ITC SP 147 explained: fire safety regulation for electric car parking 232

The massive roll-out of the electric vehicle (EV) is transforming the way we think about car parks and, in particular, safety inside them. The presence of lithium-ion batteries and charging systems introduces new risk scenarios that were not considered in traditional regulations.

To respond to this reality, the Generalitat de Catalunya developed ITC SP 147, a technical instruction that regulates fire safety conditions in car parks where electric vehicles or charging infrastructure are present.

This article clearly and practically explains what ITC SP 147 is, which types of car parks it covers, what requirements it sets and how it differs from ITC BT 52. Its aim is to serve as a guide for technicians, designers, property managers and facility managers who need to know when to apply it and how to integrate it into their projects.

What is ITC SP 147?

ITC SP 147 is a Complementary Technical Instruction included in the Decret 30/2015 of the Generalitat de Catalunya, which develops fire safety conditions for industrial and similar establishments. Its purpose is to establish specific measures to reduce the risk of fire in car parks where electric vehicles or charging points are present.

The instruction emerged as a response to a clear technological shift: the mass uptake of electric vehicles in public, shared and private garages. Although EV fires are not more frequent than in combustion vehicles, they do have very different characteristics, especially due to the behaviour of lithium-ion batteries.

These batteries can suffer overheating, mechanical damage or internal faults that trigger a thermal runaway reaction. This phenomenon generates extremely high temperatures and releases toxic, flammable gases, making extinguishing more difficult and increasing the risk of spread. In an enclosed car park, where ventilation is limited and vehicle density is high, these risks are amplified.

For this reason, ITC SP 147 sets out specific measures for detection, protection, ventilation and risk management, tailored to the particularities of electric vehicle fires.

Which types of car park does ITC SP 147 affect?

ITC SP 147 has a broad scope of application within Catalonia. It applies to any car park where electric vehicles can be parked or charging points installed, regardless of ownership, size or use, including both existing buildings and new construction

Public car parks

The instruction takes on particular relevance in public car parks due to the high turnover of vehicles, the diversity of users and the regular presence of charging areas open to the public.

In these spaces, early detection and adequate ventilation are essential to prevent an isolated incident from turning into a large-scale fire.

Shared garages

Shared garages are another critical area. The installation of charging points in homeowners' associations has grown exponentially, and with it the need to ensure the safety of the building.

ITC SP 147 sets criteria on the location of charging points, spacing between vehicles, automatic detection and ventilation, while also requiring adequate risk management by the homeowners' association.

Private car parks

In private car parks — such as those of companies, dealerships or corporate fleets — the instruction takes on particular importance when there is simultaneous charging of multiple vehicles. The energy stored in these spaces can be considerable, requiring reinforced protection and control measures.

Existing buildings vs. new construction

The instruction also distinguishes between existing buildings and new construction. For the former, tailored measures apply that seek to improve safety without requiring disproportionate structural alterations. For new construction, on the other hand, ITC SP 147 requires full compliance from the design stage, which allows safety measures to be integrated more efficiently.

ITC SP 147 and electric cars: what safety problem does it address?

The main goal of ITC SP 147 is to manage the risk of fire associated with electric vehicles and, in particular, with their lithium-ion batteries.

Fires in electric vehicles are usually related to the battery, which can suffer overheating, mechanical damage, internal faults or short-circuits that trigger a thermal runaway reaction (thermal runaway). This phenomenon can generate extremely high temperatures and release toxic gases and flammable gases, which makes extinguishing enormously complicated and increases the risk of spread.

In addition, lithium batteries can reignite even after seemingly being extinguished, which requires extreme caution. In a car park, where ventilation is limited and vehicle density is high, these risks are amplified.

For all these reasons, ITC SP 147 establishes specific measures to minimise risk, quickly detect any anomaly and facilitate the intervention of emergency services.

Main requirements of ITC SP 147

ITC SP 147 organises its requirements around four major blocks: detection, protection, ventilation and risk management.

1. On detection, the instruction requires automatic systems capable of identifying a fire in its initial stages. This includes specific detectors in charging zones, audible and visual alarms, and the integration of these systems with the building's general control. In car parks with a high density of electric vehicles, the use of thermal cameras or gas sensors associated with lithium batteries is recommended.

2. Protection measures include the installation of extinguishers suitable for battery fires, automatic sprinkler systems, sectorisation of charging zones and the use of fire-resistant materials. The instruction also considers the need for safe spaces for fire brigade intervention and specific signage that facilitates evacuation.

