Every year the cost of utilities, be it electricity or, is growing rapidly. Alas, this happens both because of the usual inflation and rising energy prices, and because of the banal greed of service providers. That is why today more and more people are looking for an alternative to reduce levies, which, apparently, in a few years will become simply unaffordable.
Autonomous boiler room in an apartment building
And many people find a solution to this problem. One boiler room for an apartment building is able to fully satisfy the needs of all residents, providing them with high-quality heating, as well as supplying the required amount of hot water. However, the installation of your own autonomous boiler room is an extremely serious decision that cannot be made without thinking everything over and weighing all the pros and cons a hundred times. And to do this, you should know both the pros and cons of this solution.
So, you are thinking about the possibility of installing your own boiler room, which would heat the entire apartment building and supply hot water to each of the apartments. What are the merits and demerits you should be aware of in order to make the right decision that will not make you repent in the future?
Heating system diagram in an apartment building To begin with, it is worth talking about the shortcomings, since there are much fewer of them.
This is the main disadvantages of an autonomous boiler room. Of course, they are very significant, which is why today not every house has a mini-boiler room. Nevertheless, the number of such mini boiler houses is growing rapidly. Why? Due to the advantages of autonomous heating listed below.
- Complete independence from urban monopolists in housing and communal services. Everyone knows very well that in every city there is only one company that provides heating and hot water services for residential apartment buildings. And they can almost uncontrollably increase the cost of their services. If you install your own boiler room, then the monopolists will no longer have leverage on you.
- Reducing heat loss to a minimum. As practice shows, passing through many kilometers of heating mains, the coolant (hot water) loses up to 30% of the heat received (depending on the distance from the city boiler house).
Example of heat loss in an apartment building And end consumers are also forced to pay for this heat. In autonomous heating systems, heat losses are measured in fractions of a percent. So already due to this, the payment is reduced by a third.
- A boiler room that heats one house, not thousands, is easy to set up. If it gets too hot in the apartments, you can easily reduce fuel consumption, and increase it on frosty days. Thanks to this, the temperature in the premises will always be optimal, suitable for each of the inhabitants. There is no need to ventilate the premises, lowering the temperature and at the same time releasing heat into the street, for which a lot of money has been paid. But at the same time, you do not have to use additional heat sources (electric heaters) in order to maintain a sufficiently high temperature in the apartment.
- To keep it in perfect order, it is enough to hire one dispatcher who monitors the readings of all devices, as well as one or two arriving adjusters who are involved only when a breakdown is detected. If your house is connected to a city heating main, you will have to pay for the services of not only dozens (or even hundreds) of ordinary installers, but also hundreds of accountants, directors, their deputies, secretaries, drivers and many others. This also saves a lot of money.
- In most cases, connected to the city heating plant, it starts from October 15th and ends by April 15th. And even if autumn and spring are unusually cold or warm for a given area, no one will change the dates of the beginning and end of the heating season.
Therefore, in the off-season, apartments are often too hot or too cold. The presence of an autonomous boiler room allows you to turn on and off the heating exactly when it is needed. Most often, such decisions are made by the council of the residents of the house. Of course, this allows not only to reduce heating costs, but also to maintain the optimal temperature in the premises, regardless of the temperature outside the walls of the house.
What conclusion can be drawn from all of the above?
An autonomous boiler room needs more attention and constant care from residents or specially hired specialists.
But it allows you to save a lot of money every month. Therefore, all the initial costs will be compensated pretty quickly, and very soon you will notice that you have free money that used to be spent on paying utility bills.
Where should the boiler room be located
The correct location of the boiler room is a very serious issue. Most often, in apartment buildings, boiler rooms are installed either on the roof or in the basement. provide for the presence of the latter only in the basement or.
True, sometimes you can also see boiler rooms located in small buildings, standing a few tens of meters from the house. This can be a good solution: there is no need to lift and mount equipment on the roof of the building, but at the same time, there is no threat of explosion due to fuel leakage and its accumulation in the basement of the building.
But still, this method is not very popular: the need for additional construction, pouring the foundation and carrying out a large amount of land work scares off many potential owners of autonomous heating boilers. Therefore, only two options are usually considered - a boiler on the roof and in the basement. And it is worth telling about them in a little more detail.
