Adding regulations for charging stations and battery swapping stations to the National Technical Standard for Apartment Buildings is not merely a technical requirement, but an urgent state management solution aimed at creating a safe living environment. - Photo: Thanh Nien Newspaper
Recently, the issue of managing and arranging infrastructure for electric vehicles in apartment buildings has become hotter than ever. With over 2 million electric motorbikes and approximately 300,000 electric cars in circulation, the need for clear and unified technical standards to ensure the safety of residents is extremely urgent.
Notably, the HH Linh Dam apartment complex management recently announced a temporary suspension of new registrations for electric motorbikes and electric bicycles from December 2025, and a complete cessation of electric vehicle parking services in the basement from February 1, 2026, due to concerns about overcrowding and fire safety risks. This decision immediately generated much controversy, forcing the Hoang Liet Ward People's Committee to request a halt to the implementation.
In light of the above situation and the concerns of residents in many apartment buildings, the Ministry of Construction organized a conference to gather feedback on amending QCVN 04:2021/BXD, the National Technical Standard on Apartment Buildings, which includes adding regulations for charging stations and battery swapping stations for electric vehicles.
Regulations regarding charging stations and battery swapping stations need to be added.
Opinions from regulatory agencies, departments, institutes, and businesses all indicate that: Charging station infrastructure systems, especially in apartment complexes, need to be regulated with strict technical criteria, including fire and explosion prevention solutions, ventilation and smoke extraction, isolation compartment requirements, as well as requirements regarding scale, protection of the electrical system, and overload prevention.
In addition, detailed instructions are needed for the use and maintenance of charging equipment and batteries to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of users, equipment, and the facility.
Delegates argued that QCVN 04:2021/BXD still adequately meets current practical requirements; however, to suit new needs, regulations on charging stations and battery swapping stations should be added.
This addition is necessary to meet the development of electric vehicles, ensure the safety of future green transportation infrastructure, and stems from legal and practical requirements such as: perfecting the legal framework; enhancing the effectiveness of state management over this new category; ensuring absolute fire safety and life safety through requirements for fire zoning, fire fighting equipment, and placement.
QCVN 04:2021/BXD specifies the Government 's policy on green energy transition; ensures the safe operation of technical systems and structures when integrating high-capacity charging stations; and meets the requirements for integration and harmonization with international standards.
Electric vehicle charging station infrastructure - a new technical requirement for apartment buildings.
In practice, the QCVN 04:2021/BXD standard for apartment buildings currently stipulates mandatory technical requirements for car garages in the design, new construction, or renovation of civil works. The additional content regarding charging stations and battery swapping stations in this revision has been referenced from the standards and regulations of many advanced countries, as well as existing QCVN and TCVN standards.
Adding regulations for charging stations and battery swapping stations to the National Technical Standard for Apartment Buildings is not merely a technical requirement, but an urgent state management solution aimed at creating a safe and modern living environment, promoting the development of green transportation infrastructure, and ensuring the sustainable development of Vietnamese cities in the new era.
Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Van Sinh stated: The Government has assigned the Ministry of Construction to lead the revision and promulgation of regulations on apartment buildings to address this issue. Therefore, the early development and promulgation of these regulations is essential.
Based on the feedback received, the Deputy Minister instructed the Department of Housing and Real Estate Market Management to coordinate with the Institute of Construction Science and Technology to comprehensively incorporate the discussion content; and at the same time, coordinate with the Hanoi Department of Construction to conduct surveys and assessments for each type of construction project.
Regarding technical content, three main groups of requirements for electric vehicles need to be clarified: parking areas, charging areas (charging stations), and battery swapping areas (battery swapping stations). The regulations should also specify separate requirements for cars and motorcycles. At the same time, they should fully incorporate relevant specialized technical standards such as fire safety, charging stations, and battery swapping stations.
Regarding existing buildings, the Ministry of Construction believes that the Management Board should decide on the proportion and scale of electric vehicle parking areas based on actual usage. Repairs and renovations must comply with construction laws. Simultaneously, research should be conducted on a plan to allocate a separate area for electric vehicles, including separating the electrical system, access routes, and implementing fire safety measures to ensure safety, limit fire spread, and protect residents.
It is necessary to encourage the model of locating electric vehicle parking areas, charging stations, and battery swapping stations separately from the building, located on the campus or in adjacent locations, to increase options for residents, instead of relying solely on basement space.
In addition, the drafting agency needs to study and add requirements for devices that collect used batteries at charging or battery swapping points to support management (although this content is not yet included in the specialized standards).
The Deputy Minister of Construction instructed the Department of Housing and Real Estate Market Management and the Institute of Construction Science and Technology to urgently incorporate feedback and finalize the draft in the first quarter of 2026.
On October 17, 2025, the Ministry of Construction issued Document No. 11842/BXD-QLN to provinces and centrally-administered cities requesting feedback on the development of a national technical standard on safety for apartment buildings (existing and newly constructed) equipped with electric tram stations/poles. To date, 29 out of 34 localities have provided feedback. The Ministry of Construction is currently receiving and compiling the feedback to finalize the draft.
On December 10, 2025, the Ministry of Construction, in coordination with the Hanoi Department of Construction and other relevant departments and agencies, conducted a field survey at several apartment buildings in the capital city that had received complaints regarding the provision of parking and charging facilities for bicycles, electric motorbikes, and electric cars. The purpose was to understand the actual situation, listen to the concerns and aspirations of residents, investors, and local authorities.
The working group inspected three apartment buildings: HH Linh Dam apartment building (Hoang Liet ward), Times City urban area (Vinh Tuy ward), and CT1 Thach Ban apartment building (Long Bien ward).
Through discussions with the management board, the operating management unit, the investor, and residents, the working group noted the main difficulties and obstacles such as: a shortage of parking spaces in apartment buildings, especially when a portion of the area has to be allocated for parking/charging electric vehicles; approved building designs that do not meet the increasing demand for parking/charging spaces for electric vehicles; a lack of unified standards and guidelines; and the absence of regulations on the responsibility for renovating and supplementing electric vehicle parking areas in apartment buildings already handed over by the investor. Buildings are concerned about fire safety and the excessive legal liability, leading to the temporary suspension of accepting and charging electric vehicles…
Phan Trang
Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/bo-sung-quy-chuan-an-toan-voi-chung-cu-co-lap-tram-sac-xe-dien-10225121214451068.htm
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