EXTERNAL FACTORS AFFECTING CHARGER INSTALLATION (1)

Editor’s Note: These series are selected from manual Electric Vehicle Community Market Launch Manual: A Guide to Prepare Your Community for Electric Vehicles which was prepared by the Electric Transportation Coalition (ETC) and the Electric Vehicle Association of the Americas (EVAA) in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

The infrastructure planner should be aware that out-of-date building and electrical codes could adversely affect the design and timely installation of EV charging facilities in residences, commercial buildings, and public charging locations. Therefore, the infrastructure plan must take into account the time that state and local governments require to incorporate changes adopted by national code organizations to ensure convenient installation and safe operation of EV charging facilities. Planners also need to know that some cities and counties have adopted ordinances that require installation of an EV wiring raceway—or, a conduit running from the electric service panel to a two-gang electric box in the garage—in new residential structures to help reduce the time and cost of installing an EV charging facility.

This section provides information on:

  • How building and electrical codes are developed and adopted
  • New EV electrical codes
  • ProposedEV building code modifications
  • One local ordinance that requires the installation of an EV wiring raceway in new residential construction

Adoption of Building and Electrical Codes

Building codes provide guidelines to engineers and construction workers for ensuring the health and safety of building occupants. Today’s building codes address not only occupant health and safety issues, but also the products and materials that are moved into and out of buildings. The term building codes generally includes the following types of codes:

  • Building Code: foundations, structural loads, occupancy classifications, fire protection systems, and egress
  • Mechanical Code: air distribution and ducts, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems
  • Plumbing Code: water supply, drainage, and sewage
  • Fire Prevention Code: operation and maintenance of buildings
  • Energy Code: thermal envelope and lighting design
  • Electrical Code: wiring and electrical equipment

Some states adopt a uniform, state wide code that cannot be amended by local communities. In other states, communities are allowed to amend state codes, usually to provide more stringent requirements. In still other states, code adoption is left to individual counties and municipalities. In all cases, however, enforcement occurs at the local level.

Many building codes adopted by states and local governments are based on major model codes developed by the private sector. Other states and local jurisdictions develop their own codes or adapt and modify model code provisions to fit their particular situations. Many of these state and local modifications address unique climate or geographical concerns. The major model code organizations and their respective publications are listed below:

  • Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc. (BOCA): National Codes
  • Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI): Standard Codes
  • International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) and International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO): Uniform Codes
  • Code Administrators and Building Officials, Inc. (CABO): One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code
  • National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): National Electrical Code

In many cases, local regulators face challenges in applying current codes to EV charging facilities and EV fueling. These challenges could be overcome if model building codes, which have been developed and approved by the above-mentioned entities, are adopted at the local level.

Technical experts from IWC’s Health and Safety Committee—which represents electric utilities, EV manufacturers, automotive engineers, regulatory agencies, and independent laboratories—have drafted model code language to cover safety and construction issues related to EV charging equipment and installations. The industry submitted to NFPA their recommended changes to Article 625 of the National Electrical Code (NEC), a model electrical code intended to be incorporated by states and communities. These changes were adopted by NFPA and incorporated into the 1996 version of NEC. Many other codes and standards cover other aspects of EV charging. NEC covers the wiring and electrical equipment between the EV and the utility system and contains only the minimum requirements for electrical safety. It does not specifically address mechanical, plumbing, or building.

Each of the model code organizations has its own revision schedule that typically runs on a three-year cycle. Communities that want to become EV-Ready should contact the appropriate model code organization and inquire about the status of incorporation of EV-related language into model codes. ICBO is expected to publish EV provisions in January 1997; CABO in January 1998; and BOCA in January of 1999.Planners should also seek direction on the proper procedure and timeline required for local consideration and adoption of these provisions. The following case study outlines the process that the State of California has taken to adopt changes to its codes to incorporate EVs:

State of California
In 1995, the California Building Standard Commission opted to use an emergency (immediate) adoption procedure, a 45-day rulemaking process, rather than an annual revision cycle, to consider various EV-related codes. The Commission slightly modified the EV-related provisions adopted for the 1996 NEC, proposed revisions for the ICBO model building code, numbered them appropriately, and submitted the revisions for adoption under the 45-day rulemaking process. The California Building Officials Association, with financial assistance from the California Energy Commission, agreed to offer workshops throughout the State to bring local inspectors up to speed on measures designed to provide safe use and operation of EVs.

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February 26, 2008 · Filed Under Electric Car Conversion Blog

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