The growing number of electric vehicles and the development of electromobility bring new challenges for fire safety in buildings. The Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic, the Presidium of the Fire and Rescue Corps, has issued new guidelines aimed at improving safe parking and charging of electric vehicles in buildings. This guidance replaces the previous one from 2021 and introduces recommended practices for both building owners and drivers of electric vehicles.
New updated guidance
Current legislative regulations, such as Act No. 555/2005 Coll. on the Energy Performance of Buildings and Decree No. 94/2004 Coll. of the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic, address general requirements for buildings, but do not specify specific criteria for fire safety for garages with charging stations.
The new Fire and Rescue Corps guidance therefore complements the existing regulations, providing for fire protection measures in relation to the installation of charging stations and the parking of electric vehicles in garages. The guideline sets out the minimum recommended requirements for fire safety.
What is the aim of the new guideline?
- It specifies the requirements for the provision of charging stations for electric vehicles in buildings
- Places emphasis on fire safety in garages
- Provides recommendations for fire safety when parking and charging electric vehicles
Who are the recommendations for?
- Drivers of electric vehicles 🔌🚘 to assess whether bulk and terraced garages are suitable for parking and charging their vehicles.
- To building owners 🏢for proper planning and design of garages and placement of proper fire equipment.
- To building developers and construction companies 🏗️ 👷 on properly designing and constructing new buildings that are ready for electric mobility.
- Building managers and facility managers 🏗️ to adapt existing buildings for safe parking and charging of electric vehicles.
🚨 Important change from previous guidance.
The new guidance does not require an additional one level increase in the fire safety rating of a PBS structure for the location of electric vehicle charging stations and parking spaces in new or existing structures.
Fire-safety requirements for buildings
New guidance brings clearer rules for safe parking and charging of electric vehicles in garages. What are the main changes?
- Safe garages for charging – charging stations should only be located in buildings with durable load-bearing structures (D1) that reduce the risk of fire spread.
- Location of charging stations – it is recommended that they are on the ‘fire floor’, which means that in the event of a fire, firefighters will have easier access to intervene.
- Reduction of mandatory clearances – the minimum distance between charging stations and escape routes has been reduced from 5 m to 2.5 m. This means more efficient use of space in garages.
- More charging stations in one place – the number of parking spaces with chargers next to each other has been increased from 3 to 6. This means that charging electric cars will be more convenient and accessible.
- Protection against the spread of fire – if there are multiple charging stations in a garage, there must be a minimum distance of 2.5 m between them. An alternative is to install a fire screen to prevent the rapid spread of fire.
💡 Good news – If the building has a fixed fire sprinkler system, it does not need to meet additional spacing requirements between parking spaces.
Equipment of buildings with fire-technical equipment
In order to improve safety, the requirements for extinguishing and signalling fires in garages have also been modified.
- New rules for fire alarms systems – if a garage has more than 10 spaces for parking and charging electric cars, it is recommended to install a fire alarm system. Until now, this limit was set at 20 spaces, which means stricter rules for smaller garages.
- Fire extinguishers for special parking systems – if the garage is higher than 6 metres or has a complicated layout, it is recommended to install a semi-permanent fire extinguisher that can react quickly in the event of a fire.
- Stable fire extinguishing system for large garages – if the garage can accommodate more than 40 electric cars, a fully automated fire extinguishing system is recommended. If such a system cannot be installed in the existing building, it can be replaced by an alternative fire extinguishing solution.
- Improving garage ventilation – In garages with more than 40 charging points, it is recommended to install heat and combustion exhaust. If this is not technically feasible, an alternative is artificial ventilation which will be active even during a fire.
- Safe charging shutdown – if the garage is powered by battery storage (more than 40 kWh) and does not have a so-called CENTRAL STOP, it is recommended to install a controller that will immediately shut down the electric car charging in the event of a fire. This control panel should be clearly marked and easily accessible.
- Better access for evacuation of electric cars – the new rules do not recommend the use of lifts as the only way to evacuate electric cars from the fire compartment. The garage should be connected to the access road so that cars can be quickly brought out.
If the above minimum safety requirements for fire protection are not met, the Presidium of the Fire and Rescue force does not recommend that drivers of electric vehicles park or charge electric vehicles in the structures in question.
What does the new guidance imply?
New guidance from the Fire and Rescue Corps introduces important measures to improve fire safety when parking and charging electric cars in buildings. For building owners/designers, this means the need to adapt garages to meet the recommended technical and safety requirements. This includes the correct location of charging stations, the provision of sufficient fire protection and appropriate technical equipment.
For drivers of electric cars, it is important to realise that not every garage is suitable for parking and charging their vehicle. They should check that the premises are equipped according to the recommendations and that they meet safety standards. It is also key to follow the guidelines and use charging stations correctly to minimise the risk of fire.
In a nutshell:
- If you own an electric car – make sure the garage where you park it meets the new safety requirements.
- As a facility manager of a building – if you have more than 10 charging points in your garage , you should check the need for a fire alarm.
- If you are a developer or architect – when planning new garages it is important to comply with updated requirements for ventilation, stable fire sprinklers and safe location of charging stations.
The new guidance improves the safety of electric cars and also makes some of the rules more accessible than the previous version. 🚗🔥
Implementing these recommendations will help ensure safer infrastructure for electromobility while reducing the risks associated with fire in garages and parking garages.
Do you have an electric car and want to make sure you’re charging it safely?
If you are unsure whether your garage meets current fire safety requirements or need advice on appropriate measures, please contact us. We can advise you on solutions to ensure your electric car is parked and charged safely.
