Statutory Inspections · Mandatory · Completion

EV Charging Infrastructure Commissioning Record

The commissioning record for EV charging infrastructure required under Approved Document S (in force June 2022). Residential: 1 active charge point per dwelling with parking. Non-residential (>10 spaces): 1 per 5 spaces. All must be smart (BS EN 62851 compliant) and OZEV-eligible. Records charge point specification, BS 7671 compliance, smart functionality testing, and cable route installation for future charge points.

Last reviewed: 2 April 2026 — This guide reflects UK law as of this date. Building Regulations 2010 — Approved Document S remains current with no amendments enacted as of 2 April 2026. Next scheduled review: 2 April 2027.

Template reference	T16 EV Charging Infrastructure Commissioning Record
Primary legislation	Approved Document S — Infrastructure for the charging of electric vehicles (June 2022)
Residential requirement	1 charge point per dwelling with associated parking
Non-residential requirement	Developments with >10 parking spaces: 1 active charge point per 5 spaces, plus cable routes to every remaining space
Smart charging	All charge points must be ‘smart’ compliant with BS EN 62851 and eligible for OZEV grant schemes
Enforcing authority	Building Control (via Building Regulations compliance)

1. What It Covers

The EV Charging Infrastructure Commissioning Record documents the installation and commissioning of electric vehicle charge points and cable routes required under Approved Document S of the Building Regulations. AD S came into force in June 2022 and applies to all new residential and non-residential buildings with associated parking, as well as buildings undergoing a material change of use or major renovation where the building will have more than 10 parking spaces.

For residential developments, every dwelling with associated parking must have at least one charge point. For non-residential developments with more than 10 parking spaces, the requirement is one active charge point for every five spaces, with cable routes installed to every remaining space to enable future charge point installation without major building works. Cable routes include containment (ducting, trunking, or conduit) from the electrical distribution board to the parking space, sized to accommodate the future installation of a charge point rated at a minimum of 7 kW.

All charge points must meet the smart charging requirements of the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021 and comply with BS EN 62851. Smart functionality includes the ability to send and receive information, respond to signals to increase or decrease the rate of charging, and be preset to charge during off-peak periods. Charge points should also be eligible for the OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles) grant scheme where applicable.

Cable routes are as important as active charge points

AD S requires cable routes to every parking space that does not have an active charge point. A cable route is not simply a note on a drawing — it is physical containment (ducting, trunking, or conduit) installed during construction from the electrical distribution board to the parking space. Failing to install cable routes during construction defeats the purpose of the regulation, because retrofitting containment through completed building fabric is disproportionately expensive and disruptive.

2. Key Content

The following table sets out the information that must be recorded in the EV Charging Infrastructure Commissioning Record.

Element	Detail
Project reference	Site name, address, and unique project reference. Cross-referenced to the Building Regulations application number.
Building Regulations application	Full Plans or Building Notice reference number. Initial Notice reference if an Approved Inspector is appointed. Date of application and date of approval.
Total parking spaces	Total number of parking spaces provided across the development. Broken down by residential (per dwelling) and non-residential (total). Used to calculate the number of active charge points and cable routes required under AD S.
ACTIVE CHARGE POINTS — Number installed	Total number of active charge points installed. Cross-referenced to the AD S calculation (1 per dwelling for residential; 1 per 5 spaces for non-residential with >10 spaces).
ACTIVE CHARGE POINTS — Make and model	Manufacturer and model designation for each charge point installed. Must be a smart charge point compliant with the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021.
ACTIVE CHARGE POINTS — Specification	Power rating (minimum 7 kW for Mode 3 charge points), connector type (Type 2 is standard for the UK), IP rating, and smart charging capabilities. Confirm compliance with BS EN 62851.
ACTIVE CHARGE POINTS — Installation standard	Confirm installation in accordance with BS 7671:2018 (IET Wiring Regulations, 18th Edition). Circuit protection details, cable sizing, earthing arrangements, and RCD protection.
ACTIVE CHARGE POINTS — Commissioning results	Results of functional testing: charge initiation, smart functionality verification, communication protocol test, safety cut-off test. Electrical test results: insulation resistance, earth fault loop impedance, RCD operation time.
CABLE ROUTES	Number and location of cable routes installed to parking spaces without active charge points. Containment type (ducting, trunking, conduit), route from distribution board to parking space, and capacity (sized for minimum 7 kW future charge point). Shown on as-built drawings.
Handover documentation	User manual for each charge point, smart charging registration details, warranty information, maintenance schedule, and OZEV grant confirmation (where applicable). Included in the O&M manual.
Commissioning engineer	Name, qualifications (18th Edition, NICEIC/NAPIT registration), ECS card number, and signature of the person who carried out the commissioning.
Submitted to Building Control	Date the completed commissioning record was submitted to the Building Control Body (local authority or Approved Inspector). Evidence of submission retained.

