Guide to electric car charging point installation regulations
For businesses looking to install electric car charging points, following installation regulations is important to ensure your charge points are installed correctly and safely. The regulations can be confusing as there are different rules depending on many different factors.
We recommend using a certified installer because it’s the best way to follow regulations. These installers can help your business find which charge points are right for your business. But we’ve broken down each category, so you know the electric car charging point installation regulations for 2022.
What are the electric charging point installation regulations in the UK as of 2022?
2022 brought a few important updates to the electric car charging points installation regulations. From 2022, all new builds have to have electric charge points installed. That does include new build workplaces such as offices. The updated regulations also clarified that all businesses undergoing major renovations to their premises must also include charge points.
The UK government has a couple of installation regulations for different types of charging points. These regulations apply in England, Scotland and Wales. What regulations you will need to follow depends on what you’re using the charge points for, the type of charge point, and where you are.
Do you need planning permission to install charging points?
The one question every business has when installing electric car charging points is whether they need planning permission. The short answer is that no, you do not need planning permission to install charging points on your property or if you have permission from the landlord and the regulation conditions are met.
Planning permission for wall mounted electric car charging points
These charge points for electric vehicles must be placed in off-road parking areas. This can be your office parking space, land your business owns, or office parking space you have on lease. As long as these points are followed then planning permission is not required in England, Scotland, and Wales:
- Size: less than 0.2 cubic metres
- Minimum 2 metres space between road and charge point
- Charge points cannot be within a listed building or monument space
Planning permission for standing electric car charge points
Standing charge points do have slightly different electric car charging points installation regulations, but the general idea is about the same. The first major regulation you have to follow for standing charge points is to make sure that there is only 1 charge point for 1 parking space. This avoids overcrowding.
As long as you keep to 1 charge point per parking space and follow these other regulations, planning permission is not needed.
- Size: less than 2.3 metres high from the parking space
- Size for residential: less than 1.6 metres
- Minimum 2 metres space between road and charge point
Whether your installation is more complicated, or you’d like more reassurance to follow regulations, we highly recommend using a certified installer. You can find an installer for both wall sockets and standing electric car charge points.
Regulations for leasehold properties and land
You can get electric charging points installed on leasehold land. First, you should check the terms of your lease. Depending on what it says on the lease, your landlord’s permission could be required before you can start with the electric car charging points installation process. If you’re not sure, contact your installation provider and double-check which regulations you fall under.
Most of the time, landlord permission will be required for leasehold land such as office parking spaces to follow electric car charging points installation regulations to a T. During this time, you and your landlord will also settle on who is responsible for the upkeep of the charge points, any insurance changes, and other details.
Can I install my own electric car charge points?
There is no regulation stopping you from installing your own electric car charge points, but we suggest against it. It’s a difficult process for non-trained electricians to complete. If you install them yourself, you won’t get support from your provider or guidance to find which charge point is the best for your business.
Most importantly, your business will lose out on a good government grant.
The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) can help to cover the costs of installation. The grant can cover up to £350 per socket. But you will have to use a certified installer to get it. Thankfully, there are many installers recognised by the government who offer a range of charge point solutions for businesses. It’s best to compare these providers so you can find the right charge point for your business.
What about safety regulations?
Installing an electric charge point can be risky if you’re not trained, which is why we recommend hiring a professional. All professional and government recognised installers follow the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s Wiring Regulations, which is a whopping 16 pages long and often gets amended. It might seem like a lot of red tape, but these regulations help keep you and your business safe.
In short, the regulations for electric car charge points explain the requirements for installation to avoid as much risk as possible such as electric shock. This can include protecting your charge points from accidents and damage from impact by placing the charge points a distance from the road. If you’re not sure about which regulations apply to you, we recommend getting in touch with your installation provider.
Why have the electric car charging points installation regulations changed in 2022?
The UK government is looking to phase out petrol and diesel. The regulation changes are part of this gradual shift towards more sustainable fuels. The UK government estimates that the regulation changes will create an additional 145,000 electric car charge points installed across the country every single year. While the government is using more carrot than stick, we recommend businesses hop on the trend to see the benefits of electricity quickly.