3. Ventilation is another key element. ITC SP 147 sets minimum requirements for natural or forced ventilation to prevent the build-up of flammable gases and reduce ambient temperature in the event of a fire. Adequate ventilation not only improves safety, but also makes the work of emergency teams easier.

4. Finally, the instruction places a strong emphasis on risk organisation and management. This means having action protocols, staff training (where applicable), periodic maintenance of protection systems and proper technical documentation that allows the level of safety of the car park to be assessed.

Differences between ITC SP 147 and ITC BT 52

Although both regulations are directly related to the rollout of electric vehicles in buildings, their purpose, their scope of application and the type of risks they regulate are completely different. Understanding this difference is essential for any technician or designer who has to design, legalise or adapt a car park with charging infrastructure.

ITC BT 52, included in the Spanish Low Voltage Electrotechnical Regulation (REBT), regulates how charging points must be installed electrically, line sizing, protections, installation schemes, load forecasts, energy management systems, electrical safety and grid compatibility. Its aim is to ensure that the electrical installation is safe, efficient and meets the technical requirements needed to power electric vehicles without creating electrical risks or overloads.

ITC SP 147, on the other hand, forms part of Decree 30/2015 of the Generalitat de Catalunya and regulates fire safety in the car parks where those charging points are located. Its approach is not electrical, but preventive and structural, focused on minimising the risk of fire associated with electric vehicles and, in particular, their lithium-ion batteries.

While BT 52 asks “how should the charging point be installed so that it is electrically safe?”, SP 147 answers “what measures must the car park have to prevent, detect and control a fire related to an EV?”.

Key differences between the two regulations

Let's now look, schematically and concisely, at their fundamental differences:

1. Technical approach

• ITC BT 52: electrical safety, protections, wiring, installation schemes, charge management.

• ITC SP 147: fire safety, detection, ventilation, sectorisation, evacuation and risk control.

2. Type of risk regulated

• BT 52: electrical risk (overloads, short-circuits, indirect contact, insulation failures).

• SP 147: fire risk (thermal runaway, spread, toxic gases, fire brigade intervention).

3. Territorial scope

• BT 52: national regulation, applicable throughout Spain.

• SP 147: regional regulation, mandatory only in Catalonia (Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona).

4. Scope of application

• BT 52: only covers the electrical installation of the charging point.

• SP 147: covers the entire car park, even if there is only one charging point.

5. When it applies during a project

• BT 52: applies during the electrical design and legalisation phase of the installation.

• SP 147: applies from the architectural and fire safety design phase.

6. Responsible parties

• BT 52: authorised electrical installer and electrical technical management.

• SP 147: fire safety designer, architect, industrial engineer and car park owner.

Why must they be applied together?

In Catalonia, any project that includes charging points must comply with both regulations simultaneously. BT 52 ensures that the electrical installation is safe and adequate, while SP 147 ensures that the environment in which the installation is located is prepared to manage a potential fire.

A car park may perfectly comply with BT 52 and still not be safe against fires if it does not incorporate the measures of SP 147: automatic detection, reinforced ventilation, sectorisation or emergency protocols. Similarly, a car park that complies with SP 147 cannot legalise charging points unless it also complies with BT 52.

That is why, in professional practice, both regulations are considered complementary and inseparable.

Practical example to understand the difference

Imagine a shared garage in Barcelona where a charging line is to be installed for several neighbours:

• ITC BT 52 will determine how the electrical installation must be carried out: cable cross-sections, protections, control panel, load distribution system, etc.

• ITC SP 147 will determine whether the garage needs automatic detectors, additional ventilation, sectorisation of the charging area or specific protective measures.

Without BT 52, the electrical installation would not be legal.

Without SP 147, the car park would not be safe against fires.

You can read a detailed analysis of ITC BT 52 by clicking on this link.

Is ITC SP 147 mandatory?

ITC SP 147 is mandatory exclusively in Catalonia, as it forms part of Decree 30/2015 of the Generalitat de Catalunya. Its scope of application includes Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona. It is not a national regulation, so outside Catalonia it is not enforceable.

In Catalonia, it applies to public car parks, shared garages, private car parks, existing buildings with charging points and new construction. Local councils, especially Barcelona, usually require compliance in building, activity or refurbishment permits.

The responsibility for ensuring compliance lies with the developer or owner of the car park, the designer or engineer responsible for the design, the holder of the activity and, in shared garages, the homeowners' association.

Frequently asked questions about ITC SP 147

Does ITC SP 147 replace other fire safety regulations?