It looks like a boiler room on the roof What is good about the boiler room in the basement
Installation of a boiler room in the basement usually brings much less hassle and problems: there is no need to lift equipment weighing many centners to the roof of a five-story (or higher) building. In addition, there is no need to carry out a number of complex calculations to determine whether the roof will withstand the additional load, and if not, then how much and how best to strengthen the supporting structures.
However, there are certain restrictions: the boiler room in the basement must not run on explosive fuel.
Therefore, gas and diesel boilers must not be installed in the basement. The fact is that the fire and explosion of fuel tanks in the basement of the building endangers the integrity of the entire apartment building, as well as the life and health of the residents. Only solid fuel and electric boilers can be installed in the basement.
Example of a boiler room in the basement of a house The latter is inconvenient due to the high cost of electricity: the cost of maintaining an electric heating boiler is almost impossible to recoup. Solid fuel ones are difficult to maintain: fuel (firewood, coke, coal, peat) must be loaded manually, 2 to 4 times a day.
It is also worth noting that when installing a boiler room in the basement, serious problems can arise when. Its top point should be higher than the house in the basement of which the boiler room is installed, as well as higher than the houses that are nearby. Although some consider this problem.
Date: 12.12.2015
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What is a boiler room on the roof of a house and why is it needed
Operation and maintenance of the boiler room on the roof of the house is possible either in a block-modular design, or if its construction was envisaged even at the stage of building the house: this model is called “built-in”. But in 95% of cases, the roof boiler room of a residential building is a complex of block-modules that are assembled at a factory, brought to a high-rise building and assembled on site.
A question from a reader: “Please help me figure out the cost of heating and hot water supply. Our house is serviced by the Management Company, there is a roof boiler room on the roof of the house, but the cost of heating and hot water supply services is at the city level. Why and what then is the advantage of a roof-top boiler room? And who, after wear and tear in a few years, will pay for the purchase of a new boiler? "
So, considering this issue, we decided to highlight several points related to autonomous heating.
1. What are the principles for setting tariffs for heating and hot water supply in the case of a roof-top boiler room?
2. What are the advantages of autonomous heating (roof boiler room)?
3. Maintenance and repair of equipment with autonomous heating.
1. An autonomous boiler room (in particular, a roof one) is a room with a heat generator or a whole complex of buildings created to generate heat for the purpose of heating one structure. The boiler room is the main element of a decentralized heating and hot water supply (DHW) system and can be owned by residents or owned by a legal entity (for example, the Management Company).
In the event that the roof boiler room is the common property of the residents of an apartment building, the payment for the resources consumed is set by the owners on the basis of an agreement with a resource supplying organization (RSO). RNO only serves the roof boiler room (homeowners and the resource supplying organization conclude a contract for the performance of work). And the decisive role in setting tariffs is assigned to the executor of utilities, which the RNO is not here. The contractor of utilities (it can be a HOA) is guided by the government decree of the Russian Federation No. 307, according to which “in the production of heat energy for heating an apartment building using an autonomous heating system, which is part of the common property of owners of premises in an apartment building (in the absence of centralized heating), the amount of payment for heating is calculated based on the readings of metering devices and the corresponding tariffs for fuel used for the production of heat energy ... "and" when preparing hot water using in-house engineering systems of an apartment building (in the absence of centralized preparation of hot water) the amount of payment for hot water supply is calculated based on the readings of metering devices and the corresponding tariffs for cold water and fuel used to prepare hot water ... "(clause 18)
If the resource supplying organization (RSO), being a legal entity, owns a roof boiler room (homeowners and the resource supplying organization enter into a boiler house sale and purchase agreement), then it is a heat supply organization and a utility service provider (according to Federal Law of the Russian Federation No. 190 "On Heat Supply") with activities regulated by the state. Therefore, the tariffs for the consumption of resources are set by the state department according to the tariffs of the city (region) administration. Up-to-date information on all tariffs can be found on the official website of the department.
In order to find the answer on what basis the cost of services for heat and hot water is calculated, you should find out how the legal relationship is organized in the situation under consideration. If the Management Company is the full owner of the roof boiler house (there is a contract for the sale and purchase of the boiler house), then tariffication should be made at citywide tariffs.
