EV Charging Stations: Planning for Safety, Convenience, Expansion

Hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide face a growing infrastructure problem: As they try to achieve goals related to protecting the environment and curtailing greenhouse gas emissions, they must make critical decisions about making changes to facilities to achieve those goals. Consider the case of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Managers need to ensure EV users have access to stations in ways that do not disrupt hospital operations.

EVs and safety requirements

Healthcare EV charging installations must meet strict safety and regulatory standards. Beyond standard electrical codes, healthcare facilities need to follow Joint Commission standards, infection control protocols and healthcare-specific building codes.

Infection control affects everything from equipment staging to worker access. Construction materials and equipment must be stored away from air intake systems and patient care areas. Workers might need to follow specific protocols for moving between construction zones and occupied areas. Dust-control measures exceed typical construction standards, particularly for work near patient care spaces and central air handling systems.

Fire safety codes for healthcare facilities add more requirements. Emergency power systems, fire alarm integration and egress path protection all require careful attention during the installation of EV charging infrastructure. Chargers installed in parking structures must account for fire department access and emergency lighting requirements.

The accessibility requirements that begin with location selection extend through every aspect of installation. Charger mounting heights, operating interfaces, payment systems and surrounding clearances all must meet Access Board and ADA standards. For healthcare facilities serving patient populations that include individuals with mobility impairments, cognitive disabilities or visual impairments, accessibility is not just about compliance. It is a basic service requirement.

EV lessons learned

Hospitals that get this process right do a few things consistently. They start planning early and get everyone in the room — operations, facilities, clinical staff, emergency services, and most importantly, a trusted expert in EV charging infrastructure design and deployment. They select design partners based on relevant healthcare experience, not on the lowest bid, and healthcare organizations with a national footprint often pilot installations before committing to full-scale rollouts.

This approach pays off in ways beyond providing working chargers. Staff notice when their employer invests in EV charging infrastructure, especially in tight labor markets. Fleet managers can move toward EVs that cut fuel costs and emissions, and patients increasingly expect healthcare facilities to take sustainability seriously.

Beyond installation

Healthcare facilities managers need to think past the first set of EV chargers. The infrastructure installed today has to accommodate growing demand, evolving technology and expanding vehicle capabilities for decades.

Futureproofing starts with electrical infrastructure designed to expand. Installing conduit capacity for future chargers during initial construction costs far less than retrofitting later. Service entrance sizing that accommodates planned expansion avoids repeated utility coordination, and panel layouts that reserve capacity for future charging loads provide flexibility as demand grows.

Software and network infrastructure require similar planning. Charging management systems need to balance loads, integrate with building systems and provide user access control. Healthcare facilities need systems that can prioritize emergency vehicles, manage staff versus visitor access and integrate with payment or workplace charging programs.

The physical layout should anticipate growth, too. Sites that reserve adjacent space for future charger installations provide expansion options without requiring new location selection processes. Parking area striping and signage can indicate planned future charging spaces, setting expectations and protecting areas from conflicting uses.

Healthcare facilities managers cannot avoid these discussions and decisions. Staff are buying EVs and expect workplace charging. Fleet managers are evaluating electric ambulances and service vehicles. Visitors increasingly arrive in EVs and expect charging availability.

Construction approaches that work in retail or commercial settings do not translate to healthcare facilities. Access cannot be compromised. Emergency operations cannot be disrupted. Patient care must stay paramount.

In healthcare, convenience means understanding that process includes protecting patient access, coordinating with clinical operations and ensuring that every phase of construction supports rather than compromises the facility’s mission.

Healthcare facilities managers that pick experienced partners and invest in thorough planning can install charging infrastructure without disrupting care. As EVs become more common, hospitals can lead the way while maintaining reliability that patient care demands.

Chris Cutcliff is vice president of operations at Chateau Energy Solutions.