Electric Vehicle Car Parking

With the recent car park fire incident at Luton Airport, which resulted in the destruction of up to 1,200 vehicles and injuries to several firefighters requiring hospital treatment, concerns over electric vehicle (EV) battery fires and escalating insurance costs have come to the forefront. Issued by the UK Government in July, document T0194 offers fire safety guidance for electric vehicles in covered car parks, addressing the risks associated with EV battery fires and providing mitigation measures. Here are some key considerations outlined in the document: 1. **Distance and Fire-Resistant Construction**: Increasing the distance between parked electric vehicles and installing fire-resistant construction between parking bays can reduce the likelihood of fire spread. This construction should provide a physical barrier to the spread of heat and flames between vehicles. 2. **Structural Fire Resistance**: Current guidance recommends a minimum of 15 minutes of structural fire resistance for some car park arrangements. However, with the integration of electric vehicles, a higher period of structural fire resistance, such as a minimum of 60 minutes, may be necessary to account for the time it takes for the fire service to extinguish a fire involving EVs. 3. **Certified and Approved EV Charge Points (EVCP)**: EVCPs should meet technical requirements outlined in BS EN 61851 and other applicable regulations. They should include features such as overcurrent protection, tilt sensors, damage/fault reporting, temperature sensors, and ventilation to prevent potential fire hazards. 4. **Manual Isolation Switch**: Installing a manual isolation switch for EVCPs can cut off the power supply in the event of an electric vehicle fire, reducing the risk of thermal runaway in the battery. 5. **Controlled Speed Limits**: Implementing controlled speed limits in car parks can help prevent collisions that may lead to battery pack deformation and subsequent thermal runaway in EV batteries. 6. **Secure Storage of Vehicles**: Vehicles prone to mechanical abuse, such as police cars, should be securely stored away from other vehicles or not allowed in covered car parks to minimise potential damage. 7. **Crash Protection for EVCPs**: Providing impact protection for EVCPs through bollards or physical barriers can reduce the likelihood of faults developing in the charge points. 8. **Routine Inspections**: Regular inspections of charge points can identify faults or damage not detected by internal monitoring systems, ensuring their safe operation. 9. **Optimal Positioning of EVCPs**: EVCPs should be positioned to allow easy attachment of charging cables to EVs with minimal cable length, reducing the risk of damage to cables and tripping hazards. 10. **Security Systems**: Installing security cameras and implementing a management strategy can deter deliberate damage to EVCPs. 11. **Mode 3 or Mode 4 EVCPs**: Mode 3 or Mode 4 EVCPs with built-in fault monitoring capabilities are recommended to terminate charging and prevent uncontrolled fires. 12. **Immediate Removal of Faulty EVCPs**: Faulty EVCPs should be promptly removed from service to prevent potential fire hazards. Document T0194 provides comprehensive guidance for operators, designers, and owners of covered car parks regarding fire safety measures for EVs and EVCPs. For further details, refer to Covered car parks: fire safety guidance for electric vehicles published by the UK Government.