Quite often we hear complaints: “It’s cold at home! Why should we pay for barely warm batteries? What should be the temperature in the apartment in winter? Let's look at these issues and find out in which cases it is legal to file a complaint with the Housing Office and in which cases it is not.
Heating season
For every little thing in Russia there are special regulatory documents. Our legislators did not ignore the climate inside homes. They clearly established what temperature should be in the apartment of the average resident of the country. The law states that the period when the premises begin to be heated centrally occurs when the temperature outside has been at “plus eight” for five days. It ends the same way heating season. Again, short frosts in the off-season do not oblige housing offices to anything.
But what if the heating season has begun, but it’s still cold in the house? Residents can write a statement to the Housing Office. However, the concepts of “cold” and “hot” are very subjective. In order not to be unfounded in your complaint, you need to measure the temperature with a thermometer and provide clear figures for the indicators. Thus, the law meticulously establishes minimum standards for different rooms: in the living corner room it should be +20, in the kitchen - +18, and in the bathroom, where we have to strip naked - and everything is +25.
There are also clearly defined standards on this issue. Hot water should be supplied to the taps all year round: not lower than + 50 and not higher (to avoid burns) + 70 degrees. During the heating season, such water should also fill the radiators. How to check if hot water is supplied to your home as required by regulations? Open the tap, place a glass with a thermometer. A deviation of 4 degrees is allowed, but only upward.
Troubleshooting
Perhaps the housing office is not to blame for anything, and your batteries are simply “airy.” In this case, the tenant writes a statement to the DEZ.
Recalculation of heating fees
If you suffer from a systematic deviation of indicators from accepted standards (and they are determined by special Rules, which describe in great detail how services are provided for which utility bills are charged), you can start trial. As a result, housing and communal services will either fix problems with heating, or you will pay less for it. Even in the event of an accident or other emergency, it is clearly stated how long people can remain without hot water. According to Section VIII of the above Rules, residents must report in writing to the service dealing with accidents (housing office, housing and communal services, etc.) about all problems, including improper indoor climate. A commission comes with an inspection and draws up a report indicating what temperature should be in the apartment, and what it actually is. This document is signed by the complainant himself. If the commission does not appear, a similar act can be drawn up by the tenant, who took neighbors as witnesses. The recalculation of fees is set for the entire “ice age” - until the breakdown is fixed and your home becomes warm again.
One of the main tasks of the employer can be considered to provide a favorable microclimate in the workplace.
However, many employers do not comply with temperature requirements, thereby violating the law.
What should be the temperature in the room according to the Labor Code of the Russian Federation?
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Is the employer obligated to monitor the room temperature?
This question can be answered by Article 212, according to which the employer will be held administratively liable for sanitary work not carried out on time.
The list of these measures also includes compliance with the temperature regime established by Sanitary Norms and Rules (SanPiN), as it is too low or vice versa heat can lead to a decrease in energy levels and, as a result, its performance.
Accordingly, if an employer evades fulfilling this obligation, he violates the law and must be punished.
It can be said that the employer is obliged to monitor the temperature throughout the entire working period.
Temperature conditions at different times of the year
According to the Labor Code, the room temperature in the summer should not be higher than:
- 28 degrees Celsius for 8 hours of operation.
- 30 degrees Celsius for 5 hours of operation.
- 31 degrees Celsius for 3 hours of operation.
- 32 degrees Celsius for 2 hours of operation.
- 32.5 degrees Celsius for 1 hour of operation.
Working at temperatures exceeding 32.5 degrees is considered dangerous. The employer has several options to avoid the heat, namely: install special equipment (air conditioners, fans) in the work premises or reduce the number of working hours by special order.
Room temperature in winter time According to the Labor Code, it should not fall below 20 degrees Celsius. If it does not meet the standards, the employer must install a heater in the workroom or reduce the number of working hours. Labor Code establishes the following temporary standards at low temperatures:
- no more than 7 hours of operation at 19 degrees Celsius.
- no more than 6 hours of operation at 18 degrees Celsius.
- no more than 5 hours of operation at 17 degrees Celsius.
- no more than 4 hours of operation at 16 degrees Celsius.
- no more than 3 hours of operation at 15 degrees Celsius.
- no more than 2 hours of operation at 14 degrees Celsius.
- no more than 1 hour of operation at 13 degrees Celsius.
Labor standards have established that working in temperatures below 13 degrees Celsius is dangerous.
Summarizing the above data, we can say that the indoor temperature in summer should not exceed 28 degrees Celsius, and in winter it should not fall below 20 degrees Celsius.
What should an employee do if the employer does not comply with the temperature regime?
