded laboratory specializing in fire resistance and reaction to fire testing. It performs testing on a wide range of products, including furniture and furnishings, covering both US and UK standards. These include:

United States

• Upholstery:
  • California Technical Bulletin 117-2000
  • California Technical Bulletin 117-2013
  • Cover materials by ignition source
  • Cover material by occupancy category

• Mattresses, mattress pads, & mattress components:
  • Mandatory federal Standard (CFR 1632 & 1633)
  • ASTM E 1590
  • Boston Fire Department IX-11
  • California Technical Bulletin 121
  • California Technical Bulletin 129
  • California Technical Bulletin 603, replaced by 16 CFR 1633
  • NFPA 267
  • CFR 1632
  • CFR 1633
  • CFR 1632 (Ticking)
  • ASTM D 7140 (Fire Barrier)
  • CFR 1632 (Mattress Pads)
  • California Technical Bulletin 604
  • Michigan Roll Up Test
  • ASTM F 1085, Annex A3

United Kingdom

• Mattresses:
  • BS 7177

• Upholstery:
  • BS 5852
  • BS 7176

In addition, Govmark also performs fire testing on upholstered furniture destined for use in public buildings.

Alongside the purchase of Govmark, SGS also become a member of the American Home Furniture Alliance (AHFA). The AHFA represents the furniture industry on a governmental and regulatory level. It acts for companies of all sizes and includes both public and private businesses, and domestic and international companies among its members. Collectively, AFHA members manage a sophisticated global supply chain that includes factories in 31 states and three foreign countries, providing more than $11 billion in wholesale shipments of home furnishings products every year for US households.

The acquisition of Govmark represents the latest expansion in SGS’s global network of furniture testing facilities. For businesses operating in the furniture sector, we offer a one-stop solution for all aspects of safety and compliance testing.

SGS Furniture Services
In addition to our network of furniture fire testing facilities, our technical experts help companies understand the physical properties of their materials and finished products. Our expertise helps businesses deliver products that comply with national and international standards, including the stringent requirements relating to contract upholstery – such as abrasion tests, rubbing test, UV color resistance.

Learn more about SGS’s Furniture Services >

For more information, please contact:

Priscille Galceran
SGS Global Furniture Expert
t: +33 (0)4 42 97 64 47

About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 90,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,000 offices and laboratories around the world.

SOURCE: SGS SA