The EVCORE Alliance FAQs

Explore the sections below to understand how the Alliance framework supports multi-unit developments and how your organisation can align with these industry-led best practices.

1. Governance, Standards & The Legal Framework

Does this Code replace existing electrical or statutory fire safety standards?

No. This voluntary Code is designed to complement—not replace—existing standards such as BS 7671, the Building Safety Act 2022, OZEV/Arup fire safety guidance, and RISCAuthority RC59 recommendations. It does not replace a building's Fire Strategy or legal Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) requirements; instead, it provides practical, guiding framework assistance to help responsible persons determine if an EV installation represents a material change to their existing safety processes.

Is EVCORE creating new legal duties?

No. The Code is entirely voluntary. It does not create new legal obligations or replace statutory duties. Instead, it provides a practical framework to help responsible persons, installers, building owners, and fire risk assessors apply existing legal duties and recognised good practice to EV charging infrastructure.

How does the Code relate to the Building Safety Act 2022?

The Code complements the Building Safety Act by supporting accountable persons in managing one evolving aspect of building safety. It does not replace statutory obligations under the Act.

How does the Code relate to BS 7671 and the IET Code of Practice?

The Code does not replace these technical standards. It assumes they will be followed and focuses instead on the wider management of charging infrastructure within the building.

Why does the Code reference NFCC, RC59, and TO194?

These documents represent recognised guidance from the fire, insurance, and accessibility sectors. The Alliance has sought to ensure that the Code is consistent with their underlying principles while avoiding unnecessary duplication.

2. Fire Risk Assessments & Building Fire Strategies

Does the Code replace a Fire Risk Assessment?

No. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires responsible persons to undertake a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment. The EVCORE Code does not replace that legal requirement. Instead, it provides practical guidance to help responsible persons consider the particular issues associated with EV charging infrastructure and apply recognised good practice.

Does the Code replace a Fire Strategy?

No. A fire strategy explains how a building has been designed to achieve an appropriate level of fire safety. The EVCORE Code supports the implementation and ongoing management of that strategy where EV charging infrastructure is installed. It provides practical guidance on planning, installation, operation, and maintenance throughout the life of the building but does not replace the wider fire engineering considerations contained within the fire strategy.

Does installing EV charging automatically require the Fire Risk Assessment to be rewritten?

Not necessarily. The installation of competently designed and managed charging infrastructure should generally be regarded as a fire prevention and electrical safety measure. A wider review of the fire risk assessment may only become appropriate where the scale, concentration, location, or management of EVs materially alters the overall fire risk profile of the premises.

How does the Code support a Fire Strategy?

The Code supports the implementation and ongoing management of a building’s fire strategy where EV charging infrastructure is provided. It provides practical guidance to help ensure that charging infrastructure continues to support the assumptions made within the wider fire strategy throughout the life of the building.

Does every building need a Fire Strategy?

No. Whether a formal fire strategy is required depends upon the building type, complexity and applicable legislation. However, the principles within the EVCORE Code may still assist responsible persons managing EV charging infrastructure regardless of whether a formal fire strategy exists.

3. The Principles of Coordinated Infrastructure

Why is coordinated infrastructure preferred?

Coordinated infrastructure provides consistent installation standards, managed electrical loading, improved maintenance, better documentation, improved visibility for responsible persons and insurers, easier future expansion, and more effective emergency management. It also reduces the likelihood of unmanaged or undocumented infrastructure accumulating over time.

What is meant by “coordinated infrastructure”?

A coordinated approach treats EV charging as a building-wide infrastructure system rather than a series of unrelated individual installations. This supports better planning, maintenance, documentation, and future expansion.

Why does the Code recommend whole-building approaches?

Whole-building approaches improve oversight, reduce fragmentation, and help maintain consistency as charging demand increases over time.

Does the Code recommend communal charging over individual installations?

Not necessarily. The Code does not prescribe a particular charging model. It encourages whichever solution best supports coordinated infrastructure management for the building concerned.

4. Risk Mitigation & Insurability

Why is unmanaged infrastructure a concern?

