More and more businesses are having to adopt workplace EV charging to cater for the increasing uptake in electrical vehicles. In fact, recent research found that nearly half of UK businesses have installed some charge points already. To increase this number, the British government are offering a grant to support businesses in covering the cost towards the installation of electric vehicles.

Given this increasing demand, it is vital that all Responsible Persons ensure that any EV chargers on site are installed and maintained to the highest UK legislation and regulation.

At UK Fire Consultants, we pride ourselves on eliminating the burdens and worries of fire safety compliance. We understand that keeping your people and premises safe is of paramount importance to you. Therefore, we have compiled the below list of five top tips to keep EV chargers at your workplace fire safe.

What does the Legislation Say?

But firstly, it is important to be aware of the UK legislation and regulations regarding fire safety and workplace EV charging.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 details the responsibility of building owners and employers to ensure that their staff and buildings are appropriately protected. This involves ensuring a complete, up-to-date Fire Risk Assessment has taken place, and that any recommended actions from the Assessment are undertaken.

For further guidance, please also refer to the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and the Building Regulations Approved Document B (Fire Safety.)

1. Install A Fire Suppression System

Nobody wants to imagine a fire emergency on their premises, and at their place of work. Ensuring you have all appropriate preventative measures is vital to reducing the risk of a fire breaking out, but you should also make sure that you have installed measures that limit damage and disruption, should the worst happen.

Fire Suppression Systems can automatically act quickly and effectively to suppress a fire and limit the spread. This saves time compared to fire extinguishers and allows for your staff to stay at safe difference.

2. Choose An Appropriate Charging Area

An important step in the installation of workplace EV charging points is to choose an appropriate area to locate them. This area should ideally be outdoors, away from the main office building, to avoid spreading in the event of a fire. Ensuring that the charging area has adequate ventilation is also important, as this then helps to dissipate any heat produced by the EV chargers.

3. Enforce Safe Cable Management and Practice

EV charging cables channel large volumes of energy and therefore can produce heat which makes them a fire risk. This means that all chargers installed on site should have adequate cable management.

All cables should avoid passing near flammable materials and be used in a way in which limits the possibility of physical damage.

During installation, appropriately rated cable and conduit should be used at all times.

4. Install Surveillance and Monitoring

EV chargers are not only a fire risk, but there has also been a big rise in incidents where charging cables have been stolen. Your workplace EV charging points may therefore required some additional security.

Installing CCTV cameras on site acts a visible deterrent against any potential criminals and can also provide you with early visual warning should a fire break out.

Monitoring systems for your EV chargers are also available which detect any unusual temperature rises, alerting you to a potential problem to give you time to hopefully prevent a fire.

5. Regularly Inspect and Maintain

A failure to maintain and inspect your workplace EV charging points leaves you open to the possibility of malfunctions and fires. Ensure that your charging infrastructure is regularly inspected, and do not ignore any minor issues which may lead to bigger, more consequential problems further down the line.

How Can UK Fire Consultants Help You

At UK Fire Consultants, we specialise in providing comprehensive fire risk assessment services. We work with a network of qualified Fire Safety professionals who are equipped to handle assessments for businesses of all sizes and industries.

This nationwide network means that we can help protect your site, no matter where you are located in the United Kingdom.

If you are looking to install, or have recently installed, electrical vehicle charging points at your workplace, and require a Fire Risk Assessment, UK Fire Consultants can help you.

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