The Electric Spinach EV Charger Knowledge Hub
Frequently Asked Questions & Practical Guidance
How can we help?
Straightforward answers to common questions about commercial EV infrastructure, compliance, maintenance, software and operational management.
Managing commercial EV infrastructure often raises questions.
Our Support Centre brings together the questions we’re asked most often by property managers, facilities teams, surveyors, consultants and organisations responsible for commercial EV infrastructure.
Compliance & Safety
Maintenance & Operations
Software & OCPP
Planning & Installation
Fire Safety & Risk
Built Environment Sectors
Compliance & Safety
What should an annual EV charger inspection include?
A comprehensive annual inspection should assess the physical condition, electrical safety, functionality and operational performance of commercial EV charging infrastructure, with findings recorded in a formal inspection report.
Should commercial EV chargers be included within an EICR?
An EICR and an EV charger inspection are complementary. One focuses on the fixed wiring and electrical installation, while the other focuses on the charging equipment and its ongoing condition.
Do commercial EV chargers require annual inspections?
Whilst annual inspections are not universally mandated by legislation, they are commonly adopted to identify deterioration, maintain safety, support compliance and minimise downtime.
Maintenance & Operations
What should you do if your commercial EV chargers keep going offline?
Recurring offline events should be investigated systematically. The cause may lie with communications, software, electrical infrastructure or hardware. Identifying the root cause is essential for improving reliability and reducing downtime.
How often should commercial EV chargers be serviced?
Maintenance intervals should follow manufacturer recommendations, site risk assessments and operational demands. For many commercial installations, annual planned maintenance supported by remote monitoring and routine inspections represents good practice, although higher-use sites may require more frequent attention.
Who is responsible for maintaining commercial EV chargers?
In most commercial environments, the organisation responsible for controlling the EV charging infrastructure is ultimately responsible for ensuring it is maintained safely. Maintenance tasks may be outsourced, but accountability for ensuring suitable inspection, maintenance and operational management arrangements remain in place generally sits with the asset owner or duty holder.
Software & OCPP
Can existing EV chargers be transferred to a new management platform?
In many cases, yes. Existing chargers can often be transferred to a new management platform provided they support compatible OCPP versions, firmware and contractual arrangements permit migration. Every installation should be assessed individually before work begins.
Can you change EV charging software without replacing the chargers?
Yes. In many cases commercial EV charging software can be changed without replacing the chargers. Success depends on OCPP compatibility, firmware, contractual arrangements, manufacturer support and compatibility between the charger and the proposed management platform.
What is OCPP and why does it matter?
OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) is an internationally recognised communication standard that enables compatible EV charge points to communicate with different charge point management systems (CPMS). Rather than tying organisations to a single software provider, it provides the flexibility to manage compatible hardware through a range of backend platforms.
Planning & Installation
How can you future-proof a commercial EV charging installation?
Future-proofing means creating infrastructure that can expand safely and economically. Consider future charging demand, electrical infrastructure, interoperability, software flexibility, energy management and long-term maintenance before installation begins.
How do you choose the right EV chargers for a commercial property?
Choose chargers that match the way the site will actually be used. Consider user behaviour, electrical capacity, interoperability, software capability, reliability, maintenance and whole-life cost rather than focusing solely on charger output or purchase price.
What should you consider before installing commercial EV chargers?
Before installing commercial EV chargers, organisations should define their objectives, understand user requirements, assess available electrical capacity, choose suitable locations, select appropriate hardware and software, and plan for future maintenance and expansion.
Fire Safety & Risk
What is RC59 and Why is it Important for Commercial EV Charging?
RC59 is a best-practice guidance document published by the RISC Authority, titled Recommendations for Electric Vehicle Charging Installations.
It provides practical recommendations to help organisations reduce fire, electrical and operational risks associated with commercial EV charging infrastructure.
Unlike legislation, RC59 does not tell organisations exactly what they must do. Instead, it encourages a risk-based approach, recognising that every building, every car park and every charging installation is different.
For commercial landlords and property managers, RC59 is valuable because it provides a recognised framework for making informed engineering and operational decisions that are likely to be viewed positively by insurers and other stakeholders.
Can EV Chargers Be Safely Installed in Covered or Underground Car Parks?
Yes. Commercial EV chargers can be safely installed in covered and underground car parks. Across the UK, thousands of charge points already operate safely within office buildings, apartment developments, shopping centres, hospitals and commercial premises.
However, enclosed environments require additional planning and a site-specific assessment to ensure the charging infrastructure integrates effectively with the building’s electrical systems, fire strategy and operational procedures.
Rather than asking whether underground car parks are suitable for EV charging, organisations should ask: Have we properly considered the building, its risks and how the charging infrastructure will be managed?
Are Commercial EV Chargers a Fire Risk?
Commercial EV chargers are not inherently high fire-risk devices. Modern charge points are designed with multiple electrical safety features and must be installed in accordance with recognised standards such as BS 7671 (Requirements for Electrical Installations).
Like any significant electrical installation, they should also be supported by:
- competent design
- professional installation
- appropriate protective devices
- periodic inspection
- planned maintenance
- operational management
Rather than avoiding EV charging because of fire concerns, organisations should focus on ensuring risks are properly identified, assessed and controlled.
Built Environment Sectors
What are the biggest operational challenges of EV charging in residential developments?
The biggest challenges facing residential EV charging are usually operational rather than technical. Successful developments establish clear arrangements for:
- Ownership.
- Resident access.
- Billing.
- Maintenance.
- Compliance.
- Parking management.
- Capacity planning.
- Future expansion.
- Resident communication.
By treating EV charging as a managed building service rather than a one-off installation, residential developments can reduce disputes, improve reliability and support increasing EV adoption over time.
How should managing agents manage EV chargers across multiple properties?
Managing agents should treat EV charging infrastructure in the same way they manage every other critical building service.
That means developing consistent arrangements for:
- Compliance.
- Maintenance.
- Software management.
- Performance monitoring.
- Contractor management.
- Reporting.
- Asset planning.
- Tenant communication.
Rather than managing each charger individually, successful organisations develop a portfolio-wide operating model that delivers consistency across every property.
What Should Commercial Landlords Know About Managing EV Charging Infrastructure?
Installing EV chargers is only one stage of delivering a successful charging strategy. Commercial landlords should also consider:
- Long-term maintenance.
- Electrical compliance.
- Software and backend management.
- User access and permissions.
- Tariff management.
- Energy capacity.
- Future expansion.
- Planned inspections.
- Asset lifecycle planning.
A well-managed charging estate protects both the value of the property and the experience of the people who use it.
The Electric Spinach Knowledge Hub
Need a more detailed answer?
Many of these questions are explored in greater depth within:
Still have a question?
Every building is different.
If your question isn’t answered here, we’d be delighted to help.
Our specialists work with organisations across the built environment every day and are always happy to provide practical advice.