RELATED: What are the fire safety requirements for EV charging in apartments?
Fire Safety Assessment
Underground car parks need more fire safety measures than surface installations. This is because fires in enclosed spaces are harder to manage.
A fire risk assessment is required before any installation. We work with fire safety professionals to assess your building and document the controls needed. This includes reviewing structural fire resistance, detection systems, and water supply. Some buildings need upgraded sprinkler systems. Others already meet the requirements.
We coordinate with building management and insurers as part of the process. All our underground installations are documented for your building fire risk assessment.
Ventilation Requirements
EVs do not produce emissions during normal charging. But underground car parks with EV charging still need proper ventilation for fire scenarios.
Battery fires can release gases that need to be removed quickly. Most car parks built in the last 20 years have mechanical ventilation that meets current standards. We assess your existing system during the site survey. If upgrades are needed, we recommend the most practical solution.
RELATED: What are the electrical requirements for apartment block EV charging?
Connectivity Solutions
Smart EV chargers need internet connectivity for billing, access control, and remote monitoring. Underground car parks typically have poor mobile signal.
We solve this with dedicated 4G signal boosters, wired ethernet connections, or mesh WiFi systems extending from the building network. Connectivity is tested during the site survey. We recommend the most reliable and cost effective solution for your specific building.
Power Distribution
Power for underground chargers typically comes from the building basement plant room. We install dedicated distribution boards for the EV network, separate from domestic supplies.
Cable runs use wall mounted flat cable systems or traditional armoured cable in trunking. Flat cable systems are popular for basement car parks because they maintain clean aesthetics and reduce installation time. We have installed these systems at Portland Court, Alpine Place, and many other London apartment blocks.
Regulatory Context
Part S Building Regulations currently exempt covered car parks from mandatory charge point installation. Only cable routes are required in new builds. This is pending further fire safety research. Many building owners are voluntarily installing charging infrastructure to meet tenant demand and enhance property value.
Installation Timeline
Underground installations typically take 3 to 4 weeks from survey to commissioning. This depends on building access and existing infrastructure. We coordinate around building access hours and resident schedules to minimise disruption.