If it turns out that your Management Company is not a utility service provider and only serves the boiler room, the tariffication does not comply with the legislation of the Russian government, and you can apply to the Court with a claim.
2. Roof-top boiler houses, which are equipped on the roof of an apartment building, have a number of advantages over the usual centralized heating and hot water supply systems.
a. Perhaps the main and serious argument in the direction of using autonomous heating and roof-top boiler houses is a significant saving of energy resources. According to statistics, roof-top boiler houses reduce resource costs by 45% compared to centralized open systems.
b. Autonomous heating - controlled. This means that the owners of the house have the right to regulate the temperature regime during the heating season and during the day. In practice, you can see that such a heating control allows you to save up to 30% on fuel costs.
v. Roof-top boiler houses do not require constant maintenance, therefore the presence of people during the operation of the boiler house is not necessary. Full control over the condition and operation of the boiler room is carried out through the control center.
The boiler room, located on the roof of the building, eliminates a number of problems:
- there is no need to allocate space on the land plot for the construction of a boiler house;
- gives free access to the pipeline;
- provides excellent conditions for equipment (no pressure on pipes, units, boilers, etc.);
- Convenient air supply to boilers;
- saving material for the manufacture of a chimney.
e. Operational safety of roof-top boiler houses is another fat plus in the direction of autonomous heating. In the event of unauthorized entry of smoke emissions into the apartment, the danger of a serious accident is not high.
e. Roof-top boilers are environmentally friendly due to good dispersion and volatilization of gases.
3. Returning to Resolution No. 307 "On the Procedure for Providing Public Utilities to Citizens", one can see that "... the costs of maintaining and repairing internal engineering systems used for the production of heat energy, as well as the costs of maintaining and repairing internal engineering systems used for cooking hot water are included in the payment for the maintenance and repair of residential premises ”(clause 18 of the RF PP No. 307).
In addition, in accordance with the Housing Code of the Russian Federation "the owners of premises in an apartment building bear the burden of the costs of maintaining common property in an apartment building" (Article 39).
Consequently, the installation of the boiler or other faulty element of the boiler plant is carried out at the expense of the residents. In practice, the cost of monthly payments for heat and hot water supply can include a percentage for unforeseen repairs or installation of a new boiler house, which is required every 25 years.
What problems do apartment building residents often face in winter? First of all, it is low-quality heat supply. It is also saddened by the hopelessness while waiting for the start of turning on the heating systems. A gas boiler room for an apartment building will help maintain a constant temperature in each apartment and save on bills.
Residents are forced to freeze from the cold before the start date of the heating season. The need to pay a lump sum monthly to pay for heating finishes the most persistent.
Installing a gas boiler room on the roof will solve heating problems once and for all. The main obstacles to resolving the issue of installing a gas boiler house are related to obtaining permits from the administration and purchasing suitable equipment.
Usually, an autonomous gas boiler room is equipped in apartment buildings in separate rooms. For these purposes, separate rooms on the roof are suitable.
They house all the necessary equipment for the continuous operation of the heating system. The capacity of the installed equipment should be sufficient for heating radiators and heating water in the apartments of the whole house.
The first appearance of roof-top boiler houses in Russia in the 90s is associated with the desire of construction investors. They wanted to install high-quality and uninterrupted heat supply in houses under construction. Centralized systems could not meet exaggerated demands
Such mini-boiler rooms are equipped with a variety of modern appliances and a variety of devices. The autonomous systems use the most modern heating technologies. This allows one boiler room to be used even for several houses, which increases the profitability for residents several times.
There are several factors that determine the benefits of installing a rooftop gas boiler in apartment buildings.
First of all, this is a significant reduction in the distance from the heat generator to radiators and pipes in apartments. Due to this, heat loss during the circulation of water in the system is reduced. Rough calculations show that owners pay 30% more for heating than the real cost due to heat losses.
Residents who once installed a gas boiler room in the basement or on the roof of a multi-storey building note a real reduction in utility bills. They are also much less likely to face the need for frequent maintenance of systems: their repair, installation and reconstruction. Modern communications are of high quality and durability.
Due to the shortening of the path that the water must travel from the central energy carrier, the heating rate of the system increases. Also, on average, the temperature of the batteries and hot water increases. Although this is largely controlled by the setting of the gas boiler.
