Home/Heating rules/Start of the heating season
Every autumn, before the start of the heating season, residents of high-rise buildings experience discomfort because the apartments become cool. There are suspicions that utility companies are delaying the deadlines, wanting to save money. In reality, management companies cannot turn on the heating at their own discretion - there are regulations establishing the timing and procedure for this procedure. One more point: before starting the system, it needs to be tested and repaired - leaks and air locks often occur. It takes time to fix these problems so that there are no problems in winter.
Attention
The decision to turn on the heating is made by local governments, and not by the management company and TSN. The exact date has not been established; the law requires that you be guided by the weather. The heating season should begin if the average daily temperature remains below 8 degrees for 5 days. If the heat supply is delayed, residents have the right to complain to the organization servicing the house, demanding that the problem be solved and at the same time recalculated. If utility workers are inactive, you can contact the Housing Inspectorate, Rospotrebnadzor, or the district Administration.
Normative base
Relations in the field of heating residential buildings are regulated by several regulations:
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- Basic Law – Federal Law No. 190 of June 27, 2010 “On Heat Supply”.
- The general rules for heat supply to residential buildings are established in Art. Chapter 7 3 Federal Law No. 416 dated December 7, 2011
- The procedure for providing utility heating services is enshrined in the Rules approved by Government Decree No. 354 of 05/06/2011.
- SANPiN 2.1.2.1002-00 specifies permissible temperatures in apartments during the cold and warm seasons.
Requirements GOST 30494-2011:
According to clause 4.4 and table 2 of GOST 30494-2011, the optimal and permissible standard air temperature in the service area of preschool institutions should be within the limits:
During the cold season:
- Group changing room and toilet for nursery and junior groups: optimal 21-23°C, acceptable 20-24°C;
- Group changing room and toilet for secondary and preschool groups: optimal 19-21°C, acceptable 18-25°C;
- Bedroom for nursery and junior groups: optimal 20-22°C, acceptable 19-23°C;
- Bedroom for middle and preschool groups: optimal 19-21°C, acceptable 18-23°C;
- Lobby, staircase: optimal 18-20°C, acceptable 16-22°C;
- Kitchen: optimal 19-21°C, acceptable 18-26°C;
- Bathroom: optimal 24-26°C, acceptable 18-26°C
- Pantry: optimal 16-18°C, acceptable 12-22°C
During the warm season:
- Group bedrooms: optimal 23-25°C, acceptable 18-28°C.
For preschool institutions located in areas with the coldest five-day temperature (provision 0.92) minus 31 ° C and below, the permissible design air temperature in the room should be taken 1 ° C higher (except for the kitchen, bathroom and pantry).
According to clause 4.6, when ensuring microclimate indicators at various points in the service area, an air temperature difference of no more than 2°C is allowed for optimal indicators and 3°C for acceptable ones.
In accordance with clause 4.7, in public buildings in accordance with regulatory and technical documents (SP 60.13330.2016 Heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Updated edition of SNiP 41-01-2003) during the cold period of the year during non-working hours, it is allowed to reduce microclimate indicators by taking the air temperature below the normalized value, but not below:
- 12°C - in public, administrative and domestic premises.
The normalized temperature must be ensured before use.
When do you turn on the heating?
Government Decree No. 354 sets out the conditions for the start of the heating season. There are 2 of them: first, the average daily temperature outside should drop below +8 degrees, second, this value should last 5 days. Thus, even if the temperature remains abnormally low for 4 days, but warming is promised on the fifth day, turning on the heating will most likely be postponed.
There are no specific dates in the law. However, in fact, the heating season begins in September-October, depending on the region of the country.
Temperature standards for heating radiators in an apartment
SNiP 41/01/2003 dated January 2004 (current version 2021) contains the parameters of the heating system in a high-rise building:
- When using two pipes for DHW supply, the maximum allowed temperature is + 95°C.
- When a building uses a single-pipe design, the water temperature in the heating system of an apartment building, according to GOST, should be no more than +115°C.
In order not to overpay for a resource that is not provided, you should install an individual heat meter in the apartment. Battery thermostats are also relevant for regulating the indoor microclimate. In this case, the owner will not have to measure the heating level of the coolant inside the radiator.
