Page 1 of 12
Exhibit Index on Page 2

FORM 11-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


Annual Report Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934




(Mark One)

  [X]   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
        EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [FEE REQUIRED].
             For the fiscal year ended:  December 31, 1996

  OR

  [     ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
        ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED].
             For the transition period from       to



Commission file number     1- 3208

  A.    Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if
        different from that of the issuer named below:

        North Bros., Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan
        for Non-Field Employees

  B.    Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and
        the address of the principal executive office:

        National Service Industries, Inc.
        1420 Peachtree Street, NE
        Atlanta, Georgia 30309



Page 2

REQUIRED INFORMATION

The following documents are filed as a part of this report:

1.   Financial Statements


     Plan  financial  statements  prepared  in  accordance  with  the  financial
     reporting requirements of ERISA include the following:

     Report of Independent Public Accountants

     Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of December
     31, 1996 and 1995

     Statement  of Changes  in Net  Assets  Available  for  Benefits,  with Fund
     Information, for the Year Ended December 31, 1996

     Notes to Financial Statements

2.   Exhibits
                                                             Sequentially
                                                               Numbered
     The following exhibit is filed with this report:            Page

     23     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP                       12



SIGNATURES

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
trustees (or other persons who administer  the employee  benefit plan) have duly
caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
duly authorized.

                              North Bros., Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan
                              for Non-Field Employees

Date: June 18, 1997           By:   National Service Industries, Inc.
                                    Plan Administrator

                              By:    /s/ James S. Balloun
                              Name:  James S. Balloun
                              Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Page 3


                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS





To the Plan Administrator of
North Bros., Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan
for Non-Field Employees:


We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits
of NORTH  BROS.,  INC.  401(k)  RETIREMENT  PLAN FOR  NON-FIELD  EMPLOYEES as of
December  31, 1996 and 1995 and the related  statement  of changes in net assets
available for benefits,  with fund information,  for the year ended December 31,
1996.  These  financial   statements  are  the   responsibility  of  the  Plan's
management.  Our  responsibility  is to express  an  opinion on these  financial
statements based on our audits.

We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  generally   accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion,  the financial  statements  referred to above present fairly, in
all material  respects,  the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of
December 31, 1996 and 1995 and the changes in net assets  available for benefits
for the year ended  December  31, 1996 in  conformity  with  generally  accepted
accounting principles.

Our audits  were  performed  for the  purpose of forming an opinion on the basic
financial  statements taken as a whole. The fund information in the statement of
changes in net assets  available  for benefits is  presented  for the purpose of
additional  analysis rather than to present the changes in net assets  available
for  benefits  of each fund.  The fund  information  has been  subjected  to the
auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and,
in our opinion,  is fairly  stated in all  material  respects in relation to the
basic financial statements taken as a whole.




Atlanta, Georgia
June 12, 1997



Page 4





                                NORTH BROS., INC.

                 401(k) RETIREMENT PLAN FOR NON-FIELD EMPLOYEES


                 STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

                           DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995






                                                             1996         1995

INVESTMENT IN NSI DC TRUST, at fair value (Note 2):
    Balanced Fund .....................................   $  30,275    $  4,495
    Diversified Equity Fund ...........................      78,662       9,032
    Stable Value Fund .................................       6,403         471
    NSI Stock Fund ....................................      15,500       1,275
    Loan Fund .........................................       9,671           0
    International Fund ................................      17,907       2,054
              Total investment ........................     158,418      17,327

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVABLE--PARTICIPANT .................       5,302           0

REFUNDS PAYABLE TO PARTICIPANTS .......................     (32,486)     (2,726)
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS .....................   $ 131,234    $ 14,601










        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.


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                               NORTH BROS., INC.

