The National Construction Code (NCC) has introduced new requirements for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in carparks associated with certain building classes.
The changes aim to support the uptake of EVs by ensuring that buildings are equipped with the necessary infrastructure to charge electric vehicles.
According to the updated NCC, carparks in Class 2, 3, 5, 6, 7b, 8, or 9 buildings must be provided with electrical distribution boards dedicated to EV charging. These distribution boards must be labelled to indicate their use for EV charging equipment and must be installed in each storey of the carpark.
The specific requirements for each building class can be found in Table J9D4 of the NCC.
For Class 2 buildings, the NCC requires that electrical distribution boards dedicated to serving EV charging in a carpark must have the capacity for each circuit to support an EV charger able to deliver a minimum of 12 kWh from 11:00 pm to 7:00 am daily.
For Class 3 buildings, the requirements are more stringent. The electrical distribution boards must have the capacity for each circuit to support an EV charger able to deliver a minimum of 48 kWh from 11:00 pm to 7:00 am daily. This is because Class 3 buildings, which are typically hotels or motels, often have a higher demand for EV charging than other building classes.
For Class 5 to 9 buildings, the electrical distribution boards must have the capacity for each circuit to support an EV charger able to deliver a minimum of 12 kWh from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily. This is because these buildings, which include offices and retail buildings, tend to have higher demand for EV charging during the day.
The distribution boards must also be sized to support the future installation of a 7 kW (32 A) Type 2 EV charger in:
- 100% of carpark spaces associated with a Class 2 building.
- 10% of carpark spaces associated with a Class 5 or 6 building.
- 20% of carpark spaces associated with a Class 3, 7b, 8, or 9 building.
It’s worth noting that the provision does not apply to stand-alone Class 7a buildings, which are defined as carparks used for public purposes (such as a commercial carpark).
In addition to these requirements, the NCC also mandates that electrical distribution boards dedicated to serving EV charging must be fitted with a charging control system that can manage and schedule charging of EVs in response to total building demand. They must also contain space for individual sub-circuit electricity metering to record the electricity use of EV charging equipment.
Overall, the changes to the NCC’s requirements aim to encourage the installation of EV charging infrastructure in carparks associated with buildings where people live permanently or frequently visit. By ensuring that buildings are equipped with the necessary infrastructure to charge EVs, the NCC hopes to support the uptake of EVs and promote sustainable transportation options.
The adoption of the NCC 2022 varies by state and territory in Australia, as each jurisdiction has its own process for adopting the code. However, the NCC 2022 is expected to be adopted by all states and territories by mid-2023. It’s worth noting that some jurisdictions may make minor variations to the code or adopt it with a delayed start date, so it’s important to check with the relevant authorities in your jurisdiction to confirm the specific adoption date and any local variations.
Bright Connect can help developers and building owners to design and implement cost-effective and scalable EV charging solutions that comply with the new regulations. Please contact us for further information.