No. ITC SP 147 does not replace the RSCIEI, the CTE or any other municipal or regional regulations. It is a complementary instruction, designed to add specific requirements related to electric vehicles and their charging systems. In Catalonia, it must be applied alongside the other regulations in force.

Is it mandatory to apply it even if there is only one charging point?

Yes. The presence of a single charging point or even the mere possibility of parking electric vehicles already requires assessing the risk and applying the corresponding measures of ITC SP 147. The regulation does not set a minimum number of charging points for it to be enforceable.

Does ITC SP 147 apply to single-family homes?

In general, no. Single-family homes are not considered industrial establishments or collective car parks, so ITC SP 147 does not usually apply. However, the electrical installation of the charging point must comply with ITC BT 52, as in any other dwelling.

Does it affect shared garages in residential buildings?

Yes. Shared garages are one of the areas where ITC SP 147 has the greatest impact. The homeowners' association must ensure that the car park meets the detection, ventilation and fire protection measures when electric vehicles or charging points are present.

Who is responsible for ensuring compliance with ITC SP 147?

Responsibility falls on several parties:

• The developer or owner of the car park, who must ensure that the project complies with the regulation.

• The designer or engineer, in charge of correctly applying the technical instruction.

• The holder of the activity, in the case of public or private car parks.

• The homeowners' association, in residential garages.

Is ITC SP 147 mandatory outside Catalonia?

No. ITC SP 147 forms part of Decree 30/2015 of the Generalitat de Catalunya, so it is only mandatory in Catalonia (Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona). Other regulations apply in the rest of Spain, although many technicians use SP 147 as a technical reference because of its level of detail.

What happens if the car park is old and does not meet current requirements?

For existing buildings, ITC SP 147 allows for progressive adaptation measures. It does not require disproportionate structural alterations, but it does require implementing reasonable improvements in detection, ventilation or sectorisation to raise the level of safety.

Does ITC SP 147 require automatic extinguishing systems to be installed?

Not always. The obligation depends on the type of car park, its area, its use and the presence of charging zones. In some cases, automatic detection and reinforced ventilation is enough; in others, sprinklers or other active protection measures are required.

Is it necessary to sectorise the charging area?

In many cases, yes. ITC SP 147 recommends or requires sectorising the area where charging points are located to limit the spread of fire and facilitate fire brigade intervention. Sectorisation may be physical or carried out through equivalent measures justified in the project.

Does ITC SP 147 affect charging points installed outdoors?

Only if they are within the scope of a car park regulated by the instruction. If the charging points are completely outdoors and not part of a garage or covered car park, ITC SP 147 normally does not apply.

Should ITC SP 147 be reviewed for every refurbishment of the car park?

Yes. Any refurbishment affecting layout, ventilation, number of spaces, installation of new charging points or expansion of the car park requires reviewing compliance with ITC SP 147 and updating the technical documentation.

Conclusion: where ITC SP 147 applies and which measures should be taken into account

ITC SP 147 is now an essential reference for any car park with electric vehicles in Catalonia. Its application is mandatory throughout the Catalan territory — including the provinces of Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona — whenever there is the possibility of parking electric vehicles or installing charging points, both in new construction and in existing buildings.

This covers public car parks, shared garages and private car parks of companies or fleets, making it a cross-cutting regulation that affects most projects linked to electric mobility.

To comply with it properly, it is essential to take into account a series of key measures.

The first is early detection, which makes it possible to identify a fire in its initial stages and quickly activate emergency protocols. Added to this are active and passive protections, such as sprinklers, extinguishers suitable for lithium batteries, sectorisation of charging zones and fire-resistant materials.

Ventilation, both natural and forced, plays an essential role in preventing the build-up of toxic or flammable gases and facilitating the intervention of the fire brigade.

Finally, risk organisation and management, including maintenance, technical documentation, training and action protocols, ensures that all these measures work in a coordinated way.

These requirements do not replace other regulations but complement them, and must be applied together with ITC BT 52, which regulates the electrical installation of charging points. While BT 52 ensures electrical safety, SP 147 guarantees the fire safety of the environment in which those points are located. Only the joint application of both allows the design of car parks that are truly safe and adapted to the new reality of electric mobility.

In short, ITC SP 147 provides a clear technical framework for anticipating and managing the risks associated with electric vehicles, protecting users, buildings and emergency services.

For technicians and designers, knowing and applying it correctly is essential to develop installations that are safe, efficient and fully compliant with current regulations.