                 401(k) RETIREMENT PLAN FOR NON-FIELD EMPLOYEES


           STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS,

                             WITH FUND INFORMATION,

                      FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996








 

                                                     Diversified  Stable        NSI
                                          Balanced      Equity     Value       Stock    International   Loan
                                             Fund        Fund       Fund        Fund         Fund       Fund     Other      Total
                                                                                                  

PARTICIPANT CONTRIBUTIONS ..............   $ 30,402    $ 65,299    $ 6,336    $ 14,725    $ 16,429   $     0   $(27,184)  $ 106,007

NET GAIN FROM INVESTMENT IN NSI DC TRUST      2,761       8,677        211         843         762         0          0      13,254

BENEFITS PAID TO PARTICIPANTS ..........     (1,522)     (3,095)         0      (1,762)       (688)        0          0      (7,067)

INTRAPLAN TRANSFERS ....................     (4,792)     (4,032)      (616)        419        (650)    9,671          0           0

OTHER ..................................          0       4,438          1           0           0         0          0       4,439

NET INCREASE (DECREASE).................     26,849      71,287      5,932      14,225      15,853     9,671    (27,184)    116,633

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS,
December 31, 1995 ......................      3,426       7,375        471       1,275       2,054         0          0      14,601
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS,
December 31, 1996 ......................   $ 30,275    $ 78,662    $ 6,403    $ 15,500    $ 17,907    $9,671   $(27,184)  $ 131,234









         The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement.



Page 6

                               NORTH BROS., INC.

                 401(k) RETIREMENT PLAN FOR NON-FIELD EMPLOYEES


                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                           DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995



  1.  PLAN DESCRIPTION

     The following brief  description of the North Bros., Inc. 401(k) Retirement
     Plan for Non-Field Employees (the "Plan"), formerly known as the Insulation
     Division  401(k)  Retirement  Plan for Non-Field  Employees of North Bros.,
     Inc. (the  "Company"),  a subsidiary of National Service  Industries,  Inc.
     ("NSI"), is provided for informational  purposes only.  Participants should
     refer to the plan agreement for more complete information.

      General

     The Plan is a defined  contribution plan established  October 1, 1995 under
     the provisions of Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code ("IRC").  The
     Plan covers all  nonunion  employees of the Company who are  classified  as
     "non-field  employees"  and  who  have  attained  the  age of 21  and  have
     completed  12 months of  service,  as  defined.  The Plan is subject to the
     provisions  of the Employee  Retirement  Income  Security  Act of 1974,  as
     amended.

      Contributions

     Participants  may  elect to  contribute  between  1% and 15% of  before-tax
     compensation,  as defined in the Plan, subject to certain limitations under
     the  IRC.  Matching  contributions  are made at the  Company's  discretion.
     Additional discretionary profit-sharing amounts, as determined by the board
     of directors of NSI, may be contributed by the Company.

     Matching contributions,  if any, are made to participants who made elective
     deferrals  during the plan year,  are actively  employed on the last day of
     the plan year, and have completed one year of service, as defined,  for the
     plan year. Allocations are based on each participant's deferral relative to
     the deferrals of qualifying participants.

     Profit-sharing contributions, if any, are allocated to participants who are
     actively  employed on the last day of the plan year and who have  completed
     one  year of  service,  as  defined,  for the  plan  year.  Allocations  to
     qualifying  participants are made based on each participant's  compensation
     relative to the compensation of all qualifying participants.

Page 7


      Vesting

     Participants  are always  fully vested in their  individual  contributions.
     Vesting of employer  contributions  occurs on an increasing scale,  ranging
     from 20% vesting  after one year of service,  as defined,  to 100%  vesting
     after five years of service. Nonvested employer contributions are forfeited
     upon a participant's withdrawal from the Plan and are used to reduce future
     employer contributions or to offset the operational expenses of the Plan.

      Administration

     All administrative expenses of the Plan were paid by the Company during the
     year ended December 31, 1996.

      Participants' Accounts

     Individual  accounts are maintained for each of the Plan's  participants to
     reflect the particular  participant's  contributions  and related  employer
     contributions as well as the  participant's  share of the Plan's income and
     any related administrative expenses.

     The Plan assigns units to its participants.  At December 31, 1996 and 1995,
     16,550 and 1,646 units,  respectively,  were assigned to plan participants.
     Unit values for each  investment  fund were as follows at December 31, 1996
     and 1995:

                                                      1996          1995

          Balanced Fund ..................      $     26.40   $     22.95
          Diversified Equity Fund ........            12.05         10.57
          Stable Value Fund ..............            11.31         10.59
          NSI Stock Fund .................            14.52         12.39
          International Fund .............             5.01          4.59

      Investment in Master Trust

     Under a trust agreement dated September 1, 1993, as amended,  Wachovia Bank
     of Georgia,  N.A.  was  appointed  trustee of the NSI Defined  Contribution
     Plans Master Trust (the "NSI DC Trust").