Roof-top boiler houses are very popular due to the fact that almost always near apartment buildings there is no place for the construction of a ground structure. The location of the boiler rooms at the bottom of the house creates an additional hydraulic load
If we compare the central heating system with an autonomous one, then the second option wins in many respects. This is both efficiency and the rate of heating water in the system.
In addition, central heating is turned on only when certain temperatures are reached. However, cold weather can persist for a long time until it reaches the required minimum. And the tenants are forced to endure the cold and suffer.
With an autonomous system, it becomes possible to maintain the desired level of heat all year round and not depend on utilities. Thermostats are usually installed on radiators and circuits, allowing the temperature to be changed depending on the needs of the users. Sometimes, setting a comfortable temperature can save you extra money.
Disadvantages of modern heating systems
As in any heating system, the autonomous one has its drawbacks. Although there are much fewer of them in comparison with the centralized one. Due to the fact that autonomous gas boiler houses are not widespread, it is quite problematic to get reliable equipment and all the units adjacent to it.
Therefore, the elements of the boiler room will cost customers a round sum. Despite the high level of comfort provided by the systems in question, not all developers are willing to pay big money for this.
In the event of an emergency, the entire heat supply system completely fails. There is up to five cubic meters of boiling water over people's heads. In case of explosion of pipes, water will go down. Therefore, there are so many requirements for gas equipment.
In addition, gas boiler rooms must be placed in separate rooms or buildings. To do this, you need to allocate an area around the house, bring the roof to the required technical conditions, or install a block structure on the roof. All of these solutions require an infusion of additional resources either from the developer or from the general fund created by the tenants.
Gas heating systems emit polluting decomposition products into the environment. Therefore, when installing boiler rooms, it is necessary to provide for the installation of filtration systems. Cleaning devices must perform their functions sufficiently so that SNiP norms are observed. This further increases the cost of purchasing equipment.
When building a new house, the developer has a choice: make an autonomous heating system or connect to the central highway. To crash into a highway, you need to obtain a number of permits. Often, solving a problem requires a round sum of money. In addition, you will need to wait more than one month until the papers are checked in all instances.
The high cost of work on connecting to the existing networks, the difficulties in coordinating this procedure, as well as the presence of many obstacles that impede the rapid and efficient implementation of heating networks, reduce the attractiveness of autonomous systems for the developer.
Often, the installation of gas boilers on the upper enclosing structure entails the need to strengthen the floor. The total load generated by the heating system can be up to 15 tons. Such values can be avoided by installing flow-through equipment instead of capacitive
The installation of autonomous heating is also associated with a number of bureaucratic procedures. Both the initial implementation of the systems and the reconstruction with redevelopment have their own characteristic features. This is mainly due to the fact that you are going to use gas as a heating resource. All work with gas is strictly regulated by law.
Modern engineering developments effectively deal with a number of disadvantages. If you need to heat just one house, an excellent option would be to place a block boiler room in the attic of the house. The attic becomes heated, and the occupants of the top floor do not experience discomfort.
Such structures are developed in detail by engineers, are lightweight and installed on load-bearing walls. For such options, a flat roof option is required. This subtlety is usually taken into account at the design stage. Designers carry out calculations and determine in advance the place for the boiler room on the roof of the house.
The law establishes a limitation on the capacity of equipment on the roofs of houses at 3 MW. Some regions are limited to 5 MW. If this power is not enough to fully heat the whole house, then additional permits must be requested.
However, despite all the shortcomings, ultimately, the residents of the house will significantly improve their living conditions and get rid of discomfort. In addition to all the obvious advantages, autonomous systems have an increased level of security.
The new systems are equipped with warning and alarm indicators. Diverse track many metrics. In the event of a breakdown, the reserve boiler and additional pumps are activated.
Classification and features of roof boiler rooms
If we talk about heating one particular house, then one of the best options for the location of a boiler room with a decentralized system is a flat roof. The text of SNiP describes in detail all permitted types of boiler rooms. In the technical documents, special attention is paid to the requirements for heating equipment intended for installation on a ceiling.
Operation and installation of heating systems is negotiated separately for two types of structures: built-in and block-modular. Separate requirements, specifications and restrictions apply to each option. Also, these two types of boiler rooms have their own characteristics: advantages and disadvantages.
