Sealing water meters: procedure, what to do if the seal is broken

The procedure for putting into operation an individual utility meter, that is, accepting it for calculations, is described in Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated May 6, 2011 No. 354. Let's talk about who and how accepts for commercial accounting and seals a new meter, and why this is important do it right.

When does an individual metering device begin to operate?
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Is it necessary to seal meters?

The problem of saving water resources is very acute at the moment; it is necessary to properly use the available natural reserves. Federal Law No. 261 “On Energy Saving” dated November 23, 2009 Art. 13 (as amended on July 29, 2017) and RF Government Decree No. 776 recommend that all co-owners of housing install water meters, otherwise utility bills are calculated with an increasing factor (clause 42 of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354 as amended on March 27, 2018).

Installing water meters significantly reduces the amount of payments and allows you to regulate resource consumption. According to RF PP No. 354, clause 81(8), commissioning of a water meter is accompanied by sealing. If there is no seal, then the readings are considered invalid and payment is calculated using increasing factors.

When is it necessary to seal an IPU?

Unlike an electricity meter, the water meter is located in a closed transparent case that cannot be removed, otherwise the control plastic ring will be damaged. In addition, modern cold and hot water meters are equipped with an anti-magnetic sticker. Such a seal responds to attempts to change the readings by exposure to electromagnetic waves (the substance spreads in a transparent capsule). If a sticker is accidentally or intentionally torn off, the word “Open” will appear on the surface when it is put back in place.

On a note! The presence of an antimagnetic element slightly affects the cost of the device, but eliminates any claims from the resource supplying organization in terms of deliberate influence on the device.

The final sealing of the water meter is carried out using a plastic numbered part. To do this, an employee of the relevant organization is called. The work does not directly affect the main part of the device, except for mechanisms without an anti-magnetic sticker. Sealing occurs between two control nuts, which serve to connect the device to the supply system.

This procedure is necessary in the following cases:

Initial commissioning of a water meter in newly built private and apartment buildings.
Completion of the period of use or return of the mechanism from a certified inspection. For cold water IPU, the period after the first verification is 6 years, for hot water – 4 years. If the DHW device is installed on cold water pipes, then the period is calculated based on the data specified in the commissioning certificate.
Meter failure. The fact of damage is detected independently or during inspection by regulatory organizations.
Replacement of valves and pipes (if work cannot be carried out without removing the device). This is especially true if the inlet ball valve fails.
An emergency situation that required the rapid dismantling of the IPU or pipes.
Cleaning filter clogged. If the supplied water contains coarse impurities, the mesh installed at the inlet gradually becomes clogged. To clean, you will need to remove the mechanism.
Damage to the wire used to seal the device.

To avoid problems, you need to take into account the basic rule, which involves maintaining the integrity of the element used to seal the mechanism.

In case of any intervention in the operation of the water supply system, which entails complete or partial dismantling of the water meter, it is necessary to reseal the meter

HVS

If there is a gas boiler or water heater in the house, then only cold water is supplied. In this case, only one water meter needs to be sealed. If there is a hot water supply, it is necessary to install a pair of meters, each of which must have a seal.

The meter for hot water is sealed in the same way as for cold water. There are no fundamental differences in installing a seal. The technician seals the water meter and issues the appropriate papers containing all the necessary data.

Who should seal the water meter?

To seal a meter, you need a license; you must contact the following organizations:

Management company or homeowners association. When charging for the supplied water resources, it is these structures that carry out the sealing. Exceptions are situations where the owners of an apartment building or cooperative at a general meeting agreed on direct interaction with the supplying organization.
MUP "Vodokanal" or MUP "Water Supply Service" (depending on the region). If the company acts as a resource supplier, then it is the company that is responsible for resealing.

In accordance with clause 81(8) of the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354, the installation of seals is carried out by a representative of the utility service provider who has access. In some regions, the presence of an employee of the resource supply organization is also required.

What happens if the seal is broken?

The law provides for liability for damage to the seal on the water meter:

Deliberate violation of the seal is fraught with a warning or a fine. Its amount varies between 100-300 rubles. for consumers or 300-500 rubles. for legal entities.
If illegal withdrawal of water resources is recorded, the homeowner faces liability under Art. 7 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. The size of the fine depends on the volume of resource theft. According to the law, a fine is imposed in the amount of five times the amount seized. Administrative arrest for up to 15 days or correctional labor for up to 10-50 hours is possible. In case of large volumes of theft exceeding 2.5 thousand rubles, criminal liability arises under Art. 158 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Violation of the seal will result in fines.
The absence or damage of the seal is the basis for accounting for water consumption in accordance with current utility tariffs calculated for all days of illegal use of resources. If the date of the seal failure is unknown, the reference period is determined from the moment of the last water meter verification service.

