It is difficult to imagine an apartment without gas today. Blue fuel guarantees heat and the availability of hot water in the house. However, you must agree that in addition to the benefits of civilization, gas is fraught with danger.
Even a minor leak can lead to tragedy. The only way to prevent an emergency is to regularly check the gas in the apartment, as well as competent maintenance of gas equipment and strict adherence to operating rules.
We will tell you how often gas equipment should be inspected, what the responsibilities of the inspection service are, what rights the consumer has, and how much this service costs. You will also learn everything about the rights and responsibilities of subscribers and whether it is possible to prevent gas workers from entering the apartment.
Changing the frequency of technical inspection of civil defense
Most domestic apartments are equipped with gas stoves, and in houses up to five floors high, housing is also equipped with water heaters or floor-standing boilers. In Soviet times, maintenance of gas processing equipment was carried out free of charge. This scheme was maintained in Russia until 2006.
Later, a separate tariff was allocated for maintenance (MOT) of gas equipment, which was established on the basis of an agreement with residents. The innovation caused a negative reaction from users who did not want to pay for the imposed services.
As a result, no contracts were concluded, and the lack of documents led to the fact that practically no preventive inspection of gas equipment was carried out.
In 2021, unscheduled inspections of gas equipment (gas equipment) began to be carried out on an emergency basis. Such measures are caused by a series of domestic gas explosions in the country and increasing cases of leaks
On September 20, 2021, changes were made to the rules for the use of gas (resolution dated September 9, 2017 No. 1091). One of the most important changes concerned the frequency of civil defense inspections in houses and apartments.
If previously a scheduled inspection of civil defense was carried out once every three years, now, according to the appendix to Rules No. 410, the inspection must be carried out annually. As a result, the cost of services has increased in proportion to the frequency of technical inspection of gas equipment.
According to Article 9.23 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, for avoiding signing a contract for maintenance and repair of in-house and intra-apartment gas equipment, or refusing access to the premises of representatives of the control service to carry out maintenance, an administrative fine of 1,000 to 30,000 rubles is imposed.
In the absence of documentation confirming the conclusion of an agreement for the supply of fuel and maintenance of gas units, the supplier is authorized to shut off the gas supply.
Concluding an agreement is the responsibility of the subscriber. Without a contract, maintenance is not carried out, which can lead to leaks, accidents, explosions and other disasters
If gas equipment has not passed maintenance, gas supply is prohibited. The resumption of fuel supply occurs after signing a contract for technical inspection of the civil waste. But you will have to pay to reconnect.
What is included in the contract?
The civil engineering maintenance contract specifies:
- basic criteria for the safe operation of gas devices;
- list of works and their cost;
- responsibilities of the inspection company.
Additional information displayed in the contract:
- subscriber information;
- address of the service facility;
- list of civil defense in the apartment;
- information about the company that carries out inspection and repair of civil defense;
- amount and deadline for payment of fees for services provided;
- date of signing.
A document for servicing the total property of residents is concluded by a partnership or cooperative. According to the contract, the gas pipeline on the facade of the building and the internal gas pipe are checked.
The owner of the property enters into an agreement for the maintenance of in-house civil defense independently
The inspection company can be chosen at its discretion.
What is included in civil engineering maintenance?
When an inspection is planned in an apartment building, the regulatory authorities act according to the following plan:
- the quality of pipe fastenings is checked;
- the painted surface of gas pipes is inspected;
- external gas communications are bypassed;
- the integrity of structures through which gas pipes are routed is studied;
- the tightness of the fastening and fitting components of the gas pipeline is checked (using a soap solution or using special devices);
- the installation of the gas pipeline network is inspected, the quality of installation of equipment is inspected (checked with the standard);
- valves are tested (lubrication is checked), as well as the functionality of gas taps;
- if necessary, seals are replaced;
- ventilation draft is checked and adjusted;
- tests are carried out for the presence of combustion air, as well as the quality of the mounting smoke tunnels and exhaust pipes.
During the inspection of gas equipment in the apartment, the following is also carried out:
- identification and elimination of leaks;
- checking the GO and its installation in accordance with the requirements of the project and regulations;
- checking the availability of access to civil defense, as well as gas pipelines located in attics and basements;
- lubrication of locking devices, cleaning of corrosion and lubricant;
- setting up the correct operation of gas equipment;
- cleaning heat exchangers;
- instructing subscribers on the safe operation of GO.
The entire range of work is specified in the agreement. If a service employee discovers serious violations in the operation of gas units, the gas is turned off and a document is drawn up confirming the actions and explaining the reasons.
All additional work is carried out at the request of the subscriber and is paid at a separate rate
If repairs or replacement of components of gas equipment are necessary, payment is made by its owner. Spare parts are also paid for by the consumer.
Self-repair of gas equipment deprives the owner of the opportunity to take advantage of the manufacturer’s warranty. The technical documentation for the units stipulates that all operations for which the casing will have to be removed must be performed by representatives of the gas supplying organizations.
Frequency of checking gas appliances
According to the regulations, the frequency of gas testing in the apartment and outside is:
- annual inspection by bypassing gas pipeline routes (underground and aboveground);
- once every three years, inspection of the technical condition of gas pipelines;
- annual maintenance of household gas equipment (if the manufacturer recommends a different traffic flow, in this case exceptions are allowed);
- Cylinder stations are checked every three months.
During maintenance of gas stoves, water heaters and floor-standing boilers, the gas supply is stopped. Residents of apartment buildings are informed about this in advance.
Who should conduct a civil engineering inspection?
All responsibility for the condition of gas pipes and equipment, as well as operational safety, lies with subscribers. Users are required to enter into a GO verification contract with any licensed company.
An organization engaged in servicing gas equipment must have:
- agreement with a gas supplier;
- 24-hour emergency dispatch service;
- certified specialists;
- transport gas to the point of connection to gas equipment.
To avoid misunderstandings with the gas service, the subscriber is recommended to demand from representatives of the inspection service a detailed description of all actions.
During the inspection, it is recommended to closely monitor the actions of representatives of regulatory authorities and not leave the gas worker alone in the room with gas equipment
It is advisable to carefully read the inspection report and ensure that all results and actions are reflected reliably. Since the act is drawn up in triplicate, it is recommended to check their identity. If some points are not clear, the client has the right to request clarification.
Gas equipment inspection report
Upon completion of the inspection of gas equipment, the inspector draws up a report indicating the following information:
- date and place of inspection;
- subscriber data;
- position and personal data of representatives of the gas industry;
- assessment of the current technical condition of civil defense;
- identified defects (if any);
- recommendations for further operation of gas equipment.
If, as a result of the inspection, a malfunction of the gas equipment is revealed, an act is drawn up prohibiting the use of the device, and the user’s access to the gas supply is also limited.
Replacement of equipment, parts, as well as repair work are carried out at the subscriber's expense if the manufacturer's warranty has expired. Cleaning of units is always paid by the user
The supply of blue fuel is resumed after all faults have been eliminated.
