Regulation 44J: Minimum standards of an electric vehicle charge point
Regulation
Minimum standards of an electric vehicle charge point
44J. (1) For the purposes of this Part and Part S of Schedule 1, an electric vehicle charge point must meet the following minimum standards.
(2) It must be capable of providing a reasonable power output for each parking space for which it is intended to be used.
(3) It must be run on a dedicated circuit.
(4) It must be compatible with all vehicles which may require access to it.
Interpretation of this Part and Part S of Schedule 1
“cable route” means a safe, unobstructed route from the power supply to the envisaged electric vehicle charge point
location, for electrical cabling to be installed in the future.
NOTE: Where the building control body is an approved inspector, see regulation 8 of the Building (Approved Inspectors etc.) Regulations 2010 (as amended).
Intention
In the Secretary of State’s view, regulation 44J will be met if the electric vehicle charge points installed to meet any of the requirements S1 to S6 meet paragraph 6.2.
Cable routes installed to meet any of the requirements S1 to S6 should meet paragraphs 6.3 to 6.12.
NOTE: Paragraphs 6.3 to 6.6 provide guidance on the location of electric vehicle charge points and future connection locations.
Section 6: Standards for electric vehicle charge points and cable routes
Introduction
6.1 This section sets out standards that electric vehicle charge points and cable routes should meet when installed to meet the requirements set out in this Approved Document.
NOTE: This Approved Document does not provide guidance on electrical or fire safety. Electrical and fire safety requirements are likely to apply when carrying out electrical work. Relevant regulations and guidance include the following.
a. Building Regulations Part B (Fire Safety), Approved Document B.
b. Building Regulations Part P (electrical safety – dwellings), Approved Document P.
c. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, HSE’s HSR25: The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989: Guidance on Regulations.
Technical requirements for electric vehicle charge points
6.2 Each electric vehicle charge point should meet all the following.
a. Be designed and installed as described in BS EN 61851.
b. Have a minimum nominal rated output of 7kW.
c. Be fitted with a universal socket (also known as an untethered electric vehicle charge point).
Alternatively, in exceptional circumstances, such as for a self-build property, if the vehicle requirements are already known, a tethered electric vehicle charge point may be acceptable.
d. Be fitted with an indicator to show the equipment’s charging status that uses lights, or a visual display.
e. Be a minimum of a Mode 3 specialised system for electric vehicle charging running from a dedicated circuit, or equivalent, as defined in BS EN IEC 61851-1.
f. The requirements of BS 7671.
g. The requirements in the IET’s Code of Practice: Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation.
NOTE: Other legislation may also apply to the installation of electric vehicle charge points. For example, the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulations 2017.
Cable routes and locations for electric vehicle charge points
6.3 For each parking space that requires either
a. an electric vehicle charge point.
b. cable routes for an electric vehicle charge point to be installed in future the location of the electric vehicle charge point or future connection location should be suitable for use by electric vehicles with charging inlets in different places.
NOTE: Often, the best position for an electric vehicle is at one corner of the parking space, as shown in Diagram 6.2.
6.4 Where accessible parking spaces are associated with the building and either
a. future connection locations
b. electric vehicle charge points are being provided to meet the requirements of this Approved Document, at least one accessible parking space should have access to either
c. a future connection location.
d. an electric vehicle charge point.
Diagram 6.1 shows one possible arrangement of electric vehicle charge points for accessible parking spaces.
NOTE: Standards for accessible parking spaces are described in Approved Document M.
Diagram 6.1 Electric vehicle charge points serving accessible parking spaces
Diagram 6.2 Electric vehicle charge point locations which may serve more than one parking space
6.5 A future connection location may be sited to serve more than one parking space if the cable routes are suitable for electric vehicle charge points to be installed in future that allow all spaces to be used at the same time for recharging – for example, if the cable routes are adequate for an electric vehicle charge point with multiple outlets, where each outlet has the functionality described in paragraph 6.2.
6.6 Where an electric vehicle charge point is sited to serve more than one parking space if the electric vehicle charge point should allow all spaces to be used at the same time for recharging – for example, an electric vehicle charge point with multiple outlets, where each outlet has the functionality described in paragraph 6.2.
Diagram 6.2 shows two possible arrangements of electric vehicle charge points to serve more than one parking space.