Procedure

Process diagram:

A water meter is purchased and installed. Self-installation is allowed provided all the details are followed.
An application for re-sealing is submitted. It is advisable to indicate the expected installation date.
An invited employee will check the correct installation of the meter and documentation.
The device must be sealed with a special plastic element or a lead seal. It is imperative that the wire passes through the holes of the two screw-on nuts.
An act is drawn up. The document indicates the date, full name and address of the subscriber, the name and position of the representative, the purpose of the survey, installation location, number, verification date, service life, cubic capacity of the water meter, seals for meters. If there is an old device, its parameters are overwritten. All indicators are checked and confirmed by signature.

The act must be drawn up in two copies, one remains with the owner. Most often, the contractor’s employee independently transfers documents to the resource supply organization.

Important! If after a month the line indicating the water meter number in the receipt has not changed, then you need to immediately contact the municipal unitary enterprise.

Principle of operation

If an anti-magnetic device is installed on the flow meter, then when a neodymium magnet is brought to it, the indicator turns black. If a drawing is used as an indicator, then when it is exposed to a magnet, its configuration changes.

If the seal-sticker is equipped with a capsule containing a substance, then when it is exposed to a magnetic field, a chemical substance spills over its entire surface. On a number of products, when attempting to open them, the corresponding inscription begins to appear.

Rotary seals are also equipped with anti-magnetic protection. On their body there is an indicator with two triangles. When a magnet is applied to the water meter, the figure disappears from the indicator . This indicates interference with the operation of the device.

Lead and plastic seals are not equipped with antimagnetic protection. They are only fixed on water meters to protect them from opening.

How to apply

Many organizations accept requests for initial or re-sealing by telephone, which is most often due to the presence of previously issued replacement certificates. But it is necessary to take into account that this procedure will not allow you to prove the fact of the application in case of problems, so it is better to submit the application in writing (based on clause 81 of the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354 as amended on March 27, 2018).

Standard form:

Information about the owner of the premises. Full name, address, passport details, phone number.
Date of installation of the water meter.
Parameters and placement point of the IPU.
Although the RF PP requires information about the organization that performed the work, this point can be skipped. The fact is that this rule applies to meters, the installation of which requires mandatory licensing or certification.
Accurate readings.
Date of next verification.
A copy of the mechanism’s passport or document confirming the inspection in a special laboratory.

The application must be submitted to the management company, HOA or municipal unitary enterprise; the second copy with the date and initials of the receiving person remains with the owner. If it is necessary to change a device with an expiring service life, then the implementing organizations notify the subscriber in advance, indicating the period during which a new meter needs to be installed and the sealing dates.

What determines which variety will be installed?

What type of device will be installed on water meters depends on the management company.

The law gives it the authority to install anti-magnetic seals on consumers' water meters. This is recorded in paragraphs. “g(1)” clause 32 of the government decree of May 6, 2011, number 354.

The management company has the right to install anti-magnetic devices on water meters at its discretion with mandatory notification of residents.

The management company takes such measures depending on the frequency of detection of unauthorized interference in the operation of water meters by consumers in individual houses. In most cases, management companies install standard plastic and lead seals on meters in apartments.

Duration of the procedure

Time intervals are also specified in RF PP No. 354, paragraph 81-81(2):

The device is put into operation no later than the month following the installation date.
After receiving the application, the contractor can agree on a new deadline. For this purpose, 3 days are given from the moment the notification is accepted. The postponement cannot be more than 15 days from the original date.
If the contractor does not appear at the agreed time, then the device is considered to be put into operation from the moment the application is accepted. Although the law allows the use of IPU without a seal, it is necessary to contact the regulatory authorities so that the work is completed.

The water meter may not be put into operation if violations of the installation technology or non-compliance of the device with standards are discovered.

In what case do you need to pay?

Existing legislation stipulates that sealing is performed free of charge if a new device is installed or a certified verification of water meters has been carried out.

Paid sealing is possible in the following cases:

If the element is damaged due to the transfer of the connection point. The exception is the reconstruction of communications, which is carried out by the management company or HOA. But if the management organization does not have the right to put a seal, then before tearing off the old one, it is better to coordinate the actions.
If the wire has rotted and the locking device has come off. Many performers restore this element only for money, since it is the consumer who is responsible for the safety of the meter. In such a situation, it is necessary that when carrying out control checks, the owner himself inspects the seal in advance and points out possible violations that have arisen due to the failure of the wire. The sealing element may fall off due to the fact that the contractor used low-quality and unsuitable fixing material.
If the seal is damaged. Exceptions are the actions of employees of a management company, homeowners association or resource supply organization.

Attention! The element may fly off due to the fault of pets, so it is necessary to limit the area of their influence.

Where to contact?

Only organizations that have a license to carry out this type of activity are granted the right to seal IPU.

For sealing, in most cases, you must contact the subscriber department of the water utility , the management company, the housing office or the homeowners association, if you have a meter maintenance agreement.

A seal by someone who is not licensed is illegal and is considered the same as not having a seal.

Important! Before starting work, it makes sense to make sure that the license of the representatives of the organization who came to seal the meter at the request of the subscriber has not expired.

Even more information about who seals meters can be found here.