     The Plan's  assets are  commingled  in the NSI DC Trust  together  with the
     assets of certain defined  contribution  plans of other NSI divisions.  The
     investments  of the NSI DC Trust  are  subject  to  certain  administrative
     guidelines  and  limitations  as to type and  amount  of  securities  held.
     Certain  fund  assets are  allocated  to  selected  independent  investment
     managers to invest under these general guidelines.

      Investment Options

     The  separate  investment  options  made  available  under  the Plan may be
     changed,  eliminated,  or  modified  from  time to  time by the  investment
     committee of the NSI DC Trust. Participants make their investment elections

Page 8

     in 5% increments,  with changes allowed on a daily basis.  Participants may
     not  direct  the   investment   of  company   matching  or   profit-sharing
     contributions. These are invested in the NSI Stock Fund discussed below.

     The separate investment options offered by the Plan are as follows:

     o    Diversified  Equity  Fund.  This  fund  is a  diversified  stock  fund
          designed to invest in a broad range of common stocks providing capital
          growth.

     o    Stable Value Fund.  This is a fixed income fund  designed to provide a
          steady  level of current  income  while  focusing on  preservation  of
          principal.

     o    Balanced Fund. This fund is invested in a changing mix of high-quality
          stocks and bonds.  The fund is designed to provide  capital growth and
          current income while limiting the risk of principal loss.

     o    NSI Stock Fund. This fund is invested in NSI common stock, although it
          may hold other short-term investments from time to time. A participant
          may not direct more than 50% of his/her account balance to be invested
          in this fund.

     o    International  Fund.  This fund is  invested  in the stock of non-U.S.
          companies and is designed to provide long-term growth.

      Loans to Participants

     The Plan  permits  loans to  participants  up to the  lesser  of 50% of the
     participant's  vested account  balance or $50,000.  A participant has up to
     five years to repay the principal and interest,  unless the loan is for the
     purchase of a primary residence, in which case the repayment period will be
     established  at the time the loan is  approved.  Loan  processing  fees are
     charged directly to the participant's  account.  Interest rates on loans to
     participants  are  based  on  market  rates,  as  determined  by  the  plan
     administrator.

      Benefits

     A participant  is entitled to receive the  distribution  of his/her  vested
     account  balance upon death,  disability,  or  retirement  (age 65).  These
     benefits are payable in a lump-sum amount or can be paid in installments at
     the participant's election if his/her vested balance is greater than $3,500
     and he/she is age 55 or older. A participant who terminated employment with
     the  Company for  reasons  other than these is entitled to receive  his/her
     contributions in a lump sum as soon as administratively feasible.

     Benefits  are payable in cash,  except that any portion of a  participant's
     account  balance which is invested in the NSI Stock Fund is  distributed in
     the form of shares of NSI common  stock,  with  fractional  shares  paid in
     cash. If the equivalent number of shares to be distributed to a participant
     is less than 100, then the participant may elect to receive cash instead of
     shares as his/her distribution.

     Hardship  withdrawals  may be made  upon  proven  financial  hardship  of a
     participant, as defined in the plan agreement and as approved by the Plan's
     retirement committee.


Page 9

      Plan Termination

      The Plan  provides   that  the  Company  has  the  right  to   discontinue
      contributions or to terminate  the Plan at any time.  In the event of plan
      termination, each  participant  shall be vested in the  balance of his/her
      account and his/her proportionate share of any future adjustments.


  2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

      Basis of Accounting

      The accounts of the Plan are  maintained  by the trustee on the cash basis
      of accounting.  The accompanying  financial  statements have been prepared
      using the  accrual  method of  accounting  by  application  of  memorandum
      entries.  The  preparation  of financial  statements  in  conformity  with
      generally accepted accounting principles requires the Plan's management to
      use  estimates  and  assumptions  that affect the  accompanying  financial
      statements  and  disclosures.  Actual  results  could  differ  from  these
      estimates.

      Investment Valuation

      Investments  of the NSI DC Trust,  except  for the  guaranteed  investment
      contracts ("GICs"),  are stated at fair value as determined by the trustee
      from quoted market prices.  Securities  traded on a national  exchange are
      valued at the last  reported  sales price on the last  business day of the
      plan year;  investments traded in the  over-the-counter  market and listed
      securities for which no sale was reported on the last day of the plan year
      are valued at the last reported bid price.

