Kerbo Charge Publishes New Guide to Electrical Safety
Kerbo Charge, the UK’s most popular provider of cross-pavement EV charging channels, has published a brand-new Guide to Electrical Safety and Simultaneous Contact, helping local authorities and residents stay informed on the key electrical safety considerations for on-street charging.
The guide – developed with input from industry experts including Myenergi and Matt:e – breaks down the technical risks that can arise when residents charge EVs on-street and charge from their home supply. It’s written to make complex electrical concepts easy to understand, while setting out clear, practical ways to stay compliant and safe.
Why this matters
As more people make the switch to electric, safety is front and centre. Millions of residents don’t have driveways, meaning their EVs are often charged on-street. While cross-pavement solutions like Kerbo Charge are designed to make this safe and accessible, the guide explores additional measures that ensure protection for both residents and the public.
For example, the guide explains the concept of “simultaneous contact” — the low likelihood but serious risk of electric shock when someone touches two objects at the same time that are electrically powered and have a metal case (e.g. a car and a lamppost) connected to different earthing systems.
The document sets out how to mitigate this risk, referencing IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671) and IET01 (2024) Method 3 standards.
Other risks covered
It also covers two other key areas:
Risk of overheating from 3-pin sockets: Many EVs come with portable chargers that plug into standard home sockets, which aren’t designed to handle full 13-amp loads for long periods. The guide explains how overheating can occur — and how residents can avoid it.
Charging cables on hot days: Even though Kerbo Charge channels are naturally ventilated to allow air circulation, the guide advises reducing charging current when pavement temperatures exceed 40°C, to avoid cables overheating.
Backed by expert insight
Kerbo Charge worked with leading engineers, local authorities and manufacturers to produce this guide. Expert contributors included Matthew Hunt of Matt:e, who sits on the IET01 committee, and Myenergi, who provided safety declarations for their chargers.
Supporting councils nationwide
The publication forms part of Kerbo Charge’s wider mission to make home charging accessible and compliant for all residents — especially those without off-street parking. Local authorities can request access to the full Electrical Safety and Simultaneous Contact Guide via the Kerbo Charge Local Authority Knowledge Centre.
👉 Visit: www.kerbocharge.com/local-authority-knowledge-centre
By supporting councils with clear, evidence-based safety guidance, Kerbo Charge continues to help the rollout of safe, affordable, and scalable home charging for every EV driver — no driveway required.
