What are Vehicle Restraint Systems?

Vehicle Restraint Systems are those items of street furniture placed in the roadside to protect road users from hazards. They include permanent and temporary safety barriers and fences, bridge parapets and guardrails, crash cushions, transitions between these systems, and terminals. These systems can be tested to either the harmonised European standard hEN1317, the American requirements within NCHRP350 or the Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH)

Why TRL?

TRL is accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) for the testing of vehicle restraint systems to hEN1317,  NCHRP 350 and MASH.
TRL has also been notified by the Department of Communities and Local Government for its testing to hEN1317 and hence, TRL is a notified body for these products.

Through our exclusive working partnership with BSi Product Services and Certification and Homologation Consultancy Services Co. (CHCSC), TRL can also offer an independent certification service for hEN1317 products, proving CE marking for these products. TRL can also independently review and assess products for inclusion on the Highways Agency's list of accepted vehicle restraint systems.

In addition to full scale testing, TRL also works with the National, European and International standardisation bodies responsible for the development of standards within this area. Hence not only can we test to the current version of a standard, but we can also advise on future trends within the standards, and the implications that these may have on the design and implementation of vehicle restraint systems.

Our experts can provide advice and consultancy on all aspects of hEN1317 products and are happy to work closely with your engineers to develop and further improve product.

A summary of our services;

• Official hEN1317 testing by a notified and accredited testing laboratory
• Official NCHRP350 and MASH testing by an accredited testing laboratory
• CE marking of hEN1317 products
• Independent assessment of vehicle restraint systems for inclusion on the Highways Agency's list of accepted products
• Design advice and consultation to improve your product's performance
• Advice and clarification on the requirements of standards concerning vehicle restraint systems
• Vehicle restraint system placement and selection advice
• Performance assessment of in-service vehicle restraint  systems

For more information, contact:

Gavin Williams
Technical Specialist - Vehicle Restraint Systems
Tel: +44 1344 770664
Email: gwilliams@trl.co.uk