Requirements and standards

When installing EV charging infrastructure, you must ensure compliance with all relevant standards. Some examples of these are as follows:

Overarching guidelines

Standard	What it covers
Public charge point regulations 2023	Legal requirement to ensure operators of publicly accessible EV charge points understand the Public Charge point Regulations 2023, offering examples of compliance and good practice to ensure a consistent, positive experience for consumers across the UK. Public Charge point Regulations Overview - A summary of regulatory requirements around pricing, access, and reliability. Public Charge point Regulations Technical Guidance - Detailed guidance supporting implementation of the 2023 regulations.

Standard

What it covers

Public charge point regulations 2023

Legal requirement to ensure operators of publicly accessible EV charge points understand the Public Charge point Regulations 2023, offering examples of compliance and good practice to ensure a consistent, positive experience for consumers across the UK.

Public Charge point Regulations Overview - A summary of regulatory requirements around pricing, access, and reliability.

Public Charge point Regulations Technical Guidance - Detailed guidance supporting implementation of the 2023 regulations.

Accessibility

Standard	What it covers
Energy Saving Trust: Accessible EV charging standards	An explanation of the BSI PAS 1899 accessibility regulations, to be read in line with the regulation document itself (linked below)
BSI PAS 1899 – Electric Vehicles Accessible Charging Specification	Sets out minimum standards and best practice recommendations to ensure public EV charge points are inclusively designed and accessible to as many people as possible. Holistic approach including bay design, digital interfaces and information, placement and layout, and full user journey from entry to exit..

Safety

Standard	What it covers
International Electrotechnical Commission 61851-23 – Electric vehicle conductive charging system: DC electric vehicle supply equipment	Technical document defining safety and design rules for DC (direct current) rapid and ultra-rapid EV charge points. Specifies how power is transferred between the charger and the vehicle. Includes requirements for bidirectional charging (vehicle to grid readiness). This allows futureproofing for potential smart grid use cases.
Health and Safety Executive Guidance – Electricity at work, safe working principles	Covers the key elements to consider when defining safe working practices on sites where work is carried out on or near electrical equipment. Given the high voltages involved with EV charge points, this is a crucial safety document which should be read in full.
Fire Protection Association – RC59: Recommendations for fire safety when charging electric vehicles	Best practice safety information to support operators to perform a fire risk assessment for proposed EV charge points and ensure safe and reliable operation of EV charge points.

Construction and site works

Standard	What it covers
Street Works and Road Works	Government guidance on legal requirements for excavation, traffic management, and reinstatement works. Collection of documents and guidance on street works, road works, diversionary works, permit schemes, lane rental, overrun charges and inspections.
Strategic road network and the delivery of sustainable development	DfT framework for delivering infrastructure sustainably on trunk roads and motorways.
Railway Asset Protection Requirements	Guidance on managing risks where sites are located near railway infrastructure. Asset protection and optimisation (ASPRO) teams provide you with rail safety assurance services such as construction, engineering and infrastructure access.
Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB)	National Highways design standards for any works that affect roads, structures, or the highway environment.
BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations)	ET Code of Practice for electric vehicle charging equipment installation. National standard detailing the requirements for the safe design, installation, inspection and testing of fixed electrical installations across domestic, commercial and industrial buildings. Defines technical rules for wiring systems, protection measures, earthing and bonding, and special installations (including EV charge points), and is the recognised benchmark for demonstrating compliance with UK electrical safety legislation.
IET Code of Practice for Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation	Detailed best practice on how to apply the requirements of BS 7671 in real-world scenarios.

Site planning (HGVs)

Standard	What it covers
BSI Flex 2071 Code of Practice – Design and implementation of publicly accessible charging sites for battery electric HGVs	Provides practical recommendations and best practice guidance for the design, layout, and implementation of publicly accessible eHGV charge points. Focuses on overall charging site planning, with vehicle circulation, charging bay design, and safety considerations given the higher power requirements involved.