According to the rules, it is unacceptable to install heating equipment directly above living quarters. This means that a technical floor should be provided in an apartment building.
Speaking about the advantages of installing an autonomous boiler room on the roof, the following should be highlighted:
- There is no need to purchase a plot for a boiler room next to the house;
- There are no difficulties associated with the calculation of the structure and the conduct of chimneys;
- The task is greatly facilitated;
- Roof-top boiler houses have no restrictions on the type of fuel, and the use of gas is one of the most profitable options.
The combination of the advantages of installing the considered structure on the roofs determines the high frequency of application of this solution when planning autonomous heating.
Installation of the boiler room on the roof is advisable only if all the requirements and restrictions described in SNiP and PPB are taken into account. Consider further each of the available types of roof-top autonomous boiler room.
Block-modular boiler rooms
Block or modular boiler rooms are compact in size and take up a small area. Special blocks are brought to the site on the roof of the house, which are then connected into a finished and workable structure. Each element of the structure is completed at the factory and equipped with all the necessary equipment, which is connected into a common system.
After assembly, the heating station is ready for operation. All the necessary equipment is provided by the manufacturer and is installed in the module. It also provides for the presence of separate rooms for service personnel.
Modern roof-top boiler houses operate all year round in automatic mode and do not require constant monitoring and the presence of personnel. Therefore, the heat supply is carried out without interruption.
All equipment is selected for the required technical parameters and complies with the standards. Blocks are usually equipped with high-quality insulation and a reliable ventilation system.
They can also have attractive looks and unusual designs. During installation, the main task of specialists is to correctly connect all nodes and to check the operability of all elements.
Designers and engineers foresee in advance the future installation of a boiler room for gas equipment on the roofs of multi-storey buildings. They minimize the weight and dimensions of the building frame as much as possible. Usually professionals assemble a boiler room in a few working days.
Installation of a modular roof boiler house consists of several stages. First of all, it is necessary to conduct an examination that will determine the bearing capacity of the building and the necessary procedures to increase it. If it turns out that it is necessary to reinforce the structure, then these procedures are carried out first.
Then a platform is installed, which will rest on the load-bearing walls of the building. This is necessary for the stability of the unit. The next step is to create a fireproof covering underneath the gas boiler room.
Usually, a layer of concrete is poured to solve this problem. You should also ensure safety by installing railings around the perimeter of the roof. Occasionally, procedures to improve sound insulation are required.
Block gas boilers are fully factory-equipped. Manufacturing companies give a quality guarantee. The blocks are sent to the roof almost ready for launch and assembled in a short time.
Block boilers are suitable for installation in buildings where there was originally a centralized heating system. However, for their arrangement, it is necessary to purchase equipment with acceptable technical conditions and have a project.
Built-in boiler room on the roof of the house
The layout of such boiler houses fits into the design documents in advance. Even at the design stage, each element of the built-in roof boiler room is thoroughly described. Engineers calculate many different indicators and, based on the calculations, design a safe and efficient heating system.
These indicators include the value of the load on the walls, the level of fire safety, the required boiler power and others. It is much easier and cheaper to carry out these calculations at the design stage than to convert a centralized system into an autonomous one.
Simultaneously with the construction of the building, a number of events are being carried out. These include:
- providing sound insulation and suppression of noise emitted by heating equipment;
- protection of the boiler room from vibrations;
- providing protection against fire, explosions and gas leaks.
Carrying out these procedures during the construction phase increases their efficiency. Most of the houses were built for a centralized heating system, and only in the last 5-10 years, built-in boiler houses are provided for in projects.
Stationary gas boiler houses are built from materials similar to those used to build a building. For these purposes, prefabricated structures of the "sandwich" type or various reinforced concrete blanks are used.
Experienced engineers are engaged in the design of built-in boiler rooms. This is due to the need to comply with safety and legal regulations.
The advantages of such boiler houses include the absence of the need to spend money and time on capital construction. Also, the customer purchases a ready-made, proven and well-established structure that will heat the residents of the house for many years.
Thanks to modern developments, there is the possibility of almost complete automation of control. This allows for a minimum number of maintenance personnel. The environmental friendliness of the built-in gas boiler rooms is ensured by modern filtration systems.
