Deputy Minister of the Interior Dong Jian-hong (董建宏) on Thursday said that his ministry hopes to propose draft amendments for regulations relating to electronic vehicle (EV) chargers in apartment buildings within three to six months.
Dong said the review of the regulations would take time, as the Architecture and Building Research Institute would conduct experiments to evaluate technical factors such as ventilation systems to ensure safety in underground parking lots
Dong said the Building Technical Regulations amendments in 2019 stipulated that new buildings need to reserve space for EV chargers.
Photo: CNA
Decisions regarding the installation, removal, repair or enhancement of charging devices in existing apartments should be determined by the management committee after obtaining a consensus in a unit owner assembly, in accordance with the Condominium Administration Act (公寓大廈管理條例), he said.
The ministry would continue to replenish fire safety equipment, conduct rescue training and discuss issues related to charger locations, building management and fire safety, as well as explore the feasibility of adding ventilation systems and fire compartmentation in indoor parking spaces to enhance safety, he said.
Regarding disaster relief and preparation, National Fire Agency Director-General Hsiao Huan-chang (蕭煥章) said that regulations mandating automatic sprinklers in parking lots have been enacted, with 338 units already installed and additional deployments underway, alongside comprehensive disaster relief and preparedness measures established by local governments.
As for the implementation of the fire safety regulations for EV chargers, Hsiao said the institute would submit the findings of its study of parking lot ventilation equipment and fire compartmentation studies within the year.
The agency would also discuss whether to conduct a pilot program on fire compartmentation in a public building, which would also be carried out within the year.
National Land Management Agency director-general Wu Hsin-hsou (吳欣修) said while EV chargers have been widely discussed by apartment management committees, the majority of the more than 40,000 apartments with such committees have yet to reach a consensus.
In response to a query about the existing rules stipulating that EV charges can only be installed if more than two-thirds of committee members agree, Wu said that discussions about lowering this threshold are underway, but safety concerns and car owner responsibilities must be clarified first, as the Executive Yuan insists on prioritizing safety standards before submitting any proposal.
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