Salaried workers often face negligence from their employers. What to do in this case? There are several options:
- ask the employer to normalize the temperature using equipment (air conditioning, heater)
- demand a reduction in hours of work in accordance with regulations
- file a complaint with Rospotrebnadzor
- contact the labor inspectorate for help
In the last two options, a special inspection will be carried out at the place of work, during which it will be determined whether an offense has been committed.
As a result, we can say that the employee has several legal methods of influencing.
What punishment does an employer face for non-compliance with temperature conditions?
In accordance with the Code of Administrative Offences, an employer who has violated sanitary standards, will be fined up to 20 thousand rubles, or its activities will be suspended for a certain period.
Housing and communal services enterprises are obliged to provide comfortable conditions in apartments, so in winter the home should be warm. Management companies do not always provide the prescribed temperature regime. As a result, residents of apartment buildings not only freeze, but are also forced to overpay for services of inadequate quality.
Let's look at ways to influence management company.
Optimal temperature for humans
During the research, the most acceptable living conditions for humans were determined. Normal temperature in the apartment should be in the range from 21 to 25 degrees.
Such a large scatter is explained by:
- individual characteristics of the body;
- the age of the person;
- his way of life;
- floor.
The research results formed the basis for the adopted technical standards.
Current standards for permissible temperature in the home
Requirements for temperature conditions in housing are established in GOST R 51617-2000. This document provides differentiated indicators, taking into account the season and purpose of the premises in the apartment. Acceptable The normal temperature in an apartment during the heating season is in the range from 18 to 25 degrees.
Regarding individual parts of apartments and premises common use The following indicators have been established:
- for a living room from 18 to 24 degrees;
- for the bathroom at least 24 - 26 degrees;
- for the kitchen from 18 to 19 degrees (this is explained by the heating devices located on it);
- for children's rooms the norm is from 21 to 24 degrees (a higher temperature is optimal for infants, and closer to the lower limit for older children);
- for other rooms in the apartment the norm is within 18 – 22 degrees;
- for landings from 14 to 20 degrees;
- for the corridor between apartments from 16 to 22 degrees.
The air temperature in the apartment can deviate from the norm by no more than 3 degrees. For living rooms, discrepancies are only allowed from midnight to 5 am.
If the apartment is corner, then the minimum temperature level increases by 2 degrees, since the room has 2 walls facing the street.
Battery operating parameters and procedure for measuring their temperature
To determine compliance with the legally permissible temperature in the apartment during winter, it is necessary to check the operation of the batteries. They should be periodically monitored to establish the validity of housing and communal services tariffs.
Regulations governing minimum temperature radiators are not provided. In this case, the maximum limit for heating batteries is set, defined in SNiP 41-01-2003.
- If the heating system is two-pipe, then the radiator should not heat up above 95 degrees.
- When the system is single pipe, the limit is 115 degrees.
To establish deviations from the permissible temperature norm and achieve recalculation, it is necessary to measure the temperature of the radiators using one of the following methods:
- applying standard electronic thermometer to the surface of the battery (in this case it is necessary to add no more than 2 degrees to the readings);
- using a heat meter that senses infrared radiation;
- using an alcohol-type thermometer (it must be isolated from the environment when taking measurements).
Any of the devices used must have a certificate and passport, which contains the rules of use and error characteristics.
Measuring the temperature in the apartment
Violations can be detected by recording the temperature in the apartment. Measurements should be carried out observing a number of rules:
- It is necessary to record the temperature on a cloudy day so that the sun does not heat the air;
- if doors, windows or walls are not airtight, then it is necessary to limit the air flow;
- measurements are carried out in 2 rooms (except for apartments with a single living space);
- the temperature is fixed at a distance of at least half a meter from the outer wall and heating devices and not lower than 60 cm from the floor;
- as when establishing compliance with the permissible temperature of a battery in an apartment, you should use a certified device that has a passport.
Watch the video about temperature standards:
Actions when deviations are detected
If you discover that the temperature in your home does not comply with current standards, you must contact the management company. She must send a team to establish the causes of the lack of heat.
If the source of the problem is not found, then you need to contact the housing and communal services operator with a request to take measurements. The organization will carry out an inspection and draw up a report in which it will record the evidence received. Before signing the document, you should familiarize yourself with the equipment used and test results.
The next step will be to send a report and a claim to eliminate the detected problems and recalculate the cost of services already provided.
If the management company refuses to comply with the requirements, it is necessary to go to court. To do this, it is necessary to collect all copies of documents (acts, statements and claims) exchanged between the citizen and the housing and communal services operator.
