The Ministry of Construction proposes adding safety regulations for apartment buildings equipped with electric vehicle charging stations.

(PLVN) - The Ministry of Construction is seeking feedback on amendments to the draft QCVN 04:2021/BXD National Technical Standard on Apartment Buildings, which includes provisions for charging stations and battery swapping stations for electric vehicles. The draft is expected to be finalized and submitted to the competent authority in the first quarter of 2026.

Recently, the issue of infrastructure for electric vehicles in apartment buildings has attracted significant public attention. With over 2 million electric motorbikes and approximately 300,000 electric cars in circulation nationwide, the need for a unified technical standard to ensure resident safety is becoming increasingly urgent.

Recently, the management board of HH Linh Dam apartment complex (Hoang Mai district, Hanoi ) unexpectedly announced that it would stop accepting new registrations for electric motorbikes and electric bicycles from December 2025 and would completely cease parking these vehicles in the basement from February 1, 2026. The reason given was concern about overcrowding and the risk of fire. However, this announcement has met with mixed reactions from residents, prompting the People's Committee of Hoang Liet ward to request a temporary 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. Therefore, 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 new subjects; ensuring absolute fire safety and life safety through requirements on fire zoning, fire fighting equipment, and placement.

Add regulations for charging stations and battery swapping stations to the National Technical Standard 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 buildings, located on the premises or in adjacent locations, to increase options for residents, instead of relying solely on basement space. In addition, the drafting agency should consider adding requirements for equipment to collect used batteries at charging or swapping points to support management (although this content is not yet included in the specialized regulations).

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.

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/bo-xay-dung-de-xuat-bo-sung-quy-chuan-an-toan-voi-chung-cu-co-lap-tram-sac-xe-dien.html