EV charger physical damage protection

[Alexis]

Hello Everyone!

I do a decent amount of EV chargers in multifamily parking parages and some inspectors request us to add bollards to protect chargers from potential physical damage.

There is no doubt that electrical equipment has to be protected when it is in direct line of car parking direction. But my questions are following:

1. Could we avoid protection, by placing the EV charger device high enough? I was successful in this with few inspectors, but one other asked me if there is a van backing up and gave correction.
2. Would concrete stopper/bump that some parking areas have considered to be enough protection?
3. Would anyone have a good recommendation for an easier option? Maybe a bracket?

I also had an interesting point about handicap accessibility, but we can get around it by installing a charger holder.

Thanks everyone! Really apreciate your expertise!

 

[retirede]

Most don’t stick out from the wall that far. I’d think a van’s bumper would hit the wall first.

 

[hillbilly1]

Hello Everyone!

I do a decent amount of EV chargers in multifamily parking parages and some inspectors request us to add bollards to protect chargers from potential physical damage.

There is no doubt that electrical equipment has to be protected when it is in direct line of car parking direction. But my questions are following:

1. Could we avoid protection, by placing the EV charger device high enough? I was successful in this with few inspectors, but one other asked me if there is a van backing up and gave correction.
2. Would concrete stopper/bump that some parking areas have considered to be enough protection?
3. Would anyone have a good recommendation for an easier option? Maybe a bracket?

I also had an interesting point about handicap accessibility, but we can get around it by installing a charger holder.

Thanks everyone! Really apreciate your expertise!

Unless they have changed it, there is a minimum and maximum height that the NEC requires of the handle. City of Charlotte is very picky about it. I installed some in a parking garage, putting it behind the barrier cables put it one inch too high, inspector made me move it to in front of the cables, which exposed the entire charger.