3. Common Mistakes

Installing non-smart charge points

The Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021 require all domestic and workplace charge points to be smart. A smart charge point must be able to send and receive information, respond to signals to adjust the rate of charging, and be preset to charge during off-peak periods. Installing a ‘dumb’ charge point that simply provides power without smart functionality does not comply with the regulations and will not satisfy AD S. Building Control will not sign off the installation, and the charge point will need to be replaced — at the developer's cost.

Omitting cable routes to non-active spaces

AD S requires cable routes to every parking space that does not have an active charge point. Developers frequently install the required number of active charge points but fail to provide the physical containment (ducting, trunking, or conduit) to the remaining spaces. A cable route is a physical installation, not a drawing notation. Without it, future charge point installation requires breaking into completed building fabric, which is precisely what the regulation is designed to prevent.

Not recording commissioning results for each charge point individually

Each active charge point must be individually commissioned and the results recorded. A generic statement that ‘all charge points have been tested’ is not sufficient. The commissioning record must include functional test results (charge initiation, smart functionality, communication protocol) and electrical test results (insulation resistance, earth fault loop impedance, RCD operation time) for every individual unit.

Failing to submit the commissioning record to Building Control

The EV charging commissioning record forms part of the evidence required for Building Regulations compliance. It must be submitted to the Building Control Body before the completion certificate is issued. Developers who commission the charge points but do not formally submit the record to Building Control risk delays to practical completion and occupancy.

4. Frequently Asked Questions

Are active charge points required for non-residential developments with fewer than 10 spaces?▾

No. AD S only requires active charge points for non-residential buildings with more than 10 parking spaces. However, cable routes must still be provided to every parking space in non-residential developments regardless of the total number of spaces. This ensures that charge points can be installed in the future without disproportionate cost or disruption. The cable route requirement applies from a single parking space upwards.

What happens if the electrical supply cannot support the required number of charge points?▾

AD S includes an exemption where the cost of the necessary electrical supply upgrade exceeds £3,600 per charge point (the ‘cost cap’). In this case, the developer must install as many charge points as can be supported within the cost cap and provide cable routes to all remaining spaces. The developer must provide evidence of the cost cap calculation to Building Control, including quotations from the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) for the supply upgrade.

Does AD S apply to conversions and changes of use?▾

Yes. AD S applies to buildings undergoing a material change of use where the building will have more than 10 parking spaces. It also applies to major renovations of non-residential buildings with more than 10 parking spaces where the renovation includes the car park or the electrical infrastructure. The requirements for conversions and changes of use are the same as for new buildings.

Can the developer install charge points rated below 7 kW?▾

The minimum rating for a charge point under AD S is 7 kW (Mode 3, AC). Charge points rated below 7 kW do not satisfy the requirement. The 7 kW minimum ensures that a typical electric vehicle can be fully charged overnight — a lower-rated charge point would not provide a practical level of service for most users.

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