Previously published article we already wrote about the legislator's intention, when replacing the Building Decree 2012 to the Building Works and Living Environment Decree (BBL for short), to include an obligation for the presence of a sprinkler system in newly built parking garages under a building with a usage function in which sleeping is allowed. The aim: to limit the consequences of the resulting fire.
But besides limiting the consequences, the legislator has also proposed some new fire prevention measures in the revised Design note. The requirements will apply to newly installed charging points in both new and existing buildings from 1 January 2024 at the earliest.
Proposed amendment BBL
When the current Building Decree 2012 is replaced by the Building Works and Living Environment Decree (Bbl for short), the legislator intends to include new building regulations regarding the building-related electrical installation in “other functions for the storage of motor vehicles” (read: in a parking garage).
For example, charging points for EVs should be secured against malfunctions that could lead to a fire, a system should be installed to switch off all charging points at the same time, and clear information should be available about this system and the location of the charging points in the car park, for the purpose of fire brigade deployment.
What do these new building rules mean in practice? Do all buildings and charging points have to comply with these rules? And if so, what do these requirements entail?
What requirements must the charging points meet?
To limit the risk of fire, additional requirements are being placed on EV charging points in car parks. Charging points must be of the Mode 3 or 4 type according to NEN 1010. These charging modes are better protected against faults that could lead to fire.
The description of charging modes 1 to 4 can be found in the design standard for low-voltage electrical installations, NEN 1010. Freely translated, this states that for Mode 3 and 4, an electrical or mechanical system must be present that prevents a plug from being inserted/disconnected into the wall socket unless the power supply to the wall socket or the vehicle connection is switched off.
In the illustration below, we have schematically depicted the four charging types, noting that only Mode 3 and 4 (when the Bbl is introduced) are allowed in a car park for newly installed charging points.
The requirements, incidentally, only apply to the building-related electrical installation components shown in blue. The components shown in black are generally owned by the owner/operator of the electric vehicle.
Mode 1
The electric vehicle, or the (detachable) battery, is connected via a cable to a normal socket/wall socket (Schuko). This charging method lacks communication between the vehicle and the building's electrical installation, and therefore also lacks a safety system.
This charging method is not used for passenger vehicles because for passenger vehicles, a special plug (for example, a Mennekes Type 2) is exclusively required on the vehicle side for communication with the BMS (battery management system).
Mode 2
The electric vehicle is connected to a normal socket/wall socket via a separate charging cable. In contrast to Mode 1, there is a plug tailored to the vehicle side, such as a Mennekes Type 2.
A current limiter (ICCB: In-Cable Control Box) is located between the two plugs, which functions as a mobile safety device to regulate the charging capacity.
Mode 3
The electric vehicle is connected via a separate charging cable to a separate charging station, also called a “Wallbox”. Unlike Mode 2, this plug has a special plug on both the charging station and vehicle side, such as a Mennekes Type 2.
There is no power limiter (ICCB) in the cable, as the cable and plug facilitate communication between the vehicle and the charging station. There is “controlled charging” because this communication makes it possible to determine the correct power and shut off the power supply in the event of deviations during charging.
Mode 4
The electric vehicle is directly connected to the separate charging station. In this mode, the charging cable, monitoring and security functions are permanently connected to the charging station.
Mode 4 charging technology is completely different from the other modes. Whereas in Mode 2 and 3 the inverter in the EV is responsible for converting alternating current from the building to direct current for the battery, Mode 4 charging stations themselves provide the conversion of the building's alternating current to direct current. The charging station is, as it were, directly connected to the EV's battery, after which the charging station determines the entire charging process. This mode is also commonly referred to as “fast charging” in practice.
Why are only Mode 3 and 4 still allowed?
In Mode 1, there is no safety feature present to ensure that the building-based installation is switched off when there is a problem with charging. Although the ICCB is present in Mode 2 – which can de-energise the cable towards the vehicle – the building-based installation is not switched off here either. Only in the event of a short circuit, overload, or earth leakage will the electrical installation be switched off.
With Modes 3 and 4, in the event of a charging problem, the building's fixed installation is de-energised.
Safe firefighter deployment
To provide the fire service with greater safety during a fire in a car park, it will be compulsory to install a system that allows charging points to be switched off simultaneously. This will ensure the fire service that there is no longer any electrical voltage on the charging points and that no dangerous situations arise during firefighting.
This can be implemented as a traditional fire alarm switch, as is already used for central heating systems and solar panels.
This will also make it mandatory to have a provision at the entrance to the car park to indicate how the above system is implemented and where the charging points for electric vehicles are located within the car park. This will enable the fire brigade to know where the charging points are in the event of a fire in a car park, as a fire at a charging point requires a different fire response.
This includes a standard attack map, extended with a location marker for charging points and instructions for deactivating the charging points.
Do the requirements apply to both new and existing buildings?
Yes, the obligations apply to all newly installed EV charging points, in both new buildings, renovated buildings, and existing buildings. This specifically means that existing charging points do not need to comply with the new requirements.
When do these new requirements come into effect?
With the introduction of the Environment Act, the current Building Decree 2012 will expire and the technical building regulations will be included in the Building Works for the Environment Decree, or Bbl for short. The introduction of the Environment Act has been postponed several times in the past.
So the requirements will not apply to newly installed charging points in both new and existing buildings until 1 January 2024 at the earliest.
Sprinkler systems in car parks
In addition to the new requirements for electrical installations for charging electric vehicles in car parks, requirements have also been included for the presence of a sprinkler system in newly built car parks located under a building with a residential use. Would you like to know more about this? Then read our following article.
Would you like more information about installing charging points for electric vehicles in car parks? Or do you have questions about how to incorporate safety features into the design phase? Feel free to contact us without obligation. The vb&t Fire Safety & Environment team can provide you with an on-site fire safety scan.