Integrated or built-in boiler rooms are usually installed within a few days, which is very beneficial for the developer.
Autonomous boiler room device
Residents do not always buy a ready-made block boiler room. In some cases, the assistance of specialists in the assembly of an individual system is required.
The arrangement of a gas boiler house plays an essential role in its efficient operation. It is imperative to provide a separate roof area. There must be no flammable materials around the site.
Domestic boilers are less popular due to the fact that they offer users a low level of autonomy and automation. Experts advise purchasing equipment from European manufacturers
For safety reasons, boiler rooms do not have more than two boilers: the main one and the reserve one. Boilers are usually installed in the center of the room. This makes it easier to approach the equipment for systematic maintenance and repair.
The walls, and with them the entrance doors, are sheathed with non-combustible materials, for example, steel sheets. The floors are poured with a concrete screed, then a non-combustible non-slip coating is laid on top of it.
The principle of operation of an autonomous gas boiler house is the processing of natural gas. Thanks to automatic installations, an uninterrupted supply of fuel is ensured. The boiler room safety system shuts off the gas supply if the sensors detect a leak or breakdown.
Key components of the boiler room
The operation of an autonomous boiler room is ensured by the presence of the following elements:
- Gas boilers providing heating;
- Central gas main supplying gas to the system;
- Ventilation system and chimney that removes gas combustion products;
- Cold water and electricity supply system;
- Security system with a number of instruments and sensors measuring various indicators;
- Built-in automation.
For heating an apartment building, the power of a wall-mounted unit is not enough, therefore, in this situation, floor-standing gas boilers are used. Single-circuit boilers only provide heating of the coolant for supplying it to the radiators. When choosing the right equipment, you should focus on the power of the boiler. Also pay attention to the availability of licenses and registrations. The boiler must be suitable for the specific operation in your area.
The boiler can be with a closed or open combustion chamber. For an open type, it is necessary to conduct a smoke duct. And closed-type boilers are equipped.
Thanks to modern technology, it is possible to almost completely remotely control the heating system while maintaining a high level of security.
The benefits of remote control include:
- Possibility of setting an individual temperature regime for each apartment;
- Availability of a notification system about the values of the main indicators of the equipment operation;
- Innovative weather-compensated control system.
Modern smart boilers have outdoor sensors that measure the temperature outside the home. If the air temperature drops, the boiler automatically starts increasing the water temperature in the system and vice versa.
What needs to be considered?
Before equipping an autonomous boiler room, it is necessary to take into account a number of factors. If a single-circuit gas boiler is purchased, then to supply hot water, you will need to install a storage type of water heater - a boiler.
For a branched system of an apartment building, a distribution manifold is required. Thanks to this device, constant pressure and temperature in all circuits will be maintained. Together with the manifold, hydraulic arrows are also installed.
When the water in the system heats up, it expands. In order to maintain a constant pressure and compensate for expansion processes, it is installed.
The regulations assume different minimum chimney heights above the highest point of the roof. When calculating this indicator, the power of the boiler and the structures located on the roof are taken into account.
It is important to think over the layout of the chimney for the removal of gas decomposition products. To ensure safety, a mechanical or automatic air vent is installed. A make-up tap must be installed in front of the heating system.
If automation is built into the system, then the need for human maintenance of the system will be reduced to routine checks of the system's performance.
The installation of an autonomous gas boiler house has a number of nuances and difficulties. However, this version of the heating system for an apartment building has a number of comparative advantages over a centralized system.
The main problems that developers and future residents will have to face are related to obtaining permits from the administration and the gas industry for the arrangement of a gas boiler house.
It takes time and requires certain resources. Residents of houses with centralized heating will face even greater problems. First of all, they will have to get an agreement to shut down old systems and get technical specifications for the installation of new ones. Utilities do not always meet halfway on such issues.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
Review of the roof-top boiler house of the Novy Gorod TDK:
The installation of a gas boiler house in Svetly has resulted in great cost savings:
The purchase of modular boiler houses is one of the most profitable options for developers. Their delivery and installation takes a short period of time, and the prices for the equipment are reasonable. This allows you not to devote a lot of time to this issue.