The plaintiff has the right to demand a reduction in the cost of services provided by 0.15% for each hour of the period when permissible norm temperature was not maintained. Practice shows that it is possible to achieve the return of overpaid services only by initiating legal proceedings.
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If you don’t know what the air temperature in an apartment should be in winter, how to measure it and increase it, then this article is for you.
Normal temperature in the apartment
| Name of premises | Air temperature, C | Resulting temperature, C | Air speed, m/s |
|
| Cold season |
||||
| 18-24 | 17-23 | |||
| The same, in the areas of the coldest five-day period (minus 31 degrees and below) | 20-24 | 19-23 | ||
| Kitchen | 18-26 | 17-25 | n/n* | |
| Toilet | 18-26 | 17-25 | n/n | |
| Bathroom, combined toilet | 18-26 | 17-26 | n/n | |
| Inter-apartment corridor | 16-22 | 15-21 | ||
| Lobby, staircase | 14-20 | 13-19 | n/n | |
| Storerooms | 12-22 | 11-21 | n/n | n/n |
| Warm period of the year |
||||
| Living room | 20-28 | 18-27 | ||
- In ordinary rooms - 18 degrees.
- IN corner rooms- 20 degrees.
- In the bathroom - 25 degrees.
- Battery temperature is a maximum of 35 degrees.
It is allowed that the apartment may be warmer than the established norm by 4 degrees and colder by 3. Temperature fluctuations over a larger interval at night are also allowed.
The apartment may not be heated in winter for a maximum of 24 hours per month. However, no more than 16 hours at a time. If this condition is not met, then for every extra hour residents must pay less for heating.
If any of the above does not correspond to the norm, then you can complain to the DEZ, HOA or management company. If they do not take action, then you need to complain to the city branch of the State Housing Inspectorate. In this case there is hotline and online application form. However, first you need to prove that the low temperature in the apartment is due to the fault of the management companies. And to prove this, it is necessary to carry out measurements.
Infrared thermometers are usually used for this. They must be registered and have a certificate. Otherwise, the data will not be taken into account.
To measure temperatures with an infrared thermometer, you need to install a massive object a little more than one meter high in a place that is the center of two planes:
- The 1st plane is half a meter away from the battery and the outer wall
- 2nd plane - intersection of room diagonals
The picture shows this place more clearly.
After placing a massive object in the desired place, wait a while for it to take on the temperature of the room. Then point the beam of the infrared thermometer at it (the beam should be at a height of 1 meter from the floor).
You need to measure the temperature in this way at least three times. The time between approaches should not be less than 5 minutes. Then the average temperature value is calculated.
If the apartment has several rooms, then measurements are taken in the room with the largest area.
If the average temperature of the measurements corresponds to the norm, then you will not be able to make a claim to the management company. Just as you cannot do this if the temperature is below normal and there are heat leaks. By the way, by eliminating heat leaks, you will increase the temperature in the apartment by at least 3-5 degrees.
How to increase the temperature in the apartment and eliminate heat leaks
Seal cracks in windows and doors. If the balcony is not glazed, then insulate the door leading to it. This is discussed in more detail in the articles:
- Insulate an apartment and save 3-10 thousand rubles on electricity
Other leak locations can be detected using thermal imaging.
If you have fixed the leaks, but the apartment is still cold, you should pay attention to the heating radiators. Their surface should have the same temperature (but not - one end is warmer than the other). Also, the riser with the battery should be approximately the same temperature.
If this is not the case, then there may be several reasons:
- heating system worn out at home
- any radiator is faulty
- you yourself limited the temperature on the thermostat
In the first two cases, you again need to contact the HOA or management company. However, you will have to wait until the end of the heating season to replace the batteries.
If you decide to start renovations in winter, then you don’t have to wait for the end of the heating season. Entrust it to us, and we will also replace the heating system.
When it comes to payment utilities, many residents of apartment buildings complain that in winter the temperature in their apartments did not meet the standards. As a result, consumers have to overpay for services that they did not receive in full.
This means that the temperature of the coolant in the heating radiators was below normal. To understand this issue, it is necessary to consider the standards that have been developed government agencies, valid throughout Russia during the winter season.
The heating season begins in autumn, when the air temperature outside the window drops below +8 °C. But this takes into account the fact that this indicator lasts for at least five days.
If an abrupt change occurs, for example, two days +5 °C, one day +10 °C, the next two days +7 °C, then the heating in apartment buildings does not turn on. Switching off occurs when the thermometer rises above +8 °C. The same norms apply with a five-day condition.
