ROMADA EV Charger Safety Alert: What Facility Managers Need to Know

Quick Answers for Property & Facility Managers

Are ROMADA New Energy EV chargers safe to use in commercial buildings?

No—UK regulators have flagged ROMADA New Energy EV chargers and cables for serious electric shock risk due to poor internal connections. Facility and property managers should exclude this equipment from specifications and procurement, confirm it is not installed on-site, and work only with listed, tested EVSE from reputable manufacturers.

What should facility managers do if a flagged EV charger model appears on a project?

Facility managers should immediately halt installation, verify the model against the product safety alert, and consult their electrical engineer and authority having jurisdiction. Remove any non‑compliant EVSE from service, document the issue for risk management, and replace it with listed, tested equipment approved by the AHJ.

Does this UK product safety alert affect EV charging projects outside the UK?

While the ROMADA product was rejected at the UK border, similar units can still reach other markets through online or gray‑market channels. Facility managers should treat the alert as a global red flag and ensure all EVSE are properly listed, certified, and procured through authorized commercial channels.

ROMADA EV Charger Safety Alert: Why Commercial Building Stakeholders Should Care

The UK Government's Office for Product Safety and Standards has issued a product safety alert for the ROMADA New Energy EV charger and cable (2609-0023), citing poor-quality internal connections that create a serious risk of electric shock. The affected units have been rejected at the border as unsafe electrical appliances and equipment.

For facility managers, property managers, and commercial real estate professionals, this is more than a UK customs story. It is a clear reminder that low-cost or unverified EV charging equipment can bypass normal quality channels and end up in commercial projects, exposing buildings to life-safety, liability, and compliance risk.

This article breaks down what the ROMADA safety alert means in practical terms for commercial EV charging programs, capital planning, and risk management across offices, retail, industrial, healthcare, multifamily, and institutional portfolios.

Understanding the ROMADA New Energy Safety Finding

According to the UK product safety report, the ROMADA New Energy EV charger and cable were assessed and found to have poor-quality internal connections. In an EV charging context, poor or loose internal connections can lead to overheating, arcing, and accessible live parts, dramatically increasing the risk of electric shock or fire during normal use.

The product is categorized as electrical appliances and equipment and was rejected at the UK border, meaning it was not allowed into the market due to non-compliance with applicable safety standards. While the alert is specific to the UK, the underlying issues are universal: EV supply equipment (EVSE) must be designed and manufactured with robust internal connections, insulation, and fault protection to be considered safe in commercial environments.

For commercial real estate decision-makers, the key takeaway is that not all EV chargers promoted online or via discount channels meet recognized safety standards. The ROMADA case illustrates how products without adequate internal build quality can be blocked by regulators yet still be visible in global e-commerce, creating a risk that they show up on projects through informal procurement paths.

Electric Shock and Fire Risk in Commercial EV Charging Installations

Commercial EVSE operates on high-current circuits, often tied into three-phase power distribution, panelboards, and switchgear. Poor internal connections inside a charger enclosure are not a minor defect—they are a direct life-safety issue. In a commercial building, the consequences can impact tenants, staff, visitors, and operations.

From a risk perspective, poor internal connections can contribute to:

• Electric shock hazards: Exposed or inadequately insulated conductive parts can become energized relative to ground, especially if there is inadequate bonding or faulty terminations, leading to shock risk for users or maintenance staff.
• Overheating and thermal damage: Loose or undersized connections increase resistance and heat under load, potentially degrading insulation, deforming plastics, and initiating fires within the EVSE enclosure or nearby building materials.
• Arcing and fault escalation: Intermittent connections can cause arcing, which not only degrades components but may also trip upstream protective devices erratically, impacting other loads on the same panelboard or distribution circuit.
• Nuisance trips and downtime: Even before a catastrophic failure, poor connections can cause repeated tripping of breakers or ground-fault devices, disrupting EV charging availability and undermining tenant confidence in the building's infrastructure.

Because EV chargers are often installed in parking garages, covered podiums, or outdoor areas with public access, a single unsafe charger can carry risk beyond a single end user. In multitenant office and multifamily scenarios, an incident tied to a non-compliant charger can quickly escalate into a reputational event for owners and property management teams.

NEC, NFPA 70E, and UL Listing Expectations for Commercial EVSE

In the United States, commercial EVSE installations are governed primarily by NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code), local amendments, and the requirements of the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). For facility managers, the ROMADA case underscores the importance of not just installing EVSE, but ensuring that the equipment itself is properly listed and evaluated.

