The UK’s Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) has entered into partnership with Transpolis, the French road safety testing facility, to provide full-scale safety and security barrier impact testing services to its customer base worldwide.

The deal will strengthen TRL’s existing test management offering, as well as allow the company to provide its customers with a variety of full-scale impact testing programmes via Transpolis’ test site in Lyon, France.

The Transpolis test facility, which is located within easy reach of Lyon International Airport, will serve as a European hub for TRL’s full-scale impact testing activity.

"By combining our operational staff and facilities with TRL’s consultancy expertise, we are able to deliver a strong and broad offering to our customers worldwide."

The collaboration is part of TRL’s strategic plans to develop a global network of full-scale security and safety impact test facilities, and will aid growth and development for the business.

TRL engineering and assurance director Neil Sharpe said: "The launch of our first international full-scale testing partnership with Transpolis reinforces our commitment to providing world-class research, testing and consultancy services to our growing international customer base.

"Having these test facilities at our disposal and within easy reach of the UK not only enables us to continue to offer full-scale testing services, but more importantly, provides our global client base with continued access to our world-class consultancy and expertise in the design, standards definition and interpretation of full-scale impact test data."

The test facility will continue to be operated by Transpolis, however all tests booked through TRL will be managed and attended by TRL personnel.

Transpolis CEO Dominique Fernier said: "By combining our operational staff and facilities with TRL’s consultancy expertise, we are able to deliver a strong and broad offering to our customers worldwide."

Transpolis is accredited by COFRAC, the French equivalent of the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).