Recalculation of fees for low-quality housing and communal services.
If it is not technically possible to install a thermostat and an individual meter, then the only way out is to install a common meter for the entire apartment building (ODPU).
If the temperature in the heating system of an apartment building remains above +100°C for a long period, the management company and the local thermal power plant should be notified. Ignoring the situation will cause the water to boil, which can lead to a pipe break.
The heating level of the battery can be measured at home by applying a regular thermometer to the radiator. 2°C should be added to the resulting value - for more accurate measurements, an infrared thermometer is used.
Note: the temperature of the coolant in the heating system is around +100°C.
What should the average daily temperature be for the start of the heating season?
The temperature schedule for the supply of coolant to the heating system directly depends on weather conditions. The start and end times of the season are affected by the average daily thermometer.
The indicator is calculated based on measurements of street temperature every three hours throughout the day. Then all indicators are summed up and divided by 8. Measurements are taken for five days in a row.
The average daily temperature according to the current standard for all regions of Russia is 8°C.
At what temperature does the heating turn off?
In order to make a decision to turn off the heating, the State Committee of Meteorologists takes average daily measurements of street temperatures.
The procedure is carried out according to the principle: every three hours during the day the environmental level is recorded. The results obtained are summed up and then divided by the number of measurements per 24 hours. As a result, the average daily temperature is calculated.
If the result of the operation is higher than 8°C, then an official resolution is issued and sent to the municipal authorities of the region. The administration, in turn, endorses the decision and sends a newsletter to the heads of local thermal power plants and housing and communal services.
Note: consultation with the local meteorological center is mandatory. Employees of the organization must confirm that a sharp cold snap is not expected in the next 2 weeks.
Heating turn-on progress
First of all, heating is supplied to social buildings - clinics, kindergartens, schools. Then residential buildings are connected. Heating is started gradually, the whole process is extended over 2 weeks. This is due to the inertia of the system: it is necessary to fill the pipes that supply heat to each house, and this is tons of water that requires pre-heating to a certain temperature.
Additional Information
If you suddenly turn on the heating throughout the city, the load will instantly and greatly increase. As a result, circulation will deteriorate. Unforeseen situations also often arise, despite the long-term preparation of the system. In one place a crack is found in the shut-off valve, in another - problems with the valve. In this regard, plumbers carry out a thorough check after start-up.
Heating according to standards in kindergartens in Russia
It is worth saying that the management of children's institutions often uses above-normal air temperatures as a means of combating illness among children. In fact, temperatures higher than recommended, by drying out the air, only increase the incidence of disease.
For kindergartens, the standards are as follows: in playrooms the temperature should not fall below 21 degrees Celsius, the recommended temperature is 24 degrees. In bedrooms, a lower temperature is allowed, up to 18 degrees; it is recommended to bring the temperature to 22 degrees Celsius. The indicated temperatures are mandatory for areas with an average temperature in January below -14 degrees Celsius.
From what you have read, you may get the impression that the higher the temperature in the interior of the kindergarten, the better. In fact, too high temperatures can be even more harmful than low temperatures. So, if temporary and minor deviations in the direction of a decrease in temperature below the recommended level are allowed, then the opposite deviations are extremely undesirable. For playrooms, the maximum permissible temperature is 24 degrees Celsius, and for bedrooms - 22 degrees.
How to find out the exact start date of the heating season?
The resolution of the district or municipal administration on approval of the heating supply schedule is published online in the public domain. This document can be found on the municipality's website. The resolution is also published in the city newspaper - the official body of local government. Other media are not required to publish the full text, but they always report information about the timing of the heating season. Until the official document is made public, it will not be possible to find out the date of heat supply even by personally contacting the heat supply organization or management company.
Actions if you don’t turn on the heating and it’s already cold
Attention
If the heating season has already begun, the first thing you need to do is make sure that all the batteries in the apartment are working properly. If only your home is cold, but your neighbors upstairs and downstairs are warm, the problem may be an air lock. Plumbers will quickly fix it.
