What do I need to put in place?
For some locations there may be little to do other than adapting your existing fire evacuation, recognising and documenting any additional procedures you have put in place.
For others there may be a lot more to do. Some of the aspects you might need to cover could be:
- Do you need to review your current business continuity and fire management/evacuation plans to include any risk from your EV charging?
- Will your EV charging location(s) be adequately covered by your existing fire safety arrangements (including passive and active controls), or do you need to review and revise your provisions?
- Is the charging location(s) close to hazard zones or flammable/hazardous material storage and so does your Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) risk assessment (if applicable) need to be reviewed/undertaken?
- Have you included your EV charging points and infrastructure in your fixed electrical installation requirements under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989?
- Are current fire evacuation routes/procedures affected by the location and potential risks with your EV charging locations and so do they need review/ amendment?
- Have you updated your fire strategy, as needed, to cover your EV charging provision?
- Have you updated your fire information, particularly that for the FRS, as needed, to cover your EV charging provision?
Summary
With numbers of EVs increasing we are likely to be seeing more of these in our workplaces and the infrastructure needed to support and charge them. Selecting the right and best location may not just be where it is easiest to put it.
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.