[NEWS] E-mobility requirements for Latvian buildings

New electro-mobility technical requirements for newly built and renovated residential buildings in Latvia.

Electro-mobility requirements will have to be ensured in newly built and renovated residential buildings, as the government approved amendments to the Latvian construction standard LBN 211-15 “Residential buildings”. In residential buildings with more than ten parking slots, electricity cables will have to be provided for each parking slot, so that electric vehicle charging points can be installed if necessary. These requirements will also apply to the car parks design that are functionally related to a residential building but located outside that building. On the other hand, in the case of reconstruction of a residential building, the requirements will apply to the part to be rebuilt, if this part is intended for parking lots - including inside and outside the building.

The technical requirements for electric vehicle charging points are currently set out in the Cabinet of Ministers Regulations of 6 February 2018 Requirements for electric vehicle charging, natural gas filling, hydrogen refuelling and shore-side power supply equipment, which must also be applied in the construction of charging points. At the same time, the Latvian government is looking through the Transport energy law, which, among other things will define and regulate the possibilities and requirements for charging electric vehicles.

However, the construction plan documentation, which has been approved or submitted for approval to the institution, performing the functions of the construction board until March 10, 2021, may not be processed in accordance with the requirements of electro-mobility.

Since there is a steady growth in the numbers of electric cars (also in Zemgale), this is a worthwhile imitative that could stimulate people to buy and use environmentally friendly transport. According to data from April, right now there are registered 753 electrical vehicles, compared to 194 in 2015. We hope that the changes in the construction standard will be a noteworthy stimuli and this number will continue growing.