The temperature in the apartment is important. According to SanPin standards, in a living room there should be at least +18 degrees, in a corner room +20 degrees. If the temperature in your home is lower, you need to call the emergency dispatch service and leave a request to solve the heating problem. Within one or two days, the cause of the malfunction must be found and eliminated, as well as notifying you about it.
You also need to demand that a representative of the management company come and record the fact that the batteries are not working and the temperature is low. The drawn up act will become the basis for recalculating the cost of heating and will serve as evidence that, if necessary, can be attached to the complaint.
Preliminary work
Winter comes every year, but for utility workers it is always a surprise. In accordance with PP No. 354, the management company and RSO must carry out preventive work on utility networks before the start of the heating season.
Beginning and end of the heating season
The beginning of the period for supplying heat to apartments depends on the subject of the Russian Federation. The resource must be included in homes according to the law from October 1 to October 15. Heating works are completed from early April to mid-May.
Rules
According to the law, the management of the local municipality must agree on the start and end dates of the heat supply period with higher authorities. At the same time, the average temperature at which heating is turned on is +8°C.
CHP and utility services are responsible for maintaining the required level of resource in residential apartments. The table shows the standards:
Table 2.
| Type of heated room | A standard below which the temperature inside a property should not fall. Condition – the room is thermally insulated. |
| Apartment in MKD, private house | 18-20 °C. If the street is below -30°C, then the indicator increases by 2° |
| A room where people work | 20 °C |
| School classrooms | 18 °C |
| Playrooms in kindergartens | 22 °C |
| Bedrooms in preschools | 19 °C |
| Entrances, corridors, staircases in apartment buildings | 16 °C |
Features of the regions
Due to the fact that Russia occupies a large territory and is located in several climatic zones, it extends far to the north. Of course, weather conditions vary, so the final decision on heat issues in a particular region lies with the local municipality.
For example, this year the heat supply was stopped:
- in Moscow it was switched off on 04/26/2019;
- Tule – 04/28/2019;
- Yaroslavl – 04/24/2019;
- Tver – 04/29/2019.
When can you complain about turning on the heating late?
Nothing can be done before the official start of the heating season. The management company launches the system in accordance with the deadlines established by local authorities and has no right to violate them. If the deadline for turning on the heating has already passed, but the house is still cold, you need to call your management company or heating supply organization and ask when the heating will be turned on. If you are not given a clear answer, you should file a complaint.
Step-by-step instructions for filing a complaint about late heating switching on
A complaint about turning on the heating late is written in free form; there is no standardized template. Typically the document is drawn up as follows:
- In the upper right corner, the applicant indicates his personal data and the name of the organization to which the complaint is being filed. You must leave a telephone number where you can be contacted in order to resolve the issue peacefully.
- Then the problem encountered is described in detail. You should list the measures that you managed to take before filing a claim - where you applied, who you talked to. Make a list of documents attached to the complaint, if any.
- The next block lists the requirements. Write that you will go to court if measures are not taken.
- At the bottom is today's date and signature.
Attention:
The complaint about the late switching on of the heating in the apartment must be made in two copies. One is handed over personally to an authorized employee of the management company, TSN or heat supply organization, if the contract is concluded with it directly. The second copy, with a receipt mark, is kept by the applicant. If a claim is refused, you can send it by registered mail or electronically on the organization’s website.
You can file a complaint for late heating switching on here.
Filing a complaint
Alternatively, you can call a company representative and measure the temperature in the house in his presence using a regular thermometer. It is advisable to take measurements in each room, and if the readings do not fit into the permissible temperature range, then a report can be drawn up about the unacceptably low temperature. Further, with the attachment of this act, a complaint is filed against the management company, which is responsible for supplying heat to the house.
It is worth paying attention to the fact that a company representative can use his own thermometer to measure the temperature. It is necessary to ensure that the measurement is carried out at a distance of 1.5 meters from the floor and 1 m from the wall. If the thermometer readings seem suspiciously high, you can take measurements in parallel with your thermometer.
It is advisable to draw up the act that is attached to the complaint in the presence of neighbors. Let them also put their signatures under it. The complaint to the responsible organization must be submitted in two copies, one copy must be kept for yourself. The company representative must also sign two copies.
