Public Procurement Service "Above-ground Installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Facilities in Public Buildings"

Electric vehicle charging facilities will be provided above ground in newly constructed public buildings going forward.

On the 22nd, the Public Procurement Service announced that it will encourage the installation of above-ground electric vehicle charging facilities from the design stage of new public buildings.

Provided by Public Procurement Service

The policy applies to newly constructed public buildings with underground parking lots where the installation of electric vehicle charging facilities is mandatory. However, if it is impossible to install the charging facilities above ground due to site conditions, they will be installed in the first basement parking lot, prioritizing locations near entrances and exits that allow easy outdoor access and smoke ventilation.

This measure takes into account the characteristics of enclosed underground parking lots, where smoke and heat are difficult to discharge in the event of a fire at the electric vehicle charging facilities.

Fire suppression equipment will also be significantly strengthened in newly constructed public buildings. The design will reflect the installation of wet sprinklers, smoke detectors, and automatic fire detection equipment above the charging facilities, and if necessary, separate fire zones with enhanced fire resistance will be established.

The Public Procurement Service plans to ensure the safety of charging facilities by mandating the disclosure of key battery information of electric and electric-powered vehicles supplied to public institutions in product specifications, and by newly registering smart controlled slow chargers with preventive functions against battery overcharging in the Nara Marketplace shopping mall.

Additionally, efforts will be accelerated to discover and distribute innovative electric vehicle fire suppression equipment that can actively respond to fires involving electric vehicles.

Previously, the Public Procurement Service designated a product that sprays extinguishing agent directly into the battery internal fire point by penetrating the vehicle’s underbody and battery pack as an innovative product. This product was developed to solve the structural difficulty of directly applying extinguishing agent to lithium batteries. On the 11th, it was finally selected as a pilot innovative product, allowing fire authorities to utilize it at fire scenes.

Lim Gi-geun, Administrator of the Public Procurement Service, said, “The above-ground installation of electric vehicle charging facilities in newly constructed public buildings is being promoted with the aim of proactively alleviating public concerns about fires at electric vehicle charging facilities starting from the public sector.” He added, “The Public Procurement Service will continue to strengthen safety management measures and response capabilities to protect the lives and safety of the public.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.