Management Boards should know: The latest regulations on apartment EV charging stations

Amendment 01:2026 to QCVN 04:2021/BXD, just issued by the Ministry of Construction, has officially added strict technical and fire-safety requirements for EV charging areas inside apartment buildings. Because the new regulation is mandatory even for buildings already in operation, Investors and Management Boards need to proactively tackle the challenge of reviewing and upgrading their infrastructure.

Update yourself right away with the specific information below so you can put in place timely solutions, ensuring legal compliance and operational safety.

1. Regulations on the placement of apartment EV charging stations

To minimize the risk of fire spreading, the new standard sets out a principle of clear zoning between the areas for electric vehicles and those for internal-combustion vehicles (gasoline/diesel):

• Installation priority order: It is strongly encouraged to place apartment EV charging stations outdoors or at ground level. If they must be moved down to the basement, priority must go to Basement 1 first, only then gradually moving down to deeper basement levels (Basement 2, Basement 3, etc.).
• Zoning and clearances: The EV charging area must be completely separated. Charging bays must maintain a minimum safe clearance of 2 meters from surrounding vehicles, or must be separated by a dedicated fire-resistant partition.

2. Limits on the number of charging spots and stored battery capacity

To control the electrical load and limit concentration risk, the new regulation applies strict caps for each zone:

• Charging-spot limit within one zone:
• In the basement: A maximum of 25 electric cars / 50 electric motorbikes.
• At ground level: A maximum of 30 electric cars / 80 electric motorbikes.
• Maximum storage capacity at the battery-swap area:
• Outside the apartment building: No more than 100 kWh.
• Above-ground floors: No more than 35 kWh per zone.
• Semi-basement or Basement 1: No more than 18 kWh per zone.

3. EV charging station fire-safety standards and smart monitoring systems

The focus of this amendment is on applying technology to detect and handle incidents at the earliest stage:

• 24/7 visual monitoring: It is mandatory to install a continuous surveillance camera system in the charging area, transmitting signals directly to the central control room.
• Toxic-gas sensors: In addition to smoke detectors, apartment EV charging stations must also have sensors that detect leaks of CO (Carbon Monoxide) and HF (Hydrogen Fluoride) gases - the two gases produced when a Lithium-ion battery suffers a thermal event.
• Independent power supply and emergency cut-off: The power supply to the charging posts must be separate from the residential power grid. This system is required to integrate a function that automatically cuts off the power in an emergency as soon as it receives a signal from the central fire-alarm system.

4. Transition roadmap and deadline for reviewing existing infrastructure

One of the most notable points of the Circular issued alongside Amendment 01:2026 is the transitional provision for buildings already in operation. Specifically, within 6 months from the date the standard officially takes effect (from December 15, 2026), the Management Board and Investor must complete the review and carry out measures to renovate and adjust the charging infrastructure in order to fully comply with the new standard.

Delaying the review or failing to adjust the infrastructure in time can increase operational risk and, at the same time, expose the building to legal penalties during inter-agency fire-safety inspections. This is truly a challenge that needs to be prepared for early at apartment buildings with limited land or aging mechanical & electrical (M&E) systems.

EVsafe - Your all-in-one partner for standardizing apartment EV charging stations

Bringing EV charging infrastructure into full compliance with Amendment 01:2026 requires the implementing party to have a deep understanding of both electrical technical standards and dedicated fire-safety solutions.

Proud to be a pioneer in the field of safe charging infrastructure, EVsafe acts as a specialist partner, helping Investors and Management Boards overcome difficulties through comprehensive solutions:

• Survey and Assessment: Reviewing the current state of the infrastructure, measuring the level of readiness, and advising on the optimal renovation roadmap for each building.
• Design and Deployment: Advising on fire zoning, safe clearances, and the layout of a compliant independent power system.
• Smart infrastructure: Providing charging-post solutions and monitoring equipment integrated with automatic emergency power cut-off features.

To proactively adapt perfectly to the new regulations and ensure the highest operational safety for your building, contact EVsafe today for advice on solutions to review and standardize your apartment EV charging station!

Contact information:

• Website: evsafe.io 
• Email: info@evsafe.io 
• Hotline: 0879 558 085