The electric vehicle (EV) revolution is here and for any forward-thinking Facility Manager or Estates Team, installing EV chargers is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. But as the demand for charging points skyrockets on commercial sites and in healthcare environments, we’ve seen a disturbing trend: the temptation to cut corners to save a quick buck.
Imagine this scenario: You’ve just invested heavily in a shiny new array of EV chargers for your staff car park or your hospital fleet. Six months later, you start getting reports: frequent trips, slow charging speeds and one of the units is smoking slightly. Suddenly, your cost-saving victory has turned into a major safety hazard, a compliance nightmare and a source of frustrating downtime. The worst part? Your insurance may not cover a fault caused by non-compliant installation.
That’s the high-voltage risk of trusting an installer who promises rock-bottom prices by bypassing crucial safety, compliance and infrastructure steps.
What Every Commercial Facility Needs to Know About EV Charging
The installation of a commercial or fleet EV charger is not a simple plug-and-play job. It’s a complex, high-load electrical infrastructure project that demands specialist expertise. Here’s a breakdown of what a compliant, reliable installation involves and why skipping any part is dangerous:
1. The Critical Electrical Assessment (The Foundation)
Before the first cable is laid, a professional must conduct a thorough site and capacity assessment.
- What you must know: Does your existing electrical supply (your Distribution Network Operator – DNO connection) have the capacity to handle the continuous, heavy load of multiple high-powered chargers?
- The risk of skipping this: An overloaded system leads to frequent, disruptive power outages across your facility, impacting critical operations like high-voltage lighting, air conditioning and in a hospital environment, potentially life-saving equipment. This is where you swap minor inconvenience for major operational failure.
2. The Absolute Must-Haves: Safety & Compliance
UK regulations are clear and constantly evolving. Your installation must adhere to the latest IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671), the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021.
- Dedicated Circuits & Protection: Commercial chargers require their own dedicated circuit, ensuring proper RCD (Residual Current Device) protection, often Type B or integrated DC fault protection to guard against electric shock and fire risk.
- Surge Protection Devices (SPDs): Cutting corners means skipping SPDs, leaving your expensive equipment and more importantly, the vehicles connected to them, vulnerable to damage from power surges or lightning strikes.
- Future-Proofing for Scalability: A quality installation will lay down spare ducting and cabling now. It costs significantly less to do this during the initial groundwork than to rip up a car park six months later when you need to double your chargers.
Choosing Your Guide: Why Your Installer Must Be an Expert
The villain is the risk of poor installation; your hero is the facility that achieves maximum uptime, safety and compliance. GBB Electrical is the trusted guide that ensures your success.
When evaluating a partner for your EV charger installation, whether it’s a full fleet rollout or a new amenity for your commercial tenants look for a track record that proves they prioritise safety and long-term reliability over a cheap, quick fix.
Our Non-Negotiables: Your Peace of Mind
- Accreditations are Non-Negotiable: We are a fully accredited provider, including NICEIC Approved Contractor status. This isn’t a badge; it’s a commitment that our work is regularly assessed against the highest industry standards for safety and competence.
- Deep Sector Experience: We don’t just “install charger
s.” We understand the unique demands of commercial and healthcare facilities. We know that in a hospital, a reliable EV charger installation must not, under any circumstances, destabilise the main power supply or interfere with existing critical services like emergency call-out systems or high-voltage switchgear.
- A Focus on the Whole Solution: From initial power analysis and design to integrating your chargers with intelligent Smart Charging software (allowing you to manage access, monitor usage and optimise charging times), we deliver a comprehensive, end-to-end solution.
When you partner with GBB Electrical, you eliminate the risk of the unreliable, non-compliant installation that plagues so many commercial facilities. We handle the complexity, the permissions, the regulations, the infrastructure upgrades, so you can focus on running your business with confidence.
Your Next Step: Drive Confidence, Not Complacency
The future of electric mobility is bright, but your infrastructure must be built on rock-solid foundations. Don’t let a low-cost, corner-cutting quote be the source of your next major electrical fault, operational headache, or safety breach.
It’s time to exchange the risk of the unknown for the certainty of expertise.
Ready to discuss a compliant, scalable and fully managed EV charging solution that future-proofs your commercial or healthcare facility?
Contact GBB Electrical today for a no-obligation consultation and site assessment. Let’s build your reliable EV future, together. 💡🔌