Residents who decide to install autonomous heating protect themselves in the future from the disadvantages of centralized systems, guarantee themselves continuous heating and hot water supply all year round.
Please write your comments in the block below, post a photo on the topic of the article, ask questions. Tell us about your experience in the design and / or operation of an autonomous gas boiler house in a high-rise building. It is possible that your advice will be extremely useful to site visitors.
As part of this article, I want to cover the topic of installing a gas roof boiler room in an apartment building. Such equipment was installed in the house of my husband's parents, which allowed me to study in detail all the subtleties and features of the operation of the structure. I want to note right away that this is the best option for reducing the size of utility bills by almost 30%. To achieve such a result and avoid possible violations, it is required to install the structure in full compliance with the special construction requirements specified in the SNiP.
So, what are the categories and types of roof-top boiler houses, what are the advantages of these structures and how to install them correctly? I am an engineer by training. This will allow me to answer the questions in the most detailed and understandable language for an ordinary layman.
The types of such boiler rooms used are described in maximum detail in SNiP. This technical documentation also contains the basic requirements and standards for the installation. Compliance with them makes it possible to install equipment on the roof of a modern urban building without any violations. At the moment, there are two main types of boiler facilities:
- Built in.
- Block-modular.
For each separate type of structural and technical solution, individual installation rules and restrictions are adopted. In general, their installation provides such important advantages for residents and for the heating system as:
- Complete absence of costs for the construction of a separately located technical structure.
- There is no need to build a tall smoke pipe.
- Reducing the overall hydraulic load on boiler units.
- Ensuring a high level of safety in the operation of modern heating equipment.
Despite the large number of advantages, it is advisable to approach the decision to install the boiler room. It is important to take into account the requirements prescribed in the PPB and SNiP.
Block-modular roofing boiler rooms
A heating structure of this type represents a fully equipped and ready-to-operate station. The necessary equipment and service devices are built into separate modules. There are even special rooms for the work of service personnel.
Modular equipment is designed to minimize the total weight of the installed structure and the load on the roof of the apartment building to the maximum. The installation of a modular boiler room requires a preliminary design and consists of the following steps:
- A special platform is being installed. It should rest on the supporting parts of the walls and on other structures of the house.
- A professional examination is carried out before installation. Through it, you can determine the overall bearing capacity of the house structure, check the need to strengthen the significant elements of the house.
- The structure is installed on a cover made of fire-resistant materials, on a pre-poured concrete pad. Its thickness should be 20 cm.
- Measures are being taken to ensure a high level of safety for employees. Railings are being installed along the perimeter of the roof.
- Installation of soundproof modules is required.
The block structure is optimal for houses in which it was not originally planned to carry out such a heating system.
Built-in boiler rooms
The structures are installed if, at the stage of drawing up the project, the installation of such a station was envisaged. The equipment initially took into account the loads placed on the load-bearing walls, thought out fire safety and followed other rules and conditions for competent operation.
It is much easier to draw up and then agree on a developed project for such a boiler house than for a modular one. Sound-absorbing, sound-insulating, as well as basic anti-vibration operations are carried out during the construction of walls and during finishing work. This greatly increases the overall level of their effectiveness.
Built-in boiler rooms are very rare. They are being installed in new houses built in the last 5 years.
Heating plant boilers
Only those boilers that meet the requirements of SNiP II-35-76 can be installed on the roofs of modern urban apartment buildings. This equipment is distinguished by a high level of work automation. Without the mandatory round-the-clock presence of employees, you can organize the ideal level of heating at home.
When choosing modern boilers for the heating system, preference should be given to equipment from European companies:
- Futera;
- Wessex;
- Viessmann;
- Protherm;
- Vaillant;
- Lochinvar.
When choosing the best option, it is necessary to rely on the level of thermal power of the device, on the availability of appropriate licenses. Boilers must be registered with Rostekhnadzor. This confirms the complete adaptation of the devices to the operating conditions on the territory of the Russian Federation.
Standards for projects of gas boiler houses
Design standards are governed by the conditions prescribed in SNiP. They are constantly supplemented and changed, as new technologies appear, modern modified equipment is produced. Requirements cover the four most important areas - gas supply, siting, PCB compliance and standard power supply. Here are the basic rules for drawing up a boiler room project:
- Installation of technical structures on the floors of residential premises is inadmissible.