Common expectations for commercial EV chargers include:

• Listing and labeling: EVSE should be listed by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), such as UL or ETL, to a relevant standard (for example, UL 2594 for EVSE). AHJs routinely require such listings before approving installations.
• Compliance with NEC Article 625: NEC Article 625 addresses EV charging systems, including overcurrent protection, wiring methods, grounding and bonding, branch-circuit sizing, and equipment labeling. Using non-compliant or unlisted equipment makes it difficult—often impossible—to demonstrate adherence to Article 625 requirements.
• Electrical safety work practices: NFPA 70E and OSHA electrical safety rules require that maintenance and operations activities around energized equipment follow defined procedures, including arc flash risk assessment and PPE. Poorly built chargers with unknown internal construction complicate safety planning because their failure modes are unpredictable.
• AHJ inspections and approvals: Most commercial EVSE installations require permits and inspections. Inspectors typically verify listing marks and labeling. If a ROMADA-type device without appropriate certification slipped onto a job, it could cause inspection failure and delay revenue service.

In short, the basic expectation in commercial EV projects is that EVSE is listed, labeled, and traceable back to recognized safety standards. Any product flagged by regulators for poor internal connections falls far outside that baseline.

Procurement Controls: Avoiding Unsafe EV Chargers in Commercial Projects

The ROMADA New Energy case highlights a procurement vulnerability: equipment ordered through non-traditional or low-cost channels outside established vendor networks. Even where UK authorities reject products at the border, similar units can reach other countries via online marketplaces or gray-market importers.

For facility managers and owners, procurement controls are a critical line of defense. Practical strategies include:

• Specify approved manufacturers: Work with your electrical engineer of record to develop a pre-approved list of EVSE manufacturers and models that meet your standards for NRTL listing, warranty, service support, and integration with existing power distribution and building management systems.
• Require submittals and cut sheets: Make sure your electrical contractor submits detailed product data, including listing marks, ratings, and installation manuals, as part of the submittal process. Review these documents with your design team and reject equipment that cannot show legitimate certifications.
• Prohibit substitutions without review: Include language in contracts that substitutions for specified EVSE require written approval by the engineer, owner, and, where necessary, the AHJ. This helps prevent last-minute swaps to unvetted hardware to save costs.
• Centralize purchasing: For multi-site portfolios, central procurement or approved vendor programs can reduce the risk of site-level teams ordering unsafe or unvetted EV chargers through consumer channels.
• Maintain an approved products list (APL): Maintain a portfolio-wide APL for EVSE, panelboards, switchgear, and related components. Keep records of model numbers, listing status, and firmware or software versions for lifecycle management.

By tightening procurement discipline, owners and operators make it far less likely that a ROMADA-type charger—or similar low-quality device—ever reaches their loading dock, let alone gets installed on a project.

Risk Management, Liability, and Insurance Implications

From a risk management perspective, installing EVSE that is known or later found to be unsafe can have significant liability consequences. Even without a specific incident, the presence of unlisted or regulator-flagged devices in a commercial property may raise questions during insurance underwriting, due diligence, or lender reviews.

Key considerations for facility and property managers include:

• Duty of care: Owners and operators have a duty to provide reasonably safe premises. Using EVSE that a national regulator has identified as presenting a serious electric shock risk can compromise that duty.
• Insurance coverage: Some property or liability policies may require compliance with applicable codes and standards as a condition of coverage. Use of unlisted or non-compliant EVSE could complicate claim outcomes after an incident.
• Contractual risk allocation: Construction and service contracts may allocate responsibility for product selection, code compliance, and safety. Facility managers should ensure their contracts clearly assign responsibility for verifying that EVSE is listed and compliant.
• Reputational risk: An incident involving unsafe EVSE in a high-visibility office, mixed-use, or multifamily property can damage relationships with tenants and stakeholders and undermine broader ESG or sustainability messaging around electrification.

The ROMADA safety alert therefore is not just a technical detail—it is a reminder that EV charger selection is a risk decision. Working with reputable manufacturers, engineers, and contractors is an essential part of managing that risk.

Practical Action Plan for Existing and Planned EV Charging Sites

For portfolio owners, facility managers, and property managers who already have or are planning EV charging, the ROMADA New Energy safety alert is a prompt to reassess the controls around EVSE selection and installation. A practical, facility-focused action plan includes:

• 1. Inventory existing EV chargers: Compile a list of all EVSE across your portfolio, including manufacturer, model number, serial numbers, and locations. Verify that none of the installed units match the ROMADA New Energy model identified in the safety alert.
• 2. Verify listing and certifications: For each EVSE model, confirm NRTL listing and applicable standards. Maintain documentation in your asset records so that it is available for AHJ inspections, insurance audits, and internal risk reviews.
• 3. Coordinate with your electrical engineer and contractor: Ask your design and construction partners to confirm that their specifications and submittals exclude any products subject to safety alerts and that they vet new products for listing, quality, and supportability.
• 4. Review O&M procedures and NFPA 70E practices: Ensure that your operations and maintenance teams, including third-party service providers, are following NFPA 70E-compliant practices for working near EVSE, particularly when troubleshooting internal connections or thermal issues.
• 5. Integrate EVSE into capital planning: Consider EV charging infrastructure as part of your broader electrical system—switchgear capacity, panelboard loading, demand charges, and energy codes (such as Title 24 in California). Align charger selection with long-term reliability and compliance needs, not just near-term cost.
• 6. Communicate with tenants and stakeholders: For properties that promote EV charging as an amenity, reassure tenants that your EVSE has been selected and installed in compliance with applicable standards and that you respond proactively to emerging safety alerts.

By taking these steps, owners and operators can reduce the likelihood of installing unsafe EV chargers and demonstrate due diligence to regulators, insurers, and occupants.

Key Takeaways for Commercial EV Charging Programs

The ROMADA New Energy EV charger and cable safety alert is a targeted regulatory action in the UK, but its lessons extend across markets and portfolios. For commercial real estate and facilities teams, it reinforces several essentials:

• Not all EV chargers are equal: Low-cost or unlisted products can harbor fundamental design flaws such as poor internal connections that create serious electric shock risk.
• Code compliance begins with equipment selection: NEC, NFPA 70E, OSHA, and local AHJs assume that installed equipment meets baseline safety and listing requirements. Non-compliant EVSE cannot be "saved" by good installation practices alone.
• Procurement discipline is critical: Centralized purchasing, pre-approved manufacturer lists, and strict substitution controls reduce exposure to unsafe products.
• EVSE is part of your broader electrical risk profile: Integrate EV charging decisions into your overall approach to electrical safety, power distribution planning, and energy management.

As more buildings add EV chargers to meet tenant demand, support fleet electrification, or satisfy code-driven EV-ready requirements, the stakes around product safety will continue to rise. The ROMADA safety alert is a timely reminder that for facility managers, property managers, and commercial real estate professionals, EVSE selection is not just a purchasing decision—it is a core element of electrical safety and asset stewardship.

Frequently Asked Questions

How should facility managers vet EV chargers to avoid unsafe products like the ROMADA New Energy unit?

Facility managers should require NRTL-listed EVSE from established manufacturers, verify compliance with NEC Article 625, and insist on complete submittals reviewed by their electrical engineer and AHJ. Centralizing purchasing, prohibiting unapproved substitutions, and maintaining an approved products list helps ensure safety, compliance, and long-term supportability.

What are the financial risks of installing non-compliant EV chargers in a commercial property?

Installing non-compliant EVSE can lead to failed inspections, rework costs, schedule delays, and potential denial of insurance claims after an incident. Owners may also face liability for injuries or property damage. In many cases, the cost of replacing unsafe chargers and associated downtime far exceeds any upfront savings from low-cost equipment.

How does a product safety alert in the UK affect code compliance in the United States?

While UK alerts do not directly change U.S. codes, they highlight specific products or design flaws that owners should treat as red flags. U.S. AHJs, NEC, and NFPA 70E still govern compliance, but a foreign safety alert is a strong signal to exclude that equipment from specifications and to prioritize listed, tested alternatives for commercial projects.

Can existing EV chargers be retrofitted to address internal connection issues, or should they be replaced?

If a charger has been identified in a formal safety alert for poor internal connections, replacement is generally the prudent course. Attempting field modifications can void listings and warranties and may not be accepted by AHJs or insurers. Work with the manufacturer, your engineer, and your electrical contractor to evaluate replacement options that maintain compliance and operational continuity.

What role do energy codes and ESG goals play in selecting safe commercial EV chargers?

Energy codes, such as California’s Title 24, often drive EV-ready infrastructure and capacity planning, while ESG goals encourage electrification and low-carbon transportation. However, these objectives must align with safety and compliance. Selecting listed, code-compliant EVSE that integrates with metering and load management systems supports both ESG targets and risk management for owners.

How should property managers communicate EV charger safety and reliability to tenants and stakeholders?

Property managers can highlight that EVSE was selected based on recognized standards, NRTL listings, and AHJ-approved installations. Sharing that equipment and maintenance follow NEC, NFPA 70E, and OSHA-aligned practices builds confidence. Clear signage, user guidance, and visible responsiveness to safety alerts further reinforce trust in the building’s EV infrastructure.

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