The number of charging points in parking garages is growing fast, driven by the rise of electric cars and requirements for charging infrastructure in new-build and renovation projects. For structural fire safety, this is not just an electrical installation issue: every charging group brings new cable trays, more power, and often new penetrations through existing fire separations.

Why EV charging touches the fire safety discussion

A parking garage is already a building with a high fire load and, in an enclosed or underground garage, a defensive firefighting approach to a vehicle fire. Structural fire safety - compartmentalization, structural protection, seals - therefore carries extra weight. Charging infrastructure adds two risks: more cables and conduits breaking through fire separations, and concentrated power that can itself become an ignition source in the event of a fault or short circuit.

What specifically changes about compartmentalization?

  • More penetrations. Every new charging group requires cable trays that often run through the separation between the parking level and adjacent functions (storage, stairwell, technical rooms). Every penetration must be sealed to certified standards.
  • Higher power per group. With fast charging or large numbers of charging points per group, cable thickness increases and with it the size of the opening - this often requires a different sealing system than the original, smaller penetration.
  • New technical rooms. Charging infrastructure sometimes comes with its own distribution board or transformer room, with its own compartmentalization and structural requirements.

Structural protection remains the foundation

Apart from the charging infrastructure itself, protecting the load-bearing steel and concrete structure remains the core of fire safety in a parking garage: in a prolonged vehicle fire, the structure must remain standing long enough for a safe response. Fire-resistant steel cladding on beams and columns, and intact compartmentalization to adjacent functions, do not change because of the arrival of charging points - but every change to the installation is a moment to check whether the existing separations are still intact.

What the Bbl requires

The Buildings and Environment Decree (Bbl) does not set separate, additional requirements specifically for EV charging points in parking garages; the existing requirements for compartmentalization, structural protection, and the duty of care (see our article on the fire safety duty of care) remain fully in force. In practice, this means the owner or manager must be able to demonstrate that installing charging infrastructure has not compromised the existing fire separations - and that is exactly where things most often go wrong in practice: the electrician pulls the cable, but sealing the penetration is not always automatically included in the same job.

Planning new charging infrastructure in an existing parking garage? Have it assessed in advance which fire separations will be affected, so that sealing is a standard part of the charging project instead of a later catch-up job.

Frequently asked questions

No, there are no separate fire safety requirements specifically for charging points. The existing requirements for compartmentalization, structural protection, and the duty of care remain applicable, and new penetrations for charging infrastructure must be sealed to certified standards just like any other penetration.

The duty of care lies with the owner or manager of the building. They must be able to demonstrate that fire separations are demonstrably in order again after the installation of charging infrastructure, regardless of who made the penetration.

The required protection of the steel or concrete structure does not change automatically, but every renovation for charging infrastructure is a good moment to check whether the existing structural protection and compartmentalization are still intact.

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