- It is strictly forbidden to closely adjoin the equipment to the walls belonging to the apartments.
- It is possible to operate only the station completely autonomous from the building.
- The installation of an alarm and a special system that gives signals in the event of a complex emergency is mandatory.
The height of the installed chimneys above the roof of the building must be at least 0.5 meters relative to the highest part of the building. It can vary depending on the nearby buildings and their inherent technical characteristics.
Requirements for houses and roofs
The regulations prescribe restrictions on the installation of boiler rooms for houses of the following categories:
- Public. It is forbidden to place equipment over rooms where more than 50 people stay at the same time. We are talking about children's institutions, clinics and hospitals.
- Apartment buildings. It is forbidden to install stations with a total capacity of more than 3 mW here.
Built-in boiler rooms are also limited in capacity. A ban has been imposed on the installation of equipment, the thermal capacity of which is more than 15% of the total demand. There are several restrictions that are mandatory:
- The total height of the installation should not exceed the prescribed 26.5 meters, which is equal to a 9-storey building.
- The size of the structure should not exceed the dimensions of the house.
- It is not allowed to increase the width of the walls and retrofit the roof to reduce the load on the main load-bearing walls.
- The installation of the boiler house is carried out only after an examination and certain reconstructions.
Any deviation from the established requirements will lead to a refusal to install the boiler room. The ban will be in effect until the violations are completely eliminated.
Gas supply of the structure
There are several rules for the design and installation of gas structures:
- The permitted pressure in the line does not exceed 5 kPa.
- The gas pipeline is laid on the outside of the house, the tie-in is unacceptable.
- The pipes are open, it is not allowed to cover them with removable panels or gratings.
- The place for regulating and shutting off the gas supply must be illuminated and equipped with shut-off and control valves.
- It is planned to install blowdown pipes with a diameter of at least 20 cm.
In these boiler rooms, it is allowed to install a heating medium with a temperature of no more than 115 degrees. Hot water is supplied according to a separately located closed circuit using an installed heat exchanger.
The DHW pipe must not be crossed with the gas pipeline. This is required by the security conditions.
Boiler room power supply
According to the standard classification of power supply, roof-top boiler houses should be of the second class in terms of reliability. To comply with this rule, the following rules must be followed:
- Grounding of the gas equipment and the heating system connected to it is provided.
- The lighting of the system is organized using fully sealed luminaires equipped with a metal mesh.
- It is necessary to arrange a backup power supply. It will connect when there is a power outage.
There must be a panel room where you can disconnect the equipment from the power supply. It must be located outside the structure.
Commissioning - basic requirements
According to the rules of standard technical operation, the commissioning of the boiler house is divided into two main activities:
- Preparation of design documents and their approval.
- Implementation of the required technical and installation operations.
When equipping the boiler room, work is being carried out to ensure sound insulation and full compliance with the PPB. After that, the staff is selected. Employees take appropriate courses, after which they receive a license.
A bilateral agreement with the tenants of the house for the maintenance of the installed boiler room must be concluded. The preparation of project documentation and official approvals is carried out by the contractor who built the building, or an authorized representative of the management company.
Installation cost
The material component of the installation of equipment is automatically assigned to the residents. The cost depends on a large number of factors:
- Category of the selected boiler. The budget options include devices from Polish and Italian manufacturers. More expensive options include boilers from German manufacturers Viessmann, Buderus.
- The need for additional work. The cost will be increased if it is required to install a high-quality fire extinguishing system, provide noise insulation and provide electricity.
- Insurance registration. This is an important prerequisite for commissioning.
On average, the cost of all equipment is 5-10 million rubles. The amount of the contribution is different and depends on the number of residents and on the power level of the installed heating equipment.
Summing up
As a conclusion, it is worth once again to outline the advantages that the installation of a roof-top boiler room gives. The main positive factor is a decrease in the size of monthly payments due to the absence of intermediary services and the need to compensate for possible heat losses. The heating season starts when the weather conditions are right and does not depend on a specific date.
The total cash costs for high-quality heating of apartments are reduced by about 30%, and the batteries in apartments are really hot during the cold season, which provides residents with an optimal level of comfort.