Question: Our fire assessors say a strata scheme must install a lithium-ion fire extinguisher after an owner installed an EV charger. Is this mandatory?
An owner in our complex recently installed an EV charger for their vehicle, with the strata committee’s approval. The owner paid for the charger in full, and it connects to their own electricity supply, not common property.
At our recent half-yearly fire assessment review, the assessors told us we must now install a dedicated F-500 Li-ion fire extinguisher. We asked the fire company and our strata managing agent which legislation requires this. Neither has responded.
We already have compliant fire extinguishers, exit signage and so on for the complex. We are concerned that the fire assessors are simply finding another way to get more money out of us. Is this type of fire extinguisher mandatory for an EV charger installation?
Answer: There is no requirement for a special lithium-ion fire extinguisher, as long as the extinguishers in the area meet the general requirements for a car park and the annual fire safety statement.
There is no requirement for a special Li-ion extinguisher, provided the extinguishers in the area meet the general requirements for a car park and whatever is listed on the annual fire safety statement (AFSS).
Formal advice from the industry body to manufacturers and suppliers of these types of extinguishers says they are not to be marketed as used for lithium-ion battery fires because NO extinguishers are proven to be effective on these fires and NO extinguishers are approved for this purpose.
This post appears in the November 2026 edition of The NSW Strata Magazine.
Rob Broadhead 2020 Fire Protection E: rob.broadhead@2020fire.com.au P: 1300 340 210
