EV Charging in Apartment Buildings and Fire Safety
This page provides resources for your building to access the latest advice from various groups regarding EV charging and fire safety.
ABCB guidance document on EV charging. This provides useful practical guidelines around EV charging in car parks.
Queensland Fire Department’s (QFD) position statement on EV charging in car parks.
NSW Fire and Rescue position paper on EV charging equipment in the built environment.
It is important to distinguish between position statements and regulatory / legal requirements. In the absence of regulations every apartment building must assess the risk and develop its own risk profile.
Overall, if there is concerns regarding EV fire safety:
Ensure all EV electrical work is conducted by a licensed electrician.
Refer to ABCB guidance.
Review to the position statements of your state fire service.
And for more information on EV fire safety and regulations, speak to whoever gives your building your annual fire certificate, because ultimately this is the certificate you need.
The greatest risk of an EV fire may be from EVs that have had experienced physical damage (e.g. been in a collision), have been submersed in water, or have had a product recall, have a known fault. Any EVs meeting any of these should not be allowed into enclosed car parks.
And it is recommended to only consider allowing government approved EV chargers and EV charging software. See the NSW government list here.