Standards
Heating standards are legalized, that is, violation of them is subject to administrative or criminal punishment. All of them are determined by SNiPs, which is the law for public utilities. So, here is a list of the basic standards in force for residential and non-residential premises in apartment buildings:
- +18 °C in the living areas of the apartment;
- if the apartment is corner, then +20 °C;
- in the kitchen the temperature should be at least +18 °C;
- in the bathroom +25 °C;
- on staircase and in the lobby (if such a room is present) not lower than +16 °C;
- in the elevator temperature norm+5 °C;
- in the attic and basement +4°C.
How to take measurements correctly?
The air temperature inside residential premises of apartment buildings is measured in certain places. From external walls at a distance of 1.0 m, from the floor at a height of 1.5 m. Control measurements are taken every hour during the day. In this case, it is the temperature decrease from the standard that is taken into account. If this fact is confirmed, then apartment residents can pay 0.15% less for services.
In this case, a report of the measurements taken must be drawn up, one copy of which remains in the hands of the residents. Please note that utility workers will correct all shortcomings within a week, so do not disturb them and remind them every day.
There is one more point that needs to be paid attention to. If the temperature in the heating radiators was below normal by 3 °C during the day and by 5 °C at night, then the management company must recalculate utilities.
By the way, the amount of rent reduction will depend on the size of the apartment. And the higher it is, the less you have to pay.
There is another standard on which the quality and comfort of living in an apartment depends multi-storey building– frequency of air exchange. That is, there are certain indicators that are based on sanitary and hygienic standards that require the air in the apartment to be constantly changed.
In residential premises with an area of 18-20 m², the air exchange should be 3 m³/h per person square meter. In kitchens this figure is 60 m³/h, if it has hob with two burners. If a three-burner stove is used, then 75 m³/h, and a four-burner stove – 90 m³/h.
In the bathroom, this indicator will depend entirely on its area. For example, an area of 25 m² – air exchange rate is 25 m³/h. If the same area, but in the bathroom, then 50 m³/h. The toilet has 25 m³/h with an area of 16 m².
These two standards are related. You cannot ensure that the temperature in the apartment meets the standards, and air exchange is not taken into account. Or vice versa. Everything must be taken into account comprehensively. Only then will it be possible to talk about comfortable conditions accommodation.
How to measure the coolant temperature?
Maybe not everyone knows, but the hot water that flows from the tap in the hot water supply system is the coolant flowing through the heating pipes.
Easy way
Therefore, if you want to check its temperature yourself, just use a thermometer to measure hot water poured, for example, into a glass.
Her temperature limits: 50-70 °C. There may be deviations, but only upward, and only by 4 degrees.
Measuring the heating level of heating devices
There are other ways to measure temperature limits. To do this, you will have to measure this indicator at pipes or heating radiators. This can be done with an infrared pyrometer thermometer or a regular alcohol thermometer. In the second case, the measuring device is applied to a pipe or battery and covered with insulation.
Measurements using an electric thermometer
There is a more complex measuring device - an electric thermometer.
Its thermocouples are applied to the plane of a pipe or radiator, they are secured and measurements are taken, including the “Measure temperature” function.
Instrument corrections
Typically, each device has its own deviation scale. For example, for alcohol - up to 2 °C, for infrared - 0.5 °C. Therefore, after all measurements have been taken, it is necessary to add 1-2 °C to the resulting digital indicator.
What to do next?
If the result of the measurements is not satisfactory to you, and you think that the temperature of the coolant does not correspond to the norm, then you need to write a statement to the management company. A commission should come from her and make their measurements. All their actions must comply with the rules of GOST 30494-90 “Control Methods”. In this case, employees must use a measuring device that has been registered and has a quality certificate.
The device must meet certain technical characteristics:
- temperature range from +5 °C to +40 °C;
- measurement error – 0.1 °C.
Temperature dependence
There is a certain dependence of the air temperature inside residential premises on the air temperature outside the window. This dependence determines the supply of coolant with a certain heating level. During the heating season, this indicator may change daily, or may not change for months.
In 2003, Gosstroy issued a decree that precisely defined the temperature parameters of the coolant. Please note that they are only taken into account for bottom hot water supply. Several positions:
- air temperature outside +5 °C, in the supply circuit of the heating system +50 °C, in the return circuit +39 °C;
- outdoors 0 °C, supply +65 °C, return +48 °C;
- outside –5°C, supply +78°C, return +56°C.
Dependency on system type
And one more point that determines the temperature regime. If in apartment building If a two-pipe heating system is installed, the coolant temperature should be +95 °C.
If the system is single-pipe, then the norm is increased to +105 °C. But keep in mind that in corner apartments the air temperature will still be lower.
