Why a shelter belongs with the chargers
First, the fire code. Under the fire regulation for high-rise civil buildings and local rules, concentrated e-bike charging areas must keep safe distance from evacuation routes, exits and facades — or be physically separated. A shelter is the cheapest compliant separation there is.
Second, equipment life. Yantai winters bring snow, summers bring sun: exposed enclosures age two to three times faster than sheltered ones, and connector faults climb. A RMB 2,000 charger that lasts five years in the rain lasts eight under a roof.
Third, utilisation. At the same spot, sheltered bays see roughly 30% higher usage — residents will park and charge there rather than haul the battery upstairs.
Choosing the structure
| Structure | Reference price | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Steel + polycarbonate | RMB 280–450/㎡ | The everyday choice; good light, budget-friendly renovations |
| Membrane (PVDF) | RMB 400–700/㎡ | Modern look, light, long spans; mid-to-high-end and demonstration sites |
| Steel + colour steel | RMB 200–350/㎡ | Most economical; durable, needs lighting |
| Aluminium | RMB 500–900/㎡ | Maintenance-free, no rust — the coastal pick |
Along the Yantai coast we default to aluminium or hot-dip galvanized steel with fluorocarbon coating: ordinary powder-coated steel starts rusting within two years in salt air.
Dimensions done once, correctly
A standard e-bike is about 1.7m × 0.6m; aisles need at least 1.2m. Allow 0.7–0.8m width and 2.0m depth per bay. Common spans: 6m × 3m parks 8–10 bikes with a 10-port charger; 12m × 4m parks 20–24 with 20 ports. Eaves at least 2.2m (bike-friendly), roof pitch at least 5% for drainage, and a 10cm hardened, graded concrete apron so the charging area never stands in water.
Fire equipment checklist
- Extinguishers: at least two 4kg dry-powder units per 50㎡, hung within reach.
- Standalone smoke alarms: one per 30–40㎡, tied to the property's duty room or the platform.
- Lighting: waterproof LED at 50lx or better, on presence sensors.
- CCTV covering every bay, footage retained at least 30 days.
- Sprinklers (recommended): simple systems run RMB 60–120/㎡ and control an early fire; most insurers recognise them.
- Signage: charging rules, prohibitions and the repair number on the wall.
Cost reference and schedule
A 60㎡ steel-and-polycarbonate shelter with a 10-port charger, fire, lighting and CCTV totals roughly RMB 35,000–55,000 in Yantai: structure RMB 18,000–27,000, charging system RMB 12,000–20,000, fire and extras RMB 5,000–8,000. Factory fabrication 7–10 days, on-site assembly 3–5 days; with foundations, about 15–20 days end to end. Break your own case down in the shelter cost estimator.
What acceptance actually checks
Shelters look simple and fail inspections often. Four areas recur: structural safety — post plumb, welds and bolts, foundations below the frost line (the classic northern rework item); fire — extinguishers, separation, smoke alarms, emergency lighting, clearance of evacuation routes; electrical — earthing and equipotential bonding, RCDs, conduited cable and tray discipline; drainage — roof pitch and non-ponding ground. Design to acceptance from day one: it is always cheaper than remediation.
Roof materials, briefly
Polycarbonate (PC): good light, light weight, moderate price — the community default; check UV coating and thickness. Membrane: the best-looking, longest spans; premium price. Colour steel: cheapest, mediocre insulation and daylight. Choose by wind and snow load and by service life, not by square-metre price alone — then let the estimator show what each choice does to the total.