Textilní zkušební ústav

Textilní zkušební ústav, s.p. (TZÚ) is an independent testing and certification institution established in 1993 by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, with its registered office at Cejl 12 in Brno. It operates as a state enterprise (státní podnik) and is the Czech Republic's principal accredited body for testing and certifying textiles, textile products and a range of related industrial goods. Its work covers textiles but also products from roughly ten other sectors of the Czech economy, including wood products, floor coverings, furniture surface finishes, plastics, geosynthetics, coatings, toys, upholstered furniture, work clothing and vehicle interiors. The institute's historical roots are traced to the founding of the Textile Research Institute in Liberec in 1927. After several changes of name, competence and seat, the institution became the Wool Research Institute (Výzkumný ústav vlnařský). From 1967 it served as an authorised testing laboratory of the State Testing Institute, and from 1979 as the departmental testing laboratory for the wool industry. In 1990 it became the first laboratory in Czechoslovakia accredited under European standards, and in 1993, having met all conditions for independent certification, it took its current name, Textilní zkušební ústav. TZÚ's main activities are certification, testing, dispute resolution and education. As an accredited body it certifies companies in the textile industry and about ten other sectors according to international standards, especially quality management systems. Its accredited laboratory No. 1001 tests all kinds of textiles as well as aircraft parts and products from several industrial branches; the validity of its tests is verified through regular comparisons with leading European laboratories. As a forensic expert institute appointed by the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic, TZÚ decides disputed cases, especially complaints about textile products, with frequent causes including colour fastness, pilling and seam strength. It also offers training and seminars in textile production and trade, and its translators contribute to the Textile Explanatory Dictionary (about 2,000 terms in 16 European languages), created in 2008 with financial support from the European Commission. In recent years TZÚ has expanded its scope. Since 2008 it has also carried out testing of wood products, and since 2017 it has cooperated with the Czech Floor Layers' Guild. In 2021 it received authorisation from the Civil Aviation Authority to perform flammability tests for that field. Its website highlights a microbiological laboratory for bacteria, fungi and algae on textiles, testing of floor coverings, surface finishes for furniture, flammability testing of toys, upholstered furniture, work clothing and vehicle interiors, and customised corporate training. In 2018 the institute employed 34 people and reported a turnover of CZK 40 million. It remains active, with seminars, conferences and new test methods such as thermal insulation properties of mats announced in 2026.

The historical beginning of TZÚ is considered to be the founding of the Textile Research Institute (Výzkumný ústav textilní) in Liberec in 1927. In the following years, after several changes of name, competence and seat, the institution became the Wool Research Institute (Výzkumný ústav vlnařský). From 1967 it was an authorised testing laboratory of the State Testing Institute (Státní zkušebna), and from 1979 it served as the departmental testing laboratory for the wool industry. In 1990 it became the first laboratory in Czechoslovakia accredited according to European standards. After meeting all conditions for independent certification, it took the name Textilní zkušební ústav in 1993, when it was established as a state enterprise by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic with its seat in Brno, Cejl 12. Since 2008 TZÚ has also been engaged in testing in the field of wood products, and since 2017 it has cooperated with the Czech Floor Layers' Guild (cech podlahářů ČR). In 2021 it received authorisation from the Civil Aviation Authority (Úřad pro civilní letectví) to perform flammability tests for that field. In 2018 the institute employed 34 workers and its business turnover reached CZK 40 million. Over the years the institute has broadened its testing and certification scope from textiles to products of several other industrial branches, including floor coverings, furniture surface finishes, plastics, geosynthetics, coatings, toys, upholstered furniture, work clothing and vehicle interiors. It maintains an accredited laboratory No. 1001 and verifies the validity of its tests through regular comparisons with important European laboratories. It also acts as a forensic expert institute appointed by the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic, deciding disputed cases especially in complaints about textile products, with frequent causes including colour fastness, pilling and seam strength. Its translators actively participate in the creation of the Textile Explanatory Dictionary (about 2,000 terms in 16 European languages), which was created in 2008 with financial support from the European Commission. The institute continues to offer training and seminars in the field of textile production and trade, and its website in 2026 announced seminars, conferences and new test methods such as thermal insulation properties of mats.

• 2021

  Received authorisation from the Civil Aviation Authority to perform flammability tests.

• 2018

  Employed 34 workers and reported a turnover of CZK 40 million.

• 2017

  Started cooperation with the Czech Floor Layers' Guild.

• 2008

  Began testing in the field of wood products; Textile Explanatory Dictionary created with European Commission support.

• 1993

  Established as a state enterprise by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and adopted the name Textilní zkušební ústav.

• 1990

  Became the first laboratory in Czechoslovakia accredited according to European standards.

• 1979

  Institution became the departmental testing laboratory for the wool industry.

• 1967

  Institution became an authorised testing laboratory of the State Testing Institute.

• 1927

  Founding of the Textile Research Institute in Liberec, considered the historical beginning of TZÚ.

Independent, state-established accredited testing and certification authority for textiles and related industries in the Czech Republic.

• Certification of products, systems and laundries

  Accredited certification according to international standards, especially quality management systems, for textile companies and about ten other sectors.

• Testing in accredited laboratory No. 1001

  Testing of all kinds of textiles, aircraft parts and products from several industrial branches; validity verified by comparison with major European laboratories.

• Dispute resolution and forensic expertise

  As a forensic expert institute appointed by the Ministry of the Interior, TZÚ decides disputed cases, especially complaints about textile products such as colour fastness, pilling and seam strength.

• Training and seminars

  Training and seminars in textile production and trade, including customised corporate training.

• Microbiological laboratory

  Testing for bacteria, fungi and algae on textiles, geosynthetics, plastics and coatings.

• Flammability testing

  Testing of toys, upholstered furniture, work clothing, vehicle interiors and other products.

• Floor covering testing

  Testing of mass per unit area, durability, wear and other properties of floor coverings.

• Furniture surface finish testing

  Testing of gloss, durability, action of microorganisms and other properties of furniture surface finishes.

1. 1Úvodní strana 🧶 TZÚtzu.cz
2. 2Textilní zkušební ústav – Wikipediecs.wikipedia.org
3. 3Textilní zkušební ústav – Wikidatawikidata.org