EV Charger Commissioning: What to Test and Record
Commissioning an EV charge point is more than proving the circuit — it's verifying the protective measures, running a real charge, setting up the smart functions and recording all of it on the right certificates.
An EV charge point is a sustained high-current load with its own protective requirements under BS 7671 Section 722, its own smart-functionality obligations under the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021, and in many cases a DNO notification requirement. Commissioning is where all of that is verified and recorded.
If you're searching for a dedicated 'EV charger commissioning form', it's worth knowing how UK practice actually records this: the commissioning checks are captured on the EV charge point installation certificate, issued together with the EIC or Minor Works certificate for the circuit. This guide covers what to test, what to set, and what to record on that pair of documents.
Key takeaways
- EV commissioning covers the circuit tests, the Section 722 protective measures, a functional charge test and the smart charging setup.
- Verify the PEN fault protection or earthing arrangement actually installed — it's the highest-consequence item on the checklist.
- The Smart Charge Points Regulations require default off-peak charging schedules and security measures on domestic installs — set and record them at commissioning.
- Notify the DNO of the new load where required and record the notification.
- The commissioning evidence is recorded on the EV charge point installation certificate issued alongside the EIC or Minor Works certificate.
The electrical tests
The charging circuit is tested like any new circuit: continuity, insulation resistance, polarity, earth fault loop impedance and protective device verification, recorded on the EIC or Minor Works certificate. Section 722 then adds the EV-specific layer: confirm the RCD protection is the correct type for the equipment (accounting for DC fault current — typically Type A with 6 mA DC detection in the charger, or Type B), and verify the disconnection arrangement performs as designed.
Test the charge point's own protective functions per the manufacturer's commissioning instructions — many units have a self-test or commissioning mode that exercises the internal protection.
PEN fault protection: verify what was designed
On a PME supply, the open-PEN risk is the defining hazard of EV charging, and the design will have addressed it with one of the recognised arrangements — a charger with built-in PEN fault detection, an earth electrode arrangement, or another compliant solution. Commissioning must verify the arrangement that was actually installed: the device model and its declared capability, the electrode resistance where one is used, and the labelling.
Record the arrangement explicitly on the certificate. 'PEN protection: yes' is not a record; the device, method and any measured values are.
Don't take the datasheet's word at handover
If the charger provides open-PEN protection, record the make, model and firmware at commissioning. If an electrode provides it, record the measured resistance. This is the line on the certificate that matters most in five years.
Doing this on a job? Electrical Installation Certificate — part of TradePlanr. Free to start, no card needed.
Functional and smart charging checks
Run a real charge with a vehicle or a test adaptor: confirm the charge starts, sustains and terminates correctly, and that any load-management or current-limiting arrangement behaves as designed — especially where the supply capacity assessment relied on it.
Domestic and workplace charge points sold in Great Britain must comply with the Smart Charge Points Regulations 2021: confirm the unit is registered to the customer's account, the default charging schedule (off-peak by default) is configured and explained, and the security and update settings are in place. Record the app registration and schedule setup as part of the handover demonstration.
DNO notification and the paperwork
A new charge point is a significant addition to maximum demand, and the DNO should be notified — through the ENA connect-direct process or the DNO's own route — either before or after installation depending on the supply and the load, including any load-curtailment arrangement. Record that the notification was made and the reference where one is issued.
Then close out the records: the EV charge point installation certificate carries the charge point details, Section 722 protective measures, PEN fault arrangement, test results and DNO notification; the EIC or Minor Works certificate certifies the circuit. Issued together, they are the commissioning record — there is no separate national EV commissioning form.
From guidance to action
Frequently asked questions
Is there a dedicated EV charger commissioning form?
No. In UK practice the commissioning checks — functional test, protective device operation, PEN fault protection verification and DNO notification — are recorded on the EV charge point installation certificate, issued together with the EIC or Minor Works certificate for the circuit.
What RCD type does an EV charger need?
It depends on the charge point's DC fault detection. Many units include 6 mA DC detection, allowing a Type A RCD; without it, Type B protection is typically required. Verify the actual equipment against BS 7671 Section 722 and the manufacturer's instructions, and record what is installed.
Do I need to notify the DNO for a domestic EV charger?
In most cases yes — a 7 kW charger materially changes the property's maximum demand. Depending on the supply and any load management, notification may be required before or after installation. Record the notification on the certificate.
What are the Smart Charge Points Regulations?
The Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021 require charge points sold for domestic and workplace use in Great Britain to have smart functionality, default off-peak charging schedules and security measures. Commissioning should confirm and record that these are configured.
Related guides
EV Charger Installation: A Practical Guide
Surveying, cable sizing, earthing and certifying a domestic EV charge point installation.
Open PEN Protection for EV Charging
Understand the open-PEN risk on PME supplies and assess the protective solution required for an EV charging installation.
The IET Code of Practice for EV Charging
What the IET Code of Practice adds on top of BS 7671 for EV charging equipment installations.
Renewables Commissioning Paperwork: What You Need
Every document a renewables install needs at commissioning — solar PV, battery, heat pump and EV charger — and who each record is for.
