Covered car parks shouldn’t be a difficult plan to install EV charging, but right now, they can be. A lack of clear, consistent guidance has left industry uncertain, and as demand for charging grows, this confusion is quickly becoming a barrier the industry can’t afford to ignore.

 

In 2023, the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) commissioned Arup to produce guidance on EV charging in covered car parks. While this was intended to bring clarity, the outcome has led to ongoing uncertainty, with recommendation often misinterpreted across the industry.  

Reviewing the wide range of documents now offering advice on the safe installation of charging infrastructure reveals how this confusion has emerged. From contradictory, or a time impractical, expectations around installation, to guidance that fails to reference relevant safety standards, the landscape has become increasingly fragmented. Much of this has stemmed from well-intentioned efforts to build on the original Arup report, but in doing so, the focus has often shifted too far towards the wider building infrastructure.   

Where guidance does address technical considerations, it frequently centres on elements such as the fire resistance of roofing, bay spacing and water systems, placing the responsibility for these features on charge point operators. However, for car parks that already accommodate internal combustion engines vehicles, which present a higher fire risk, these safety measures should be considered at a whole-building level.  Responsibility should be with the car park owner, not be retrofitted onto charge point operators.   

Refocusing on the original intent of the OZEV commissioned work, guidance for change point operators should prioritise what they can reasonably control: electrical safety, compliance with relevant standards, and the safe installation of equipment to minimise fire risk.   

This is why BEAMA is bringing together industry expertise to develop clear, practical guidance that cuts through the noise. Our aim is to define who holds responsibility for each element of a covered car park, and what can reasonably be expected of charge point operators and their installers. By clearly setting out roles alongside the standards that must be met, this guidance will reduce misinterpretation and support consistent, safe deployment.  

Crucially, this is not about adding another document to an already crowded landscape. It is about building consensus across the supply chain. We are therefore calling on organisations across the ecosystem, including insurance, car park owners and housing associations, installers, the fire brigade and Government, to help shape and support this work. The goal is to create guidance that is not only clear, but widely understood, adopted and trusted.