Ministry of Construction proposes tightening safety standards for electric-vehicle infrastructure in apartment buildings

The Ministry of Construction is seeking comments on Draft 01:2026 QCVN 04:2021/BXD, the national technical regulation for apartment buildings. The Department of Housing and Real Estate Market Management, in collaboration with the Institute of Construction Technology and Building Science and related units, has summarized the implementation of QCVN 04:2021/BXD and reviewed proposals for amendment.

Assessments by the involved agencies indicate that, since its issuance, the regulation has helped raise safety levels for residential buildings—particularly apartment buildings and mixed-use apartments—and supported the standardization of design and construction quality management. However, with the growing development of electric vehicles, agencies say legal gaps are emerging, especially regarding electric vehicle charging and battery-swapping infrastructure.

Gaps identified for electric vehicle infrastructure

The current standard does not fully cover charging areas, charging stations, and battery-swapping stations for electric vehicles. This, according to the review, creates confusion for developers and building managers when setting up systems or applying standards consistently.

Agencies also point to safety risks linked to the complex fire and explosion characteristics of electric vehicle batteries. They cite the lack of provisions to segregate charging areas, the absence of automatic fire alarms and dedicated firefighting systems, and the lack of control over battery storage at battery-swapping stations as factors that could endanger residents of apartment buildings.

In addition, inefficiencies in electrical system operation are raised as a concern when large-capacity charging stations are integrated into apartment buildings without mandatory independent power supply and emergency shutdown capabilities. The review notes this could increase the risk of overload and cascading fires.

Proposed Amendment 01:2026 focuses on technical safety

The Building Science and Technology Institute has recommended that the Ministry of Construction consider issuing Amendment 01:2026 to QCVN 04:2021/BXD. The amendment would add technical safety standards for electric vehicle infrastructure.

Separation of parking and minimum distances

Under the proposal, areas for parking electric vehicles must be separated from internal-combustion engine vehicle areas. Separate areas are also required for electric cars and two-wheeled electric vehicles.

The minimum distance between parking areas is proposed at 2 meters. If this distance cannot be ensured, non-combustible partitions with a minimum height of 2 meters should be used.

The area for electric vehicle parking would be counted toward the total parking area of the apartment building.

Charging areas, fire compartment requirements, and monitoring

For electric vehicle charging areas, the proposal requires charging to be arranged as a dedicated fire compartment, with fire alarms and automatic firefighting systems. These systems would be continuously monitored, with signals transmitted to the duty room 24/7.

The charging area would be divided into multiple subzones. Each subzone is not to exceed:

• 20 charging outlets for electric cars
• 150 outlets for electric motorcycles, scooters, and electric bicycles

The proposal also prioritizes the location of charging areas in the following order: outdoors, on the ground, and then indoors within the apartment building. Charging areas would be counted toward the total parking area.

Battery-swapping area location and safety distances

For battery-swapping areas, the proposal states they should not be located inside the apartment building due to high fire risk. A minimum safe distance must be maintained from areas with high foot traffic and nearby structures.

Electrical safety and equipment certification

Regarding electrical safety and equipment, the power supply system for charging and battery-swapping stations must be isolated from other loads. It should be capable of autonomously cutting power in case of faults and must be equipped with an emergency stop switch.

Equipment such as charging pedestals and battery-swapping cabinets would need to be tested and certified.

Management and transition provisions

Beyond technical safety standards, the proposal includes measures to improve management, operation, and transition timelines. It states that electric vehicles should not be charged in corridors, lobbies, or escape routes. Bringing electric vehicles or batteries into elevators or into apartments is also prohibited.

For new apartment buildings, electric vehicle parking areas should be arranged in line with the local green mobility transition plan to align with local realities.

For existing apartment buildings, the arrangement of electric vehicle charging areas would depend on space conditions, transformer capacity, and the actual capacity of fire protection systems.

For existing buildings that already have electric vehicle charging areas and parking, transitional provisions apply, with a maximum of six months to implement upgrades in accordance with the standard.

Rationale cited by the institute

According to the Building Science and Technology Institute, issuing Amendment 01:2026 to QCVN 04:2021/BXD is intended not only as a technical enhancement, but also as a necessary state governance solution to address legal gaps and create a safer living environment while supporting sustainable green urban transportation development.