      GICs  included  in the NSI DC Trust are fully  benefit-responsive  and are
      therefore  carried at contract  value (cost plus accrued  interest) in the
      accompanying financial statements in accordance with Statement of Position
      94-4.  At December 31, 1996 and 1995,  contract  value  approximates  fair
      value. At December 31, 1996, the weighted average crediting  interest rate
      was 6.74%.  For the year ended  December 31, 1996, the annual yield on the
      GICs held by the NSI DC Trust was 6.9%.  For  certain  of the GICs held by
      the NSI DC Trust,  crediting  interest  rates may be  changed  if  certain
      events occur, such as early retirements,  plant closings,  etc., but in no
      case are  adjusted to a rate less than 0%. GICs are subject to credit risk
      based  on the  ability  of the  insurance  company  to  meet  interest  or
      principal payments, or both, as they become due.

Page 10

  3.  NSI DC TRUST

      Investment Income

     Investment  income of the NSI DC Trust for the year ended December 31, 1996
     is summarized as follows:

          Dividends on common stock ....................   $   360,166
          Interest income ..............................     4,320,463
          Net appreciation in fair value of common stock     1,031,354
          Net income from mutual fund ..................    10,129,284
          Net income from common/collective trust ......     7,315,993
          Net income from pooled separate account ......       160,826
                        Total investment income ........   $23,318,086

     The  investment  income of the NSI DC Trust for the year ended December 31,
     1996 is allocated among participating plans as follows:

          North Bros., Inc. 401(k) Retirement
          Plan for Non-Field Employees ...............     $    13,254
          All other NSI plans ........................      23,304,832
             Total ...................................     $23,318,086

      Net Assets

     The net assets of the NSI DC Trust are as follows at December  31, 1996 and
     1995:

                                                     1996               1995

 Mutual fund ................................   $  63,411,122    $  47,636,487
 Common/collective trust ....................      57,558,795       48,146,903
 Guaranteed investment contracts ............      55,187,898       55,129,605
 Loans receivable from participants .........       6,828,607        6,104,302
 NSI common stock ...........................      11,279,289        7,637,554
 Money market fund ..........................       3,704,985        1,377,443
 Pooled separate account ....................       2,723,094          871,467
                                                  200,693,790      166,903,761
 Cash .......................................          13,342          127,031
                                                  200,707,132      167,030,792
 Accrued investment income ..................         100,534           76,779
 Adjustments for pending trades .............        (223,542)        (211,964)
 Other ......................................         (54,239)          49,961
     Net assets .............................   $ 200,529,885    $ 166,945,568


Page 11


     The allocation of the net assets of the NSI DC Trust to participating plans
     is based on participant units and is as follows as of December 31, 1996 and
     1995:

                                              1996                   1995
                                        Amount    Percent      Amount    Percent
North Bros., Inc. 401(k) Retirement
    Plan for Non-Field Employees ..  $    158,418     0.1%  $     17,327   0.01%
All other plans ...................   200,371,467    99.9    166,928,241  99.99
              Total ...............  $200,529,885   100.0%  $166,945,568 100.00%


      Investment in NSI Common Stock

     As  of  December   31,  1996  and  1995,   approximately   5.6%  and  4.6%,
     respectively,  of the NSI DC Trust's net assets were invested in the common
     stock of NSI, a party in interest to the Plan.


  4.  TAX STATUS

     The Plan has not received a determination  letter from the Internal Revenue
     Service.  However,  the  plan  administrator  believes  that  the  Plan  is
     currently  designed and is being operated in compliance with the applicable
     requirements of the IRC.  Therefore,  the plan administrator  believes that
     the Plan was  qualified  and that the related  trust was  tax-exempt  as of
     December 31, 1996 and 1995.


  5.  SUBSEQUENT EVENT

     The  Plan  was  amended,  effective  February  21,  1997,  to  suspend  all
     contributions  to the Plan and to  terminate  the  Plan.  All  participants
     became  fully  vested.  In addition,  North Bros.,  Inc. was sold by NSI to
     Performance  Contracting  Group,  Inc.,  and all  employees  of the Company
     became employees of Performance Contracting Group, Inc.