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Arup develops fire safety guidance for EVs in covered car parks

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Rav Dhanjal, Arup Rav Dhanjal Director ,Birmingham
17 July 2023

Together with the Office for Zero Emissions Vehicles (OZEV), Arup has provided interim guidance to support parking and/or charging of electric vehicles and the installation of electric vehicle charge points in covered car parks.

The full transition to electric vehicles (EVs) will be one of the most important actions to achieve the UK’s net zero target. To achieve this, UK Government and industry must implement a range of policy and market mechanisms needed particularly for passenger vehicles and vans. The pathway to a full transition to electric passenger vehicles is clear and relatively straightforward; but a lack of targets for sufficient charging infrastructure was one of several key barriers identified by Climate Change Committee to be overcome to reach the 2030 transition date.

Charge point grant programmes have been rolled out to accelerate installation of EV Charge Points (EVCPs), and measures have been taken to increase the usability of them, but there was no guidance available to address increasing concerns over fire risk of electric vehicles and associated charge points.

Covered car park. Covered car park.
The research and guidance helps integrate evidence-based fire safety considerations to the wider installation of charge points in existing enclosed car parks.

The research and guidance developed by Arup, on behalf of the Department for Transport, helps integrate evidence-based fire safety considerations to the wider installation of charge points in existing enclosed car parks.

This guidance outlines fire safety considerations and measures that operators, designers, and owners of covered car parks (both new and existing) can take with regards to electric vehicles (EVs) or electric vehicle charge points (EVCPs).

Two case studies have been provided to allow users to understand how they could implement the guidance for existing basement car parks where EVCPs are installed, and new multi-storey car parks that are future-proofed for 100% EVCP coverage.

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This guidance draws not only on our fire safety expertise at Arup, but encompasses our expert knowledge on batteries and EVs, as well as explosion hazards associated with batteries. We hope, that in helping to develop this guidance we are supporting covered car park operators, designers, and owners in the transition to a safer and more sustainable future. ” Sally Friswell Associate Director, Arup

Download 'Covered car parks - fire safety guidance for electric vehicles' here