Charging Electric Vehicles
INTRODUCTION
In response to the growing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) across both private and commercial sectors, the RISCAuthority has released a revised edition of RC59: Recommendations for Fire Safety When Charging Electric Vehicles. This document is available via the ATLAS platform.
RC59 provides comprehensive guidance on fire risks and recommended control measures related to the installation, operation, and management of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. It covers considerations about the physical location of charging points, their design, and the implementation of suitable fire protection systems.
Note: Charging provisions for electric fork-lift trucks fall outside the scope of RC59, as these are addressed explicitly in RC11: Recommendations for the Use of Fork-Lift Trucks.
SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS
The key points of RC59 are transcribed as follows:
Fire risk management
Fire risk assessments should incorporate passive, active, and managerial control measures when selecting or designing areas for EV charging.
These control measures should align with broader site-specific fire safety objectives and be proportionate to the level of risk introduced by the charging infrastructure.
Fire safety management
When selecting sites for charging points, sufficient space must be allowed for vehicles to be parked safely in the designated charging area and for connection to be made to the charging equipment. Adequate space should be allowed to manoeuvre other vehicles around charging vehicles safely when necessary.
Staff responsible for vehicle operations must receive appropriate training in the safe and proper use of charging equipment.
General considerations
Charging bays should be signed and marked prominently on the ground to allow vehicles to park close to the charging point and prevent the stretching of charging cables. The length of charging cables should be sufficient to enable their use with the intended equipment without risk of damage.
Charging points for electric road vehicles operated by a company, together with those provided for visitors’ transport, should typically be located outside the premises.
Mechanical protection for chargers (e.g., bollards, raised kerbs, protective barriers) should be provided to mitigate the risk of impact damage from vehicles.
Where multiple chargers are installed, each unit should be clearly labelled to indicate its intended use or compatible vehicle types.
In multi-storey car parks, EV chargers should ideally be installed in open, accessible areas with favourable conditions for fire service intervention.
Indoor charging areas should be designed to avoid exposure to excessive temperatures and humidity. Adequate ventilation and environmental controls must prevent overheating during charging cycles.
Electrical provisions
Where rapid charging points – known as ‘DC fast charge’ and operating at 500V DC – are provided, they should be clearly differentiated from conventional charging points because of the hazards associated with the direct current.
All supply circuits must be designed to accommodate the anticipated load and be installed in accordance with relevant electrical standards.
If a BS 1363-2 socket outlet is used for EV charging, it must be:
Marked "EV" on the rear of the socket (unless no confusion is possible),
Clearly labelled on or adjacent to the front face with the statement: “Suitable for electric vehicle charging.”
RECOMMEDATIONS
The recommendations of RC59 are published under the following headings:
General considerations
Charging equipment
Compartmentation and segregation
Fire protection
Emergency and business continuity planning
Compliance with fire safety legislation
SURVEY EXPECTATIONS
As with other RC guidance notes, the provisions within RC59 should be regarded as best practice by insurance risk engineers and surveyors. Its application should extend beyond conventional EVs to encompass:
Light electric mobility devices, such as e-scooters and e-bikes, particularly within residential and high-occupancy settings (e.g., apartment blocks, student housing).
Mobility aids (e.g., powered wheelchairs, scooters) within environments such as care homes and assisted living facilities.
Risk engineers should be vigilant in assessing the appropriateness of charging locations, the adequacy of electrical and fire protection systems, and the alignment with RC59’s recommendations in all applicable scenarios.