Individual installations undertaken over many years by different contractors may gradually alter the electrical and fire risk profile of a building. These cumulative changes are not always obvious when individual installations are assessed in isolation. The Alliance believes that this progressive accumulation of unmanaged infrastructure represents one of the principal long-term risks associated with residential EV charging.

What is meant by “accumulation risk”?

Accumulation risk describes the gradual increase in risk that may occur when multiple infrastructure changes take place over time without coordinated oversight, documentation, or management.

Why is this important to insurers?

Insurers assess buildings as complete systems. Where charging infrastructure develops incrementally without coordinated oversight, undocumented alterations, changing electrical loads and inconsistent installation standards may progressively alter the building risk profile. The Code encourages, promotes and advises a coordinated approach that improves visibility, governance and long-term risk management.

Why does the Code distinguish between charging infrastructure and EV fire risk?

Because they are fundamentally different issues. The Code addresses the risks associated with charging infrastructure, electrical safety, charging behaviour, and infrastructure management. It does not seek to categorise or assess the inherent fire risk associated with electric vehicles themselves, which remains the subject of wider fire engineering and fire safety guidance.

5. Technical Design, Installation & Competence

Who should install charging infrastructure?

Charging infrastructure should be designed, installed, commissioned, and maintained by competent persons familiar with BS 7671, the IET Code of Practice for Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation, relevant legislation, manufacturer requirements, and recognised industry guidance. Competence should extend beyond electrical installation to an understanding of the wider building context where appropriate.

Why does the Code emphasise competent persons?

Competent installation supports electrical safety, reduces the likelihood of unsafe modifications, and helps ensure that charging infrastructure integrates appropriately with the wider fire and building safety strategy. Responsible persons may also rely upon competent specialists as part of the assistance required under Article 18 of the Fire Safety Order.

Why does the Code include monitoring and isolation?

Monitoring assists with the early identification of faults, equipment failures, and maintenance issues. Isolation arrangements support safe maintenance, operational management, and emergency response while reducing risks to both maintenance personnel and emergency responders.

Why is signage important?

Appropriate signage improves operational awareness by identifying charging infrastructure, isolation points, emergency contact information, and infrastructure ownership. It supports inspection, maintenance, fault management, and emergency response while helping responsible persons maintain visibility of charging infrastructure across the building.

6. Strategic Context, Scope & Evolution

Why has the EVCORE Alliance developed this Code?

The rapid growth of electric vehicles is fundamentally changing residential buildings. EV charging is no longer an emerging technology but an increasingly common part of residential infrastructure. The Alliance believes that unmanaged charging activity and fragmented infrastructure present avoidable electrical and fire safety risks that can be significantly reduced through coordinated planning, competent installation, and effective management.

Why does the Code say EV charging is inevitable?

The transition to electric vehicles is now well established and supported by national policy, manufacturer investment, and increasing consumer demand. The Alliance considers that residential charging should therefore be regarded as foreseeable and, in most residential developments, inevitable. Where suitable charging infrastructure is unavailable, experience suggests that occupants may adopt unsafe charging practices using domestic sockets, extension leads, or unauthorised installations.

Is safe charging infrastructure a fire prevention measure?

Yes. The Alliance considers that safe, coordinated, and competently managed charging infrastructure reduces the likelihood of unsafe charging practices and therefore represents a practical fire prevention and electrical safety measure. The objective is to prevent avoidable risks before they arise, rather than respond to unsafe charging arrangements after they have become established.

Does the Code apply to existing buildings or only new developments?

The Code applies to both. While new developments provide opportunities to integrate coordinated infrastructure from the outset, many existing residential buildings are undergoing retrofit or phased installation of EV charging. The principles of the Code are intended to support both scenarios.

Does the Code apply to single dwellings?

No. The Code has been developed primarily for residential and mixed-use developments where charging infrastructure forms part of a shared building or managed environment.

Will the Code change?

Yes. The Alliance expects the Code to evolve as legislation, technical standards, fire safety guidance, and operational experience continue to develop. Future editions will reflect learning from stakeholders, industry experience, and changes in recognised good practice.