Haryana Fire Department's U-Turn: EV Chargers In Basements Are Okay!
EV adoption has been accelerating rapidly in India. But for many urban buyers, the biggest hurdle has not been range or pricing. It has been something far more basic- home-charging!
Over the past few weeks, EV owners in areas including Gurugram, found themselves caught in a confusing situation. Housing societies were being flagged.
Resident Welfare Associations were issuing warnings, and most importantly, fire safety approvals appeared to be at risk due to EV chargers installed in basement parking. Many were reportedly asked to remove ‘home chargers’ from their parking lots.
Now, the Haryana Fire Department has issued a crucial clarification. It is now preparing guidelines for installation of EV Charging facilities within basement parking and no action will be taken against chargers until these are in place.
The controversy began when several premium housing societies received notices during fire safety inspections. These notices flagged EV charging points in basements as “non-permissible.” For residents, this was alarming. DLF Ultima, a premium residential complex in Gurgaon was one of the affected ones. The housing society there was directed to obtain clarification regarding charging permission and building plan approval from competent authorities.
Basement parking is where most urban Indians park their vehicles. These include EV owners as well. It is thus the most practical place to install a home charger. So, the idea that chargers could lead to fire NOC rejections created immediate panic within residents and communities. RWAs reacted quickly. Many began asking residents to remove chargers. Some even halted new installations altogether.
This triggered a chain reaction. Prospective EV buyers started hesitating. Existing owners were left unsure about the future of their vehicles. Frankly, electric vehicles make little sense if one has to rely completely on DC charging stations. It takes away the financial advantages and even creates the inconvenience of ‘charging commutes’.
Image source: Electree
Just as confusion peaked, an internal communication from the Haryana Fire Department brought the much-needed clarity. As published by ElecTree on their website, the fire department has communicated that no fire safety certificate or renewal will be denied solely because EV chargers are installed in a building.
The department is already working on designing new safety guidelines for installation of EV chargers in residential and commercial buildings. It also clarifies that the fire safety certificate and renewal will not be declined until the new guidelines are out. There are currently no official guidelines in place for EV charger installations in residential buildings.
Now, here is the tricky part. The latest communication from the fire department doesn’t necessarily permit the installation of EV chargers in basements. It just means that NOC (No Objection Certificate) issuance or renewal will not be blocked until the guidelines are in place. We will only get to know if EV chargers are allowed in basements, after these guidelines are issued. It also remains a possibility that existing chargers may have to be moved to open air areas or modifications be made to them to comply with the upcoming guidelines.
For now, the communication brings (a temporary) relief to EV owners. Yes, the RWAs now seem to have more decisive power than before! We may see some blocking EV owners from installing chargers in basements, banking on the ‘ guidelines not out yet’ factor.
All in all, while the communication from the fire department has managed to shed some clarity on certain things, it has created much confusion in others. EV owners, RWAs, and fire department personnel may all be puzzled about something or the other- atleast till the guidelines surface.
We expect the government to step in and legislate at the earliest, so that EV owners wouldn’t have to undergo stressful ownership. The honourable Supreme Court has, in the past, said that EV chargers should be permitted in apartments. Even so, there are no clear laws or strict guidelines for this. The upcoming Fire department guidelines will likely help in shaping larger frameworks.
The hesitation around EV chargers is not random. It comes from real safety concerns. EV batteries behave very differently from traditional fuel systems. In rare cases, they can undergo what is called thermal runaway. This is a chain reaction inside the battery that generates intense heat and sustains itself.
Such fires are harder to control. They produce dense smoke. They can also re-ignite even after being extinguished. Now imagine this happening inside a basement.
Basements are enclosed spaces. Ventilation is limited. Cars are parked close to each other. Access for fire trucks is restricted. These factors can turn even a small incident into a major mishap. This is exactly why fire departments across cities have been so cautious.
Source: Electree