6.7 For each parking space that requires cable routes, the following apply.
a. Cable routes should be provided from a metered electricity supply point to the future connection location.
b. All of the following should be provided.
i. Sufficient space for a new electrical connection at a metered supply point such as a consumer unit or feeder pillar.
ii. A dedicated safe and unobstructed route to distribute electricity from the electrical supply point to the future connection location.
iii. A future connection location as specified in paragraphs 6.3 to 6.5.
iv. Labelling as specified in paragraph 6.11
v. Sufficient space to allow an electric vehicle charge point to be installed safely as specified in paragraph 6.12.
NOTE: The following items may also be needed in order to allow an electric vehicle charge point to be installed in future but are not required to meet the standards of this Approved Document.
a. Concrete plinths or footings for future electric vehicle charge points.
b. Vehicle barriers.
c. Electrical cabling.
d. Busbar systems.
e. Upgrades to electrical infrastructure.
6.8 When cable routes are being installed, a suitable strategy should be identified that meets both of the following.
a. The strategy ensures that a future electric vehicle charge point can meet the standards given in both of the following.
i. BS 7671.
ii. The IET’s Code of Practice: Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation.
b. The strategy is specific to both of the following.
i. The location in which a vehicle is likely to be recharged.
ii. How the electrical power supply to the charge point will be earthed.
6.9 As part of the cable routes, a dedicated safe and unobstructed route should be made from the electrical supply point to each identified future connection location that complies with both of the following.
a. The cable routes will allow all necessary electrical cabling and/or busbar systems to be installed in future without the need for builders’ work. This may be achieved using any combination of electrical containment systems such as the following.
i. Electric cable ducting including drawstrings.
ii. Electric cable trunking or conduits.
iii. Electric cable trays and cable ladders.
NOTE 1: Builders’ work may be required for aspects of the electric vehicle charge point other than installing the electric cabling.
NOTE 2: Guidance on working safely on or near underground services is given in the HSE’s HSG47: Avoiding Danger from Underground Services.
b. The cable routes complies with all of the following.
i. BS 7671.
ii. BS 8300-1.
iii. The IET’s Code of Practice: Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation.
6.10 Any underground cable ducts should meet BS EN 61386-24 and the following.
a. All cable routes should be laid as straight as possible and with suitable access points, so that cables can be pulled through in future.
b. All space alongside the cable duct should be backfilled in a way that avoids damage to the duct.
c. The termination points of cable duct should be sited where access to maintain in future is unrestricted.
d. All cable ducts should have a draw rope.
e. The point where a cable duct enters a building should be sealed to prevent water ingress and attack by vermin, and to comply with all relevant Building Regulations requirements (including Approved Document B).
f. All cable ducts should meet the positioning and colour-coding standards in the NJUG’s Guidelines on the Positioning and Colour Coding of Underground Utilities’ Apparatus.
g. The size, specification and bend radius of all cable ducts should enable cabling to be installed so that, at each future connection location, an electric vehicle charge point as specified in paragraph 6.2 can be provided.
NOTE: Parties deploying low carbon technologies are responsible for informing distribution network operators when modifying a service, under the following.
a. The Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002.
b. BS 7671.
c. Distribution Code of Licensed Distribution Network operators of Great Britain, paragraph DPC5.2.1.
d. The IET’s Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation.
Future connection locations
6.11 Any future connection locations should be clearly identified and labelled. The label or sign should be as follows.
a. The text should read ‘Dedicated position for electric vehicle charge point’.
b. Each letter should be 25mm high.
c. The text should be displayed over three lines.
d. The sign should measure 506mm by 194mm.
e. The sign should be suitably weatherproof for its location.
f. The sign should be sited where a person installing an electric vehicle charge point in future will see it.
Diagram 6.3 shows an example of a label for a future connection location.
Diagram 6.3 Label for future connection location example (not to size)
6.12 The future connection location should have space to install an electric vehicle charge point as described in paragraph 6.2, including space for all the following.
a. Access for recharging an electric vehicle.
b. Access for installing and maintaining the electric vehicle charge point.
c. Vehicle barriers if these will be required for the future electric vehicle charge point. Where vehicle barriers are necessary, sufficient space (for example 500mm) should be allowed around the future connection location.
Diagram 6.4 shows the minimum space requirements for a floor-mounted electric vehicle charge point. Diagram 6.5 shows the minimum space requirements for a wall-mounted electric vehicle charge point.
NOTE: Guidance on the accessibility requirements of the Building Regulations, including on the location of sockets and switches, is given in Approved Document M.
Diagram 6.4 Minimum space requirements for floor-mounted charge point location
Diagram 6.5 Minimum space requirements for wall-mounted charge point location
