How has the procedure for checking meters changed?

Author of the article

Yulia Kuprina

Certified lawyer. Total work experience in the specialty is 13 years.

Each cold and hot water meter is equipped with a certificate from the manufacturer, which confirms its serviceability. This information is valid during the verification interval. Delay in checking the water meter means that the device automatically becomes faulty, and its readings cannot be taken into account when charging fees.

In 2021, from April 6 to December 31, due to coronavirus, a moratorium on checking all household meters was announced. This means that it was possible not to check the instruments and still pay according to their readings. The moratorium ends in 2021. We will figure out what to do if the device did not have time to pass the test before this date, and it is overdue.

Now the only legally significant confirmation of the results of verification of household meters is an entry in the electronic register of Rosstandart. The performer of metrological work must transfer information to the Federal Information Fund for Ensuring the Uniformity of Measurements (FSIS "Arshin") - without this record, the verification results will not be valid.

Accredited organizations have previously entered data on meter verification into the federal information fund. But then this information was of a clarifying nature; the main document was paper certificates.

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Accredited legal entities and individual entrepreneurs must provide information within two months from the date of verification. This is the maximum period; the actual terms are specified in the contract with the customer. The head of Rosstandart, Alexey Abramov , explained in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta that a long period for transferring data to the register is established for cases when metrological work is carried out at industrial enterprises. When checking citizens' meters, an entry in the register can be made on the spot. In addition, the owner of the metering device has the right to demand that the verifier make an entry in the register with him, Abramov notes.

Determining the accuracy of readings

When contacting the water utility, you must indicate the desired verification method.

There are two methods for checking water meters:

With dismantling of measuring equipment.
Without removing water meters, at home.

The first method is inconvenient and is rarely used in practice, since laboratory tests of a water meter last from 1 to 4 weeks. Then the payment amounts are calculated based on the average value of the last 6 months, and not on the actual basis.

In addition, dismantling the device requires calling a plumber. After the technician decides that the device is working properly, it must be installed and sealed.

The second method is more convenient because it does not involve plumbing work. Diagnostics lasts less than an hour by connecting testing equipment. Residents do not have to pay for water supply according to average values.

Diagnosis of water meters occurs using a calibration station, which takes into account the volume of liquid passing through it. If any malfunctions are detected, the device will have to be replaced with a new one.

Will they no longer issue paper verification certificates?

Paper certificates will continue to be issued at the request of the customer, but now they are for reference only. Also, at the request of the meter owner, the verifier can apply a verification mark to the metering device, make an entry about the verification in the passport (form) of the meter, or issue a notice that the device is unsuitable for use.

Paper meter verification certificates issued before September 24, 2021 will continue to be valid until the end of the verification interval.

Current drafting requirements

The legislation does not regulate a standard template for an act of acceptance of services provided for testing IPU, and each specialized company develops its own document form.

The annex to the contract, indicating the completion of testing of an individual metering device, must necessarily contain the following information:

The serial number of the application indicating information about the agreement to which it relates and the date of its conclusion.
Title of the document.
City and date of compilation.
Full indication of the parties, namely the data of the customer and the contractor under the main agreement, to which the act is attached.
A brief summary of the subject of the main contract, namely the implementation of work on organizing metrological verification.
Display of information regarding the installation location of an individual metering device, which is handed over to the contractor for verification.
A table indicating the characteristics of the device being verified: type, serial number, result of the test (pass/fail), certificate number, date of the next verification, meter readings at the time of metrological tests.
Indication of methods used in the process of testing metering devices.
The presence or absence of claims from the parties regarding the service provided.
Date and signature of the parties.

The application is an integral part of the contract, and the customer’s obligations are considered fulfilled in full at the moment of signing this document.

The document is drawn up in 3 copies, one for:

Customer.
Performer.
Registration with a management company or MFC.

All copies have the same legal force.

Upon completion of the procedure and registration of the application for the work performed, you should check whether the marks are placed in the IPU passport . If it is not there, then you need to request the preparation of a duplicate or form, supported by an imprint of the verification stamp.

How to check the record of meter verification results?

Citizens have access to the Rosstandart register and can check whether a record of meter verification has been made. Also, device owners can track on the portal the deadlines for the next inspection.

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To obtain this information, you need to go to the FSIS “Arshin” website and select the “Verification” module. Next, you will need to indicate the factory/inventory number of the meter in the search bar.

Call a technician to your home

By agreement between the homeowner and the contractor, a verification date is set. Before connecting the equipment, a service agreement is concluded in two copies.

Popular control equipment are the following devices: VPU Energo M , UPSG 3PM , Vodouchet 2M . Since the verification of water meters will take place at home, it is worth knowing how it is carried out:

The inlet hose of the portable installation is connected to a threaded mixer, and the other end is connected to a control device. The outlet hose is installed in the bathtub or sink drain.
Using a valve, the flow of water is limited and the values indicated on the device are recorded. The technician must ensure that the numbers on the counting mechanism do not change when the tap is closed.
Next, the tap opens and 6 liters of water flows through the fixing device. The volume of water passing through the reference controller is compared with the readings on the meter.

