Fire Risk Assessment Considerations for Electric Vehicle Charging Points – What Every Business Should Know

As the Responsible Person, you should ensure your fire risk assessment and installation plans take account of the following:

• Rapid charging units (DC) – Direct current chargers draw a significant electrical load and present higher fire and electrical risks. These must be installed by a competent person.
• Impact or malicious damage – How will you protect the units from vehicles or vandalism?
• Location  – Electric vehicle charging units should be installed externally and positioned as far as practicable from key buildings, structures, and utilities. The required distance between charging units (or parking bays) and buildings will largely depend on the construction of the external walls. Ideally, EV charging and parking areas should be located at least 10 metres from combustible walls, or 7.5 metres from unprotected openings or extensive glazing in non-combustible walls.
• When selecting the installation location, also consider nearby combustible materials, construction, and storage. Charging units should not be positioned within 10 metres of external combustible or flammable storage areas such as waste compounds, pallet stacks, or gas cylinder cages. Avoid siting chargers too close to buildings, fuel sources, or areas prone to water ingress.
• Inspection, testing and maintenance – Establish a clear inspection and maintenance regime in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, and discuss these requirements at the early planning stage. Always choose a reputable company that can deliver and support these service regimes reliably over the long term.
• Isolation – Can the chargers be isolated safely in an emergency? Can the fire and rescue service easily isolate them?
• Housekeeping – Keep the area clear of leaves, vegetation, or stored combustibles.
• Training – Ensure employees are briefed on the safe use of charging equipment and relevant emergency procedures. Consider whether the manufacturer and/or competent person can deliver basic user training, or provide learning materials and resources to help you develop suitable internal training and maintain appropriate records.

All of these points should be discussed with your installer or competent person. Don’t be afraid to ask what might feel like “silly” questions – the more informed you are, the more likely they are to follow best practice. With fire safety law under increasing scrutiny, we are seeing a clear shift towards greater accountability and evidence of competence across all aspects of building safety and installation work.

Before installing any electric vehicle charging points, always inform your insurer and check if they have specific requirements.