Considerations and possible consequences
The management company is obliged to consider the claim to turn on the heating of an apartment building within 10 days and take appropriate measures. Based on this act, it will be possible to request a recalculation of the heating payment for the entire period when there were problems with it. For each hour that the temperature does not meet the established standards, the heating fee is reduced by 0.15% of the monthly payment. Therefore, the management company is interested in quickly establishing heat supply to the house.
If the situation does not change, you should file a complaint with Rospotrebnadzor or the prosecutor's office. If departments fail to act, you can file a lawsuit with a demand to oblige the management company not only to recalculate heating fees, but also to compensate for moral damages. The court decision is executed in 95% of cases. If this does not help, the residents of the house should hold a general meeting and discuss the issue of changing the management company or organizing TSN. This will be possible if the majority of owners vote for such a decision.
Requirements of SanPiN 2.4.1.3049-13 (valid until 01/01/2021):
According to Appendix 3 to SanPiN 2.4.1.3049-13, the air temperature in the premises should not be lower than:
- Reception rooms, playrooms for group nurseries: 22-24°C
- Reception, playrooms of junior, middle, senior group cells: 21-23°C
- Bedrooms of all group cells: 19-20°C
- Nursery toilets: 22-24°C
- Toilet rooms for preschool groups: 19-20°C
- Medical premises: 22-24°C
- Halls for music. and gymnastics: 19-20°C
- Walking verandas: not less than 12°C
- Pool room with bathtub: not less than 29°C
- Changing room with pool shower: 25-26°C
- Heated passages: not less than 15°C
In rooms with baths for therapeutic massage, the normalized air temperature is at least 30 °C (clause 10.18 of SanPiN 2.4.1.3049-13).
Air temperature in kindergartens (preschool educational institutions) according to GOST and SanPiN standards
Nuances
Although the law requires that the timing of the heating season be determined by local authorities, there are still opportunities to deviate from this norm. If the communications are in order and checked for leaks and other faults, the management company can start supplying heat without waiting 5 days with an average daily temperature of less than +8 degrees. This is also allowed based on numerous requests from residents.
There are several other important nuances associated with the start of the heating season:
- Supplying heating later than 5 days with an average daily temperature below +8 degrees is a direct violation of the legislation of the Russian Federation. For this, organizations that provide such a service face serious fines.
- If apartment owners believe that the heating is turned on too late, they have the right to enter into an agreement with the heat supply organization. You can enter the exact dates of switching on and off. Then heating will be supplied at the specified time without taking into account the outside temperature. However, it is necessary to organize a meeting of residents and ensure that the majority of residents express their consent in writing. This can be difficult to do.
- If the heating has already been turned on, but the house is still cold, you should not complain right away. The system is adjusted by increasing the pressure gradually. Therefore, it sometimes takes several days for the batteries to become hot.
- It is forbidden to unauthorizedly weld pipes or install radiators with a large number of sections to make it warmer. This allows you to make the temperature of the house more comfortable, but may disrupt the operation of the heating system. Residents of other apartments will suffer - it will become cooler for them. Therefore, after some time, the relevant services will learn about such a violation. The owner will be fined and will still be required to return the old batteries.
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Where to complain if batteries stay cold
In order for measures to be taken to restore the heat supply to the apartment, it is necessary to initially file a complaint with the Management Company or Housing Office.
If there is no response, the application is then transferred to higher organizations:
- Housing inspection.
- Rospotrebnadzor.
- City (district) administration.
- Prosecutor's office.
- Judicial authority.
In order to find out the hotline number in a specific city, you need to call the dispatch service at your place of residence. The phone number can also be found on the website on the Internet.
As a rule, after filing a complaint, a specialist is sent to your home to conduct an inspection within one to two days. Based on its results, an act is drawn up in two copies, one of which remains with the owner of the apartment.
Often the problem is resolved quickly - you just need to repair the heating pipe or insulate the room - seal the holes in the windows.
If the lack of heat is due to the fact that it was not supplied by the management company, you need to act collectively.
You can try to file a complaint through regional media - this method is highly effective.
- Due to frequent changes in legislation, information sometimes becomes outdated faster than we can update it on the website.
- All cases are very individual and depend on many factors. Basic information does not guarantee a solution to your specific problems.
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