When good installations go wrong:
the importance of proper infrastructure training
In the world of EV charging infrastructure, a well-executed installation can make all the difference in ensuring longevity, safety, and ease of future maintenance. However, even the best-designed solutions can fail in practice when proper training is overlooked.
One example highlights just how costly a simple knowledge gap can be. On an EV charging site equipped with NAL solutions, correctly installed retention sockets had been subsequently filled with concrete.
The result of this incorrect maintenance? Retention sockets rendered unusable. Let’s take a closer look at how proper infrastructure training protects against avoidable mistakes and increased costs.
What went wrong?
NAL retention sockets are designed to provide a future-proof solution for street furniture. They allow for easy removal and replacement of items such as EV chargers, bollards, and lighting columns without the need for disruptive groundworks.
Installation context:
For socket sizes 115mm and smaller, plugs can be stored within the side chamber. For anything bigger than 115mm, plugs should be stored elsewhere on-site, or passed onto the maintenance teams.
If, however, the proper training has been neglected, electrical teams can end up mistakenly throwing plugs away once the socket is housing equipment.
In this case, when an EV charger was removed from a site, the maintenance team was unaware of the retention socket plug. Lacking awareness on the function of the socket, it was filled with concrete.
The result?
- A retention socket that is no longer fit for purpose
- Unnecessary costs to break out and reinstall the entire system in future
- Increased delays and disruption to site operations
- A missed opportunity to utilise the full benefits of the retention system
This issue wasn’t a failure of the product — it was a gap in training and awareness. Clearly, proper infrastructure training matters. Trained teams can:
- Prevent costly mistakes
- Ensure long-term efficiency
- Increase safety and compliance
- Future-proof projects
Small oversights, like this one, can lead to expensive and time-consuming repairs. Understanding how to correctly install and maintain infrastructure ensures that assets perform as intended, reducing avoidable rework.
Many infrastructure solutions — such as retention sockets — are designed for flexibility and long-term savings. However, these benefits can only be realised if teams understand how to use and maintain them properly.
Mistakes in installation or maintenance can pose serious safety risks. Training ensures that industry standards and best practices are followed correctly, reducing hazards for both workers and the public.
With evolving technology and sustainability targets driving change, training ensures that teams stay up to date with modern infrastructure solutions. In turn, this prevents outdated practices from creeping into new projects.
How CPD training can help
At NAL’s CPD-accredited demonstration days, we provide hands-on, expert-led infrastructure training. This training helps ensure that professionals across the industry — from installers to design engineers — can specify, install, and maintain NAL solutions with confidence.
As part of our free service to NAL customers, we offer:
- Best practice insights on installation and maintenance
- Hands-on experience with real-world product demonstrations
- CPD accreditation, while enhancing your skill set
Don’t let good installations go wrong
Mistakes like filling a retention socket with concrete are completely avoidable with the right education and training. Investing in CPD training not only saves time and money but also ensures that infrastructure solutions perform as intended for years to come.
Future-proof your project and join our next CPD-accredited training session