Based on the results, the error of the measuring equipment is determined and if the indicator does not go beyond the norm, the master allows the operation of the water meter.

The inspection can be carried out by companies that have state accreditation. Therefore, a company representative, before starting work, must provide the owner with the necessary documentation

Notes on the possibility of further use are included in the technical passport of the water metering device.

Based on the results of checking the meters, the metrology engineer must issue the following documentation:

Agreement on performance of services.
Certificate of completed verification.
Technical passport with a note indicating the possibility of using the meter.
Certificate of conformity certifying the measurement accuracy of the device.
Copies of the company's title documents.
Check.

If a significant error is detected, the technician will refuse certification and offer to replace the individual metering device with a new one. You can refuse to install a new meter, then payment will be calculated taking into account the regional average values.

The duration of use of water measuring instruments is limited to 10-14 years. Some water meters continue to operate smoothly even after 20 years of operation.

If it is necessary to replace the SGV, it is recommended to install a flow meter with a temperature sensor. Then water with a temperature below 40 degrees will be charged at the price of cold water

Why did they change the procedure for checking meters?

According to Alexey Abramov, securing the priority of electronic verification records over paper certificates will simplify the registration of devices and make the market transparent. It will be easier for the consumer to verify the legality of the requirements for the next meter verification. Previously, the head of Rosstandart stated in an interview with TASS that the cost of checking home meters will not increase due to the introduction of new rules.

In the spring of 2021, due to the pandemic, a moratorium on checking household meters was introduced. Until the end of the year, resource supply and management companies are required to accept readings from metering devices whose verification period has expired. At the same time, fines, penalties or interest cannot be collected from citizens.

Legislative regulation of verifications

All issues of installation, inspection and commissioning of indoor water meters are regulated by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354 dated 05/06/2011 with the latest amendments. According to it, the owner of the property is solely responsible for the functionality of the water meters in the apartment.

Any measuring device does not last forever. Gradually, the accuracy of his measurements begins to decline. And here it doesn’t matter whether it’s a household meter, a common household device, or laboratory equipment.

In all cases, according to the current Russian legislation, such technical means are subject to certification and regular verification (testing) to ensure correct operation.

If there are no meters for the volume of water consumed, then the service is calculated according to consumption standards, which are greatly inflated. Without water meters you often have to pay two or three times more

A decrease in the measurement accuracy of water meters occurs due to:

breakdowns and wear of internal elements - the impeller and counting mechanism;
water of poor quality with a high content of salts and metals;
contamination getting into the pipes - sand, rust, etc.;
damage to the device as a result of external mechanical influences;
drying out of the mechanisms inside due to a prolonged shutdown of water supply;
use of low-quality or defective parts in the production of the device.

There are many factors influencing the accuracy of measurements. Even the presence of a magnet next to the meter affects its correct functioning. However, the law requires verification to be carried out only after the expiration of the inter-verification service life of the water meter established by the manufacturer.

At the same time, if the water meter has completely stopped working, has cracks in the body or leaks, then it should be replaced immediately. You cannot wait until the next test according to the technical passport.

If a foreman from the housing office comes and sees a broken metering device, then fines and charges will follow in the receipt, not based on consumption, but according to standards.

Each water meter has its own calibration interval. Domestic appliances for hot water are usually designed for 4 years, and analogues for cold water are designed for 6 years. However, you can also find Russian and imported models on sale with periods between tests of up to 15 years

The water meter manufacturer sets the calibration interval. The law regulates only the requirement that the metering device is in good working order. As long as it is in good working order, the calculation of water consumption is based on it.

But if the meter is broken or the period specified in the technical passport has expired since the last test, then the management company or HOA begins to charge for the resource according to the standards.

The consumption rate for hot water supply in the Russian Federation is set at 4.75, and for cold water - 6.93 cubic meters per person/month. But in reality, each person living in an apartment usually consumes about 1–3 cubic meters of hot and cold water combined during the specified period.

The actual overpayment of the tariff ends up being two to three times. And so on every month. There are reasons to install a meter and maintain it in good condition.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The method of checking the device without removing it takes less than an hour and is mandatory for all owners of the IPU:

How water meters are checked when calling a technician to your home:

Checking meters without removing them saves money and time for the owner of the devices. After all, while the meter is in the metrology and standardization laboratory, with the removable verification method, payment is calculated based on the average value, and not on the actual basis.

Tell us about how you tested the flow meter at your home without removing the device from the water supply. It is possible that you have information that will be useful to site visitors. Please write comments in the block below, ask questions, post photos on the topic of the article.

Pros and cons of home diagnostics

The main advantage of checking at home is saving time and money on removing, installing and sealing the device.

Checking a water meter in a metrology service laboratory can take 1-4 weeks, depending on the workload of the technicians. Payments for water supply these days are made based on average indicators, and not on actual basis. When ordering a service at home, verification lasts 20-40 minutes, which does not affect the monthly payment.

