Buildings challenges associated with Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure
Conference Recap
By Christina Knorr, Fire Safety Expert and Expert Witness
I recently had the privilege of speaking at an internal conference organised by a building certification company as part of their staff professional development program.
My presentation focused on electric vehicles (EVs) and the challenges associated with assessing and approving buildings that incorporate EV charging infrastructure.
Throughout the session, I addressed common misconceptions and assumptions surrounding EV-related fires and explored why the charging station itself is rarely the primary fire safety risk. The discussion drew on learnings from past fire incidents, global statistics, and the importance of evidence-based analysis in supporting informed, defensible approval decisions.
The discussion covered learnings from past fire incidents, global statistics, and how evidence-based analysis can support informed approval decisions.
Beyond the technical content, it was not only a great opportunity to connect with people across the business, but also to share knowledge in a genuinely open and supportive environment. Questions were encouraged, experiences were shared, and learning felt collaborative rather than performative.
A big shout-out to the Managing Directors for actively encouraging staff learning and self-development, and for fostering a culture where colleagues support each other, share expertise, and work together as trusted peers rather than competitors.
On a personal note, it was also a great reminder of how valuable it is to be multi-lingual. Being able to review technical information and data in German, English, and Russian added real depth to my preparation and reinforced the importance of looking beyond a single source or jurisdiction.
For business owners and leaders, I strongly encourage incorporating internal, targeted learning sessions alongside attendance at larger conferences. Tailored sessions allow topics to be shaped around your team’s specific challenges, interests and projects, making the learning immediately relevant and highly effective. Professional speakers like myself can adapt content to suit an individual company’s needs, often delivering content with far greater value than broad, large-scale events.
I am more than happy to discuss speaking at your next event.
Please use the Request a Seminar by Christina Knorr form on the CJK Fire & Safety website: https://cjkfireandsafety.com.au/services/fire-safety-training/ or call 0481 402 220.