Building Scotland (Amendment) Regulations 2022 - electric vehicle charging standard: presentation

An update on the 2022/23 changes to building regulations

Topic 4 of 4 - Electric Vehicle Charging Standard from June 2023

Introduction

Provisions within The Building (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2022 on electric vehicle charging will come into force on 5 June 2023.  The regulations were laid on 24 November 2022 and their in-force date subsequently amended in March 2023.

Changes to the standards and supporting guidance within section 7 (sustainability) were published in revised Technical Handbooks on 23 February 2023.

The June 2023 Technical Handbooks introduce standard 7.2 (Electric vehicle charging) and are otherwise unchanged from the previous February 2023 version.

This presentation covers the key changes introduced by standard 7.2 for new buildings and those subject to ‘major renovation’.

Background

• Scotland’s ambitious climate change legislation sets a target date for net zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045, with interim targets of 75% by 2030 and 90% by 2040. In line with this, the National Transport Strategy 2 sets out the strategic vision for Scotland’s transport system and the national Mission Zero for transport  aims to ensure people and places benefit fairly from the shift to sustainable, zero emission mobility.
• as part of this, we are committed to phasing out the need for petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030. The transition to Electric Vehicles (EV) will contribute significantly to these goals
• we want people to have access to convenient and reliable EV charging infrastructure at home, at work and when out and about
• in July 2021, we consulted on proposals to require EV charge points and enabling infrastructure in a number of different building types with parking spaces
• the consultation response on electric vehicle charging proposals was published by Transport Scotland on 11 August 2022

New Standard introduced

7.2 Electric Vehicle Charging

Mandatory Standard

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.

Limitation:

This standard does not apply to—

a) a non-domestic building where ten or fewer car parking spaces are present within the building or the curtilage of the building,

b) alteration to, or extension of a building, other than major renovation works.

General provisions and scope

New requirements are introduced by Standard 7.2 (Electric Vehicle Charging).

• EV charge points are only required to external car parking spaces.
• Application to conversions only where the number dwellings or the number of building units is altered or the building changes or to or from a residential building.
• Definition of ‘major renovation works’: 

‘Major renovation works’ means works for the renovation of a building where ten or more car parking spaces are present within the building or the curtilage of the building and where—

1. more than 25% of the surface area of the building envelope undergoes renovation, and
2. the works include works to car parking spaces, or the electrical infrastructure of the building or of the car parking spaces.

In this context, ‘building envelope’ means walls, floor, roof, windows, doors, roof windows and roof-lights.

New dwellings

• enabling infrastructure to all spaces.
• one EV charge point per dwelling with a parking space, up to the number of dwellings constructed, plus a proportion of accessible parking spaces.
• charge point installation to the extent cost-effective (defined as average cost of £2k for a DNO connection per charge point). Evidence to support ‘cost cap’ set out.

Domestic buildings undergoing major renovation works

• works must include both building envelope and car parking for standard to apply
• exception where main purpose of work to the building envelope is to improve fire safety (considered remediation, not renovation).
• where applied, provision is as new build, but with charge point installation only to the extent this can be made within capacity of current electrical supply to the building
• overall installation cost limited to 7% of the cost of the major renovation works. Calculation of this ‘cost limit’ set out.

New non-domestic buildings

• applies only where more than 10 car parking spaces are provided within the curtilage of a new non-domestic building
• enabling infrastructure for charge points should be provided to at least 50% of parking spaces
• EV charge points installed to 1 in 10 parking spaces (or part thereof). The same proportionate provision is made to accessible parking spaces
• no cost cap is defined for new non-domestic buildings

Non-domestic buildings undergoing major renovation works.

• works must include both building envelope and car parking for standard to apply
• exception where main purpose of work to the building envelope is to improve fire safety (considered remediation, not renovation)
• where applicable, provision is as new build (proportion of spaces)
• overall installation cost limited to 7% of the cost of the major renovation works. Calculation of this ‘cost limit’ set out. For non-domestic buildings, 7% limit can include cost of upgrading building electrical supply

​​​​​​​Location and specification of charge points

Guidance covers safe and accessible location of charge point installations.

Current industry good practice guidance cited:

• PAS 1899-2022 - Electric vehicles - Accessible charging - specification"
• BS 7671
• IET ‘Code of Practice: Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation’.
• BS EN 61851 – ‘Electric vehicle conductive charging system’

Charge points to:

• have minimum simultaneous output of each charge point of 7kW with universal socket (untethered electric vehicle charge point)
• have a visual indicator to show the equipment’s charging status
• be minimum of a Mode 3 specialised system for electric vehicle charging running from a dedicated circuit, or equivalent, as defined in BS EN IEC 61851-1

Enabling infrastructure / future charge points.

Guidance given on the extent of ductwork/containment needed to enable cabling of charge point locations from an incoming electrical supply.  Reference to industry installation practice:

• BS EN 61386-24 –‘Conduit systems for cable management - Particular requirements. Conduit systems buried underground’. 
• National Joint Utilities Group ‘Guidelines on the Positioning and Colour Coding of Underground Utilities’ Apparatus’.

Guidance given on the provision, termination and marking of future charge point locations.

Provision of information on installation and operation

Written information should be provided:

• information on the charge point, socket, the connection of the charge point back to the building electrical supply, means of isolation and a summary of how to use
• a copy of the commissioning information for charge point(s) and any associated control equipment, plus manufacturer’s literature on the installed products

In addition, for communal installations, the location of all installed ductwork and equipment should be provided, also identifying all enabling infrastructure to support adding in future charge points. 

For dwellings, information should also be included in the ‘quick start’ guide provided under standard 6.8

Contact for further queries: Victoria.bell@gov.scot