In houses with worn-out sewerage and plumbing systems, there is a risk of compromising the integrity of the units, so the removal and installation of devices can lead to costs for further plumbing repairs.

The minimum cost for meter diagnostics is 500 rubles, the maximum does not exceed 1000, and depends on the region of residence. The price is low compared to the fact that in a year of distorted operation of the device the owner can lose up to 1 thousand rubles.

Firms provide low tariffs for plumbing services to preferential categories of citizens. Therefore, it is better to take the opportunity to carry out a home inspection rather than deal with issues of dismantling/installing devices

The disadvantages of “home” verification include the fact that a detailed assessment of the device is impossible, and after a short period of time it may become unusable. Along with this, if a malfunction of the meter is detected, money will have to be paid for the procedure performed.

Consequences of delay

If the consumer is late in periodically checking the water meter, then the device is considered out of order. Starting from the expiration of the verification interval or from the billing period when this event occurred, the consumer will be charged utility bills at the average monthly value.

This will happen over a 3 month period. This requirement is fixed in paragraphs. “a” clause 59 of Resolution No. 354.

In the future, if the owner of the flow meter does not verify it, he will be charged utility bills for water according to the standard. Their size will be significantly higher.

Regulatory framework for instrument verification

The law regulating the concept of verification of metering devices is Federal Law No. 102 . Verification, according to him, is a series of actions by which the serviceability of the device is determined, its compliance with metrological requirements and its ability to correctly show the results of consumed water.

There is also a separate by-law regulatory act regulating verification. This is Government Decree No. 354, which states the following:

In the absence of verification data, consumption readings will be calculated according to the standards.
Basic information about the timing and requirements for verification of the device is contained in its technical data sheet.

The property owner is fully responsible for the functionality of the meters in the apartment . Testing methods and requirements for the device are also recorded in GOST 8.156-83 and MI 1592-99.

Even if the device still shows reliable information about water consumption, and its calibration interval has ended, such data cannot be accepted for accounting according to the law. Such a device must be repaired or replaced if faults are found.

The calibration interval of water metering devices is individual for each specific meter.

Service life of meters according to GOST

The established frequency of verification of water meters is considered quite sufficient to promptly identify not only errors in the functioning of the measuring and testing device. GOST 12.2.003-91, which regulates equipment safety standards, establishes the need for compliance in other parameters:

security;
reliability;
environmental friendliness;
ergonomics.

How long a particular metering device will last depends on various factors. According to Russian GOST R 50601-93, the average service life is 12 years. This will be the case if the quality of the incoming water meets the standards proposed by GOST 2874-82.

Average numbers are deceiving, so when installing a test instrument, you should be curious about more than just the warranty period. It is equal to one and a half years. Much more attention should be paid to what data is provided in the technical specifications of the model.

In practice, Russian metering devices (with their very moderate cost) have a five-year service life. For many times more expensive imported devices, it reaches fifteen years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RobeatYCNqM

What to do if you missed the control deadline?

In this case, it is recommended to proceed according to the following plan:

Contact the management company that maintains the house.
This is done orally or in writing. The consumer can choose the company that will carry out the verification work. To do this, he personally goes to the selected organization and enters into an agreement with it. It is important to check whether such companies have accreditation certificates. Only the presence of this document confirms their right to conduct such operations. The validity of the certificate is checked through the website of the Federal Agency for Accreditation.
Wait for a specialist from the management company or another selected organization to carry out verification work.
Based on the results of the measurements taken, obtain a certificate from a specialist.
It will confirm the successful completion of the verification procedure. If the verification fails, the specialist issues an order to the consumer regarding the need to replace the flow meter.
Receive a water meter verification report from a specialist and sign it in 2 copies.
Send one copy of the act to the resource supplying organization. He will confirm the successful completion of the procedure.
If the water meter needs to be replaced based on the results of verification activities, then a specialist from the management company is additionally invited to dismantle the old device and install a new one. After this, the specialist seals it and draws up a report. It must be signed by both the specialist and the consumer. One copy of the act is sent to the resource supply company.

After completing the verification work, it is necessary to draw up an application for recalculation. It is written in free form.

It records the following information:

The management company where the document is sent, its location;
Full name and address of the person applying;
explanation of the reason for the delay in verification;
an indication that the procedure was carried out (the organization and the date of the verification are written);
please recalculate with reference to clause 61 of the Government Decree dated May 6, 2011, number 354.

Attention. The application must be signed. It must also contain the date on which it was compiled. It is recommended to attach documents confirming the fact that the flow meter has been verified. These are copies of the certificate and the certificate of completion of the procedure.

Early failure of devices

It is necessary to reinstall the old flow meter with a new one earlier than the warranty and calibration interval in the following cases:

improper installation of the device;
improper operation;
violation of the integrity of the flow meter body;
poor water quality;
fixing the meter to a clogged pipeline;
carrying out welding work on the pipe where the device was previously fixed;
lack of a flow filter in front of the flow meter;
increased pressure and temperature of water in pipes.

Often the reason for early replacement of water meters is their improper transportation. also negatively affects the service life of devices .