Introduction of provisions for Electric Vehicle Charging

Posted Thursday 2nd March by Admin User

The new standard requires that “every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that provision for the charging of electric vehicles is made where car parking spaces are located within the building or the curtilage of the building”.  

Appears in:

Energy and Net Zero
/8807.jpg

The Scottish Government has confirmed that new requirements for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure will be introduced as part of the Building Regulations. 

Following a consultation in 2021 on proposed changes to energy standards, it was proposed that new buildings and those subject to ‘major renovation’ would be required to install EV charging. While other parts of this consultation, including the updates to Section 6 (Energy) were updated back in 2022 with implementation from 1 February 2023, the EV aspect of this was led by Transport Scotland with plans for a later implementation.  

The June 2023 Technical Handbooks have now been published and include these new proposals (Standard 7.2 - Electric vehicle charging) within Section 7 (Sustainability).  

Designers seeking to comply with the standards or to submit a building warrant on or after 5 June 2023 should therefore refer to: 

The new standard requires that “every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that provision for the charging of electric vehicles is made where car parking spaces are located within the building or the curtilage of the building”.  

For new buildings, single dwellings will require one electric vehicle charge point socket with an output rating of not less than 7 kW. Where car parking is provided within the curtilage of a domestic building comprising more than one dwelling, enabling infrastructure should be provided to each parking space within the curtilage of the development site. However exemptions apply, including cost caps which are detailed in the handbook. 

Buildings which are undergoing ‘major renovation’, defined by works requiring a building warrant which cover more than 25% of the surface area of the building envelope and the works include works to car parking spaces, or the electrical infrastructure of the building or of the car parking spaces, will also be included in the new standard. Again exemptions, including costs exemptions and works relating to improving the fire safety of the building envelope, will apply. 

Building Standards will shortly be producing a summary of the changes which will be made available here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/building-standards-technical-handbooks-2022-23/  

In the meantime, any queries from SFHA members on these changes can be directed to cdove@sfha.co.uk.