The government mandates EV charging in new buildings, but fire safety guidance for residential EV charging is dangerously inadequate. Fire engineers are flying blind.. Mandated But Not Regulated The Building Regulations 2021 (Part S) mandate EV charging infrastructure in all new residential developments. Every new home must have an EV charge point, and residential buildings with 11+ parking spaces must provide cable routes to every space. But here's the problem: there is no comprehensive UK fire safety guidance for EV charging in residential buildings . The regulations mandate the installation but say almost nothing about how to make it safe. The Fire Risk Profile Charging related fire risks: Battery thermal runaway during charging : Charging increases battery temperature and can trigger thermal runaway in damaged or defective batteries Electrical overload : Multiple simultaneous charging sessions can overload building electrical systems Cable damage : Charging cables running across parking areas are vulnerable to vehicle damage Connector failure : Poor connections generate heat and can ignite surrounding materials Home assembled systems : DIY charging installations without proper electrical certification Fire characteristics of EV battery fires: Temperatures up to 1,100°C Toxic gas production (hydrogen fluoride, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide) Duration: 2 8 hours (vs 30 minutes for conventional vehicle fires) Re ignition risk for days after apparent extinguishment Water requirement: 10,000 40,000 litres per vehicle (vs 1,500 litres conventional) Current Guidance Gap Existing UK guidance is fragmented and insufficient: Document Coverage Gap ADB Vol 1 Car park fire safety No EV specific provisions BS 9999 General building fire safety Brief mention of EV charging BS 7346 7 Car park ventilation Designed for conventional vehicle fires IET Code of Practice Electrical installation Limited fire safety content RISC Authority RC59 Fire safety of EV charging Recommendations only, not mandatory The result is that fire engineers must develop bespoke fire strategies for every project, with no consensus on appropriate safety measures. Recommended Fire Safety Measures For individual houses with attached garages: 1. Charge point installed externally or in ventilated garage 2. Fire detection in garage linked to house alarm 3. 30 minute fire separation between garage and habitable rooms 4. No charging of e bikes/e scooters indoors (these represent a higher risk per kWh than cars) For apartment buildings with basement/undercroft parking: 1. EV charging bays separated from building structure by minimum 60 minute construction 2. Enhanced smoke ventilation designed for 8 MW fire (not standard 4 MW) 3. Automatic suppression (water mist or deluge) in EV charging zones 4. Thermal detection above each charging bay 5. Emergency isolation of charging supply from fire alarm activation 6. Dedicated firefighting water supply (minimum 20,000 litres) 7. Charging management system limiting simultaneous charging to manage electrical load For surface car parks: 1. EV charging bays minimum 6m from building facades 2. No EV charging directly adjacent to residential windows 3. Bollard protection to prevent vehicle impact on chargers 4. Adequate spacing between EV bays (minimum 1.2m or non combustible barrier) The E Bike and E Scooter Problem Paradoxically, e bikes and e scooters represent a greater fire risk per unit than electric cars: Cheaper battery management systems with fewer safety features Often charged indoors, in hallways, blocking escape routes Second hand and modified batteries with no certification Conversion kits with incompatible chargers 143 fires from e bikes and e scooters in London alone in 2024 Fire safety strategies for residential buildings must now address e bike charging as a specific risk, with dedicated, ventilated charging areas away from escape routes. Magnus Opifex provides EV charging fire safety strategies for residential developers. Contact us for project specific guidance.