EV charging is moving from "nice to have" to "expected by every visitor and employee" - and the regulations governing how those bays are marked, signed, and protected have caught up. If you're installing chargers at a workplace, fleet depot, hotel, retail park, or public car park, getting the bay markings right is the difference between a compliant install and a complaint, retrofit, or accessibility breach.
This guide is the plain-English version of the standards that apply to EV charging bay marking in the UK: BSI PAS 1899:2022, the OZEV consumer experience guidelines, and the relevant provisions of the Equality Act 2010. We cover bay dimensions, surface markings, bollard and wheel-stop protection, cable management, and signage.
The three documents that actually apply
1. BSI PAS 1899:2022 - Accessibility of public charge points
PAS 1899 is the publicly available specification published by BSI on accessible EV charging - developed with Motability, the Department for Transport, and OZEV. It's not statute, but it's the de facto standard. It covers physical accessibility of the charging unit, visual accessibility, bay dimensions, surface markings, and operational accessibility. For most of what we cover below, PAS 1899 is the source.
2: OZEV consumer experience guidelines
The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles publishes guidelines for public chargepoint operators on consumer experience including signage, payment, reliability, and pricing transparency. It's the expectation framework that local authorities and grant funders use when assessing public-facing installs.
3: Equality Act 2010
For any public-facing site, the Equality Act requires reasonable adjustments for disabled users. PAS 1899 is the practical interpretation of that requirement for EV charging.
Bay dimensions
| Bay type | Minimum width | Length | Kerb-clear access zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard EV bay | 2.4m | 4.8m | Not required |
| Accessible EV bay (Type A) | 3.6m | 5.0m | 1.2m at side |
| Accessible EV bay (Type B, dedicated user) | 3.0m | 5.0m | 1.2m at side |
The 1.2m kerb-clear access zone is the key accessibility provision - a clear path from the bay to the charging unit, free of kerbs, planters, or step changes that would block a wheelchair or mobility frame. Maximum cross-fall of 1:60.
For sites with more than 10 charging bays, PAS 1899 recommends at least one in five bays be accessible Type A or B.
Surface markings: the green colour
PAS 1899 specifies green as the surface marking colour for EV bays, distinguishing them from standard parking bays (white) and disabled bays (blue or yellow).
Two compliant approaches: green outline marking (bay perimeter painted green - most cost-effective) or green fill / surface treatment (entire bay surface treated with green thermoplastic or paint - more visible, significantly more expensive).
Within the bay, the EV symbol (stylised vehicle with charging plug) should be marked in white on the green surface. Browse SSUK EV bay markings.
Bollard and wheel-stop protection
EV charging units cost £1,500-£15,000 each and are the most damage-prone object in your car park. PAS 1899 doesn't mandate bollard protection but it's strongly recommended by every chargepoint operator and insurer.
Bollard placement: two bollards either side of the charger, set back 600mm from the front face of the unit. Height: 1000mm above ground for visibility, 600mm root-fix for stability. Material: galvanised steel with high-visibility chevron coating. Browse SSUK EV charging bollards.
Wheel stops sit at the front of the bay, preventing vehicles from over-running into the charger. Standard height: 100mm. Length: matches bay width. Material: recycled rubber or precast concrete. Distance from charger: approximately 600mm. Browse SSUK wheel stops.
The combination - wheel stop plus two bollards per charger - gives both a physical block and a visual deterrent against vehicle impact. Insurance often requires both for any chargepoint over £5,000.
Cable management
Trailing cables are the leading cause of trips, slips, and falls at public EV chargers. PAS 1899 requires that cables are not allowed to lie across pedestrian routes, cable management is provided (holster, balancer, or retractor), and cable run length matches the bay length. For accessible bays, cable management is mandatory - a trailing cable across the 1.2m access zone is an accessibility breach.
Signage
Every EV bay should have: an EV charging only sign with the EV symbol mounted on a post at the front of the bay; operating hours if restricted; maximum stay duration if applicable; penalty terms if enforced; and operator contact for fault reporting. For accessible bays, the international wheelchair symbol alongside the EV symbol is required. Browse SSUK custom signs for bespoke EV bay signage.
Common compliance failures
- Bay too narrow. A 2.4m standard bay can't be retrofitted to accessible without losing an adjacent bay. Plan for at least one accessible bay per five EV bays at design stage.
- No kerb-clear access zone. A kerb between the bay and the charger blocks wheelchair users from reaching the unit.
- No cable management. Trailing cables are the most common audit finding at public chargers.
- No bollard protection. A single nose-in collision can take a £10k charger out of service for weeks.
- Generic blue or white bay paint. Standard parking bay markings give no visual cue that this is EV-only.
Key takeaways
- BSI PAS 1899:2022 is the de facto UK standard for EV bay marking and accessibility.
- Standard EV bays: 2.4m wide; accessible: 3.6m wide with a 1.2m kerb-clear access zone.
- Green is the surface marking colour; white EV symbol within.
- Two bollards plus a wheel stop per charger is the recommended protection layer.
- Cable management is mandatory in accessible bays and good practice everywhere.
- At least one accessible bay per five EV bays for sites with more than 10 chargers.
FAQs
Q: Do I need to comply with PAS 1899 if my chargers are workplace-only? A: Strictly no - PAS 1899 is for public chargepoints. But the Equality Act applies to workplaces. The simplest approach is to follow PAS 1899 anyway; the cost difference is minimal.
Q: What's the right colour for the EV bay symbol? A: White on green per PAS 1899. Avoid yellow (used for accessibility), blue (used for accessible parking generally), or red (which signals a hazard).
Q: Can I use thermoplastic line marking or do I need full surface treatment? A: Thermoplastic outline marking is fine for most workplace and public installs. Full green surface treatment is more expensive but more visible at distance, used most often at high-traffic public sites.
Q: How tall should the bollards be? A: 1000mm above ground is the sweet spot - visible to drivers approaching, low enough to not block sightlines from the charger.
Q: Are there grant programmes for EV bay marking and protection? A: The Workplace Charging Scheme funds charger purchase and installation but typically not bay markings. The Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund can cover associated infrastructure including bay protection. Check the latest at gov.uk.