Can you place a charging station at your apartment?

If you have an apartment and your own parking space, it can be complicated to realize a charging station at your apartment. If you have your own parking space, you cannot request a public charging station. And in your parking space you have to deal with the Owners’ Association (VvE) of your apartment and the technical facilities at the parking lot. How do you handle that?

Preparation at VvE

Start with the application to the board of the VvE. In any case, they must give permission for the placement. There may already be plans for one or more charging stations near your apartment. And otherwise there is a good chance that they will come in the future. It is therefore possible that preparations are already being made. Otherwise, the VvE can make an inventory of who else would like to use a charging station. More and more people are driving electric, so they will also want to charge more often. Especially in an apartment it is cheaper to make a charging station for more people at once.

Technique for a charging station at your apartment

If you want to have a charging station at your apartment, the application will generally be the same as for a charging station for the office or at home. Usually there is already a three-phase connection for the electricity. But you can’t just let the electricity go from your apartment to the parking garage. Certainly not if there are more people who want to realize a charging station. You have to hire an installer for that. In addition, there is often a need for a data connection (this can also be done wirelessly via a SIM card). For example, to ensure that you are the only one using your charging station. This will then have to be made by the installer (often via the VvE).

In addition, the home insurance company must agree to the installation of the charging station. Home insurance for the parking facility in an apartment building is usually provided by the VvE.

Costs for a charging station

The board of the VvE will often make a policy about the charging stations for the apartments. Also, for example, who owns a charging station. In addition, in addition to the costs for electricity, costs for the purchase, installation and maintenance of the charging station will also have to be settled if the VvE takes care of the installation. This can be done via the loading itself. All in all, it can be a complex question to get a charging station at your apartment that takes more time than if you were to request one for yourself at home.

More information about making a charging station at an apartment building can be found at vveladen.nl. Also at the Home Owners Association points of attention about charging stations.

Safety of a charging station in a parking garage

If a charging station is properly installed, it is in principle safe, even during charging. In many cases, a VvE is reluctant about this subject because the opinions about fire safety in particular are variable. However, there are more factors that come into play. For example, cars today have processed more plastic, which ensures that a fire develops differently than a few years ago. For example, the installation of the charging station at your apartment must comply with the NEN 1010 installation standard and you must receive a warranty certificate. The Fire Brigade also has additional tips to further increase safety. Think of:

• collision protection
• the option to switch off all charging stations at once in case of calamities
• placement in a clear and marked place, and far away from escape routes and the supply of (ventilation) air
• good fire alarm and possibility for an extinguishing facility or water extraction