As electric vehicles (EVs) become an increasingly popular choice for Australian drivers, the National Construction Code (NCC) has taken steps to ensure that new buildings and developments are equipped to support this growing demand. With governments pushing for cleaner, more sustainable transportation options, the need for adequate EV charging infrastructure in residential, commercial, and multi-unit buildings is more pressing than ever.

In this article, we’ll explore the latest updates to the National Construction Code (NCC) regarding EV chargers, how these provisions affect new builds, and the broader implications for Australia’s transition to electric mobility.

The Role of the National Construction Code (NCC)

The National Construction Code (NCC) is a set of performance-based standards and regulations for the design, construction, and performance of buildings and other structures in Australia. Its primary aim is to ensure safety, sustainability, and functionality across various types of construction.

Given the significant shift towards electric vehicles as part of Australia’s climate strategy, the NCC has started incorporating guidelines for the integration of EV charging infrastructure into new developments. These updates reflect the ongoing transition to a greener, more sustainable transport future and ensure that buildings are future-proofed to meet the rising demand for EVs.

As governments invest in residential precincts to combat the housing crisis, councils must ensure that all new dwellings meet new energy efficiency requirements under the National Construction Code, which include minimum EV charger standards.

The updated requirements for new housing under the National Construction Code 2022 have been in effect since 1 May 2024.

The NCC sets out the requirements for the design and construction of buildings in Australia, including aspects like plumbing and drainage, and energy efficiency. It sets the minimum required level for the safety, health, amenity, accessibility and sustainability of certain developments.

With the electric vehicle (EV) industry one of the fastest growing industries in the world, all levels of government, businesses and the public are steering towards EVs at a steadily accelerating pace, and developing EV charging solutions to get ahead of this growth is currently a high priority.

Under the new NCC standards, all new parking spaces for apartment buildings must include space for switchboards and EV charging infrastructure.

Additionally, ten per cent of parking spaces in new office and retail developments must be EV ready, as must 20 per cent of parking spaces in all other commercial developments.

With the State and Federal Governments having set ambitious housing targets, councils are eager to ensure that new residential housing gets built, particularly in metropolitan areas where apartment developments will contribute significantly to meeting housing goals.

As councils work to undertake these important residential developments, as well as provide supporting structures like office, retail and commercial buildings, it is important that they are aware of the EV infrastructure requirements.

Councils should also keep themselves appraised of the best providers of switchboards and EV infrastructure to ensure they’re meeting the NCC requirements with cost effective, quality products.

Electrical Requirements:

Existing electrical infrastructure should be assessed with respect to suitability of switchboards and switchgear to extend the electrical infrastructure including spare capacity. (Refer to A.G. Coombs Advisory Note; Changes to Wiring and Switchboard Standards for Buildings).

An assessment should be undertaken based on the quantity of EV chargers, which considers the type of vehicle, likely charging patterns and requirements. Charging patterns can vary significantly between fleet, commercial and residential applications.

Electrical maximum demand must be assessed at the point of incoming supply to ensure overall available capacities are understood. Where EV charging is supported via existing field distribution boards electrical demands must be reviewed individually.

EV Charging Equipment:

Careful consideration should be given to selecting EV charging equipment, as some EVs are not compatible with third party EV chargers. Whilst electric vehicle, and charger manufacturers are working to standardise technical requirements, it should be noted that EV chargers often have output abilities exceeding the maximum on-boarding capacity of EVs.

The integration of EV chargers into the National Construction Code is a critical step towards building a sustainable and future-proof infrastructure for Australia. By ensuring that new buildings are designed with electric vehicles in mind, the NCC is helping to facilitate the transition to cleaner, more energy-efficient transportation. As electric vehicle adoption continues to rise, the role of the NCC in promoting EV charger integration will become even more important, ensuring that Australia is well-positioned to meet its environmental and sustainability goals.