IEC 62133 is the international standard for the safety of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, although there is currently no specific standard for fire. There are a range of sources and advice you can use in managing your EV charging.
What guidance is available?
One such piece of guidance is “RC59: Recommendations for fire safety when charging electric vehicles” produced jointly by the Fire Protection Association and RISC Authority. The key points in the document cover four main areas:
- Fire risk assessment;
- Fire safety management;
- General considerations; and
- Electrical provisions.
Where do I start with managing EV charging provision?
As always, the starting point is risk assessment and considerations such as:
- Where is your EV fleet being/planned to be charged?
- Is it close to other potential risks, tank/plantrooms fire exits?
- Are staff bringing e-bikes or e-scooters to work, and if so, where are they being charged?
- What additional, if any, fire safety procedures do you need to have in place?
- What, if any, additional maintenance and testing procedures do you need to have in place?
What information do you have on your potential EV fire risks?
This guide is of a general nature; specific advice can be obtained from Assurity Consulting.
Assurity Consulting is the UK's leading independent compliance consultancy specialising in workplace health, safety and environmental solutions. We have over 35 years' experience of helping customers of all sizes, from across all sectors, manage their compliance responsibilities, making sure that their organisation is compliant, their employees are safe, their processes are cost effective and their management team is in control.
