Standard hot water temperature in an apartment building: what should be in the hot water tap according to SNiP

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In the process of supplying residents with hot water, the utility company is required by law to follow temperature standards. They are prescribed in the Sanitary Rules and Standards adopted in accordance with the Law “On the Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare of the Population” and the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation on Sanitary and Epidemiological Standardization. Deviations from the minimum temperatures of hot water from the tap in an apartment in 2021 cause physical and moral suffering to citizens. In such a situation, you need to firmly defend your rights: complain about the utility company and go to court with a statement of claim.

What temperature should hot tap water be in an apartment in 2021?

The optimal temperature level of water in an apartment building for 2021 was adopted by the Government of Russia and approved by the Chief Sanitary Doctor of Russia. According to current standards, citizens must receive hot water no colder than 60 °C.

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These standards also take into account deviations from the norm that are considered acceptable. Their meaning depends on time. So, at night, from zero to five o’clock in the morning, the greatest deviation from 60°C is 5°C; the rest of the time, temperature fluctuations around 3°C are considered normal.

Attention

Taking into account permissible changes, the optimal hot water temperature during the day is 57°C, and at night – 55°C. If temperature fluctuations during the day exceed the specified indicators, then the consumer can apply to reduce the cost of payments for hot water supply by 0.1% for each hour of the period in which a deviation from acceptable standards was made. In a situation where the temperature drops to 40°C or lower, the owner may not pay for hot water supply and rely on cold water supply tariffs.

To reduce utility bills, a special act should be drawn up, in which it is necessary to record all fluctuations in the temperature of hot water from the tap in the apartment in 2021 during the day.

Temperature of hot water in the tap according to the 2021 SNiP standard

It is important to know the lower and upper norms of DHW temperature, but it is equally important to know the norm of cold water. Like hot, it has restrictions on both the minimum and maximum. There are also justifications for this, which have been presented more than once by the scientific community.

Standard on tap

The table below shows the standard hot water temperature in an apartment building, which is relevant for 2021 in summer, winter, spring, and autumn. Perhaps in the future something will change in one direction or another. So you should always pay attention to the date of adoption of a particular law in order to avoid confusion and uncertainty. However, it is unlikely that the minimum and maximum thresholds will be crossed.

Max. or min. meaning	Open system	Closed system
Maximum temperature	75 degrees Celsius	75 degrees Celsius
Minimum temperature	60 degrees Celsius	50 degrees Celsius

As can be seen from the table, the minimum values vary, but the maximum temperature of hot water in the Russian Federation does not depend on the flow rate and type of water supply system. These requirements for DHW 2021 are mandatory in all regions. Therefore, in case of violation of these rules, a reaction from the administration should follow. The same thing happened in 2021.

It is important to understand that this is a violation of basic human rights, including the right to health.

It is also a violation of the rights of citizens, residents and guests of the country as consumers of services. And for such violations, the provider of these services may ultimately be held accountable.

On a note

Normative base

To determine normal hot water temperature values in Russia, there is an official document - SanPiN 2.1.4.2496-09. It spells out the requirements for maintaining the safety of hot water supply equipment, adopted by the Main State. sanitary doctor of Russia.

In the “General Provisions” section, paragraph 2.4 it is stated that in places where water is collected, the temperature of hot water cannot exceed 75°C and be less than 60°C. The type of water supply system is not taken into account when applying the standards. The adoption of these norms is aimed at:

eliminating the possibility of skin diseases and diseases of the subcutaneous tissue that may occur after using low-quality water;
minimizing the quantitative content of chloroform in water, which remains after preliminary chlorination;
destruction of contagious infectious viruses and bacteria that can be causative agents of pathogenic processes.

Compliance with the temperature regime ensures the epidemiological safety of the population.

How to measure

Utