EV Charger Installation According to AREI: The Complete Guide for Belgium

Installing an EV charger in Belgium falls under chapter 7.22 of AREI/RGIE Book 1. This guide explains the main design questions; it does not replace the manufacturer's instructions, distribution-grid conditions or assessment by a qualified electrician and approved inspection body.

AREI Requirements for EV Chargers (Art. 7.22)

The AREI/RGIE sets the following basic requirements for EV charger installations:

Dedicated Circuit

The EV charger must have its own dedicated circuit. It may not be connected to an existing circuit (e.g., sockets in the garage). This dedicated circuit must run directly from the distribution board to the charger.

Residual Current Device (RCD)

Each EV charger needs its own RCD (residual current device). The type of RCD depends on the charger (more on this below).

Circuit Breaker (MCB)

A properly sized circuit breaker (MCB) protects the charger circuit against overload and short circuit.

Surge Protection Device (SPD)

Art. 4.5.1 requires protection against overvoltages according to good professional practice. In practice, a central SPD is installed in the distribution board, protecting all circuits including the EV charger circuit against transient overvoltages caused by lightning strikes or switching operations in the grid.

Single-Phase vs. Three-Phase: Which Charger?

Single-Phase — 3.7 kW or 7.4 kW

Advantages of single-phase:

• Cheaper installation
• Simpler wiring
• Sufficient for most households (overnight charging)

Disadvantages of single-phase:

• Limited charging power
• At 7.4 kW: possible phase imbalance (watch out during registration)

Three-Phase — 11 kW or 22 kW

Advantages of three-phase:

• Significantly faster charging
• Balanced load distribution (no phase imbalance)
• Future-proof

Disadvantages of three-phase:

• More expensive installation
• Three-phase connection at distribution board required
• Higher material costs (thicker cables, more expensive protection devices)

Selection based on the project

There is no universal best charging power for a detached home. Available phases, service capacity, main protection, simultaneous household demand, the vehicle's onboard charger, required daily energy and possible load management must be assessed together. A higher wallbox rating does not make charging faster when the vehicle or connection imposes the lower limit.

Cable and Protection: Proper Sizing

Cable Cross-Section Overview

Important: For long cable runs (>15m), the cross-section may need to be increased to limit voltage drop (AREI Art. 5.2.5 — voltage drop; Art. 5.2.1.2b — cable selection). Plan the cable route in advance and consult voltage drop tables if in doubt.

Cable Type

In Belgium, XVB cable is typically used for fixed installations:

• XVB 3G2.5 for single-phase 16A
• XVB 3G6 for single-phase 32A
• XVB 5G2.5 for three-phase 16A
• XVB 5G6 for three-phase 32A

When installed in a Preflex conduit, individual VOB conductors (H07V-U) can be used, provided the conduit is adequately sized.

RCD Type: The Most Important Protection Device

Choosing the right RCD is particularly important for EV chargers — and can cause significant cost differences.

Type A + Integrated DC 6 mA Sensor (RDC-DD in the Charger)

Chapter 7.22 requires protection against smooth DC residual-current components. Type A alone does not provide that function. Where the manufacturer documents suitable integrated 6 mA DC detection (RDC-DD) for the exact charger, it can form part of a solution with an upstream 30 mA Type A RCD. Do not assume that combination without the product evidence.

The selected Type A must match the network, pole count, rating and the charger's documented conditions. A price range without those parameters is not a reliable project estimate.

Type B (If No DC Sensor in the Charger)

If your charger does not have a built-in DC fault current sensor, you need an RCD Type B. This also detects DC fault currents that can occur with AC/DC chargers.

Check the manufacturer's declaration for DC residual-current detection. A product label alone does not prove that the charger and upstream RCD form a compliant combination.

Type A-SI (Alternative)

A Type A-SI RCD may be more resistant to certain disturbances, depending on the manufacturer, but it is not by itself a substitute for the required smooth-DC fault-current detection. The documented protective assembly is what matters.

Surge Protection (SPD) — Central for the Entire Installation

Art. 4.5.1 requires protection against overvoltages according to good professional practice. In practice, an SPD (surge protection device) is installed in the distribution board, protecting all connected devices including the EV charger against transient overvoltages. The AREI does not specify a concrete "Type 2" — that designation comes from the product standard (IEC 61643-11).

Important: The SPD must be protected with an upstream fuse (gR fuse or MCB). Follow the manufacturer's specifications.

Grid operator and direction of energy flow

This article does not infer a universal notification or connection threshold from charger rating. Before ordering, check the current conditions of the distribution system operator responsible for the address. Have the EAN code, connection type, proposed charging power, phases, load management and exact product description available.

Establish explicitly whether energy can flow only from grid to vehicle or in both directions. Synergrid states that bidirectional or technically bidirectional chargers fall within C10/11 edition 2.4 and require C10/26 type approval. Pure grid-to-vehicle chargers do not require C10/26 under that rule. This does not, by itself, remove any separate notification, capacity or connection condition imposed by the responsible operator.

Updating the Single-Line Diagram

After installing an EV charger, the single-line diagram of your electrical installation must be updated. The charger is shown as its own branch in the diagram:

What Must Be in the Diagram?

1. Dedicated circuit from the distribution board
2. RCD with type indication (A or B)
3. Circuit breaker with rated current
4. SPD (surge protection device)
5. EV charger symbol with power indication
6. Cable designation (e.g., XVB 5G2.5)
7. Phase assignment (for three-phase: L1/L2/L3)

PlanElec Makes It Easy

PlanElec supports documenting an EV charger in the project:

• An EV charger symbol is available for the plan
• The self-check can flag supported data around the dedicated circuit, RCD protection, and SPD
• Phase assignment can be entered directly
• The PDF export includes the information recorded in the project

Compare costs on a common technical scope

A useful quotation separates the charger, protective devices, cable route, excavation or civil work, board modifications, load management, design, inspection and any grid-operator procedure. Prices vary with equipment, route length, accessibility, service capacity and the existing board. Ask bidders to price the same technical specification; a fixed online range is not a dependable project budget.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. No dedicated circuit: Connecting the charger to an existing socket is not only unsafe but violates the AREI.
2. Wrong RCD type: Without a DC sensor in the charger, an RCD Type B is mandatory.
3. Surge protection not assessed: Whether and how an SPD is used must be assessed for the complete installation and coordinated to the manufacturer's instructions.
4. No updated single-line diagram: Every change to the installation must be documented in the diagram.
5. Grid conditions not checked: Notification and connection rules depend on the operator and charging function; bidirectional or technically bidirectional equipment also enters the C10/11 and C10/26 scope.
6. Cable cross-section too small: Especially for long cable runs (>15m), watch the voltage drop.

Earthing note: A prerequisite for a safe EV charger installation: the entire earthing chain (earth electrode, main equipotential bonding, protective conductor) must be intact. For older installations without proper earthing, remediation is required.

Conclusion

An EV charger in Belgium needs a dedicated circuit per connection point, suitable additional RCD and DC residual-current protection, project-specific cable and protective-device design, and updated drawings. Careful documentation improves inspectability but does not guarantee a positive report.

Before handover, archive the exact charger variant, firmware, configured current limit, phase assignment, load-management behaviour and evidence for integrated DC monitoring. Link those records to the diagram version and grid-operator response used for commissioning. A later settings or firmware change should reopen the affected protection, capacity and C10/26 questions instead of being treated as an invisible software-only update.

Official sources

• AREI/RGIE Book 1, 2026 edition — chapter 7.22
• Synergrid: C10/26 scope for bidirectional or technically bidirectional charging infrastructure

Related Articles

• Calculate voltage drop for a long charger supply
• Cost Comparison: DIY vs. Hiring an Electrician

• PlanElec vs. Excel/Paper

Document Your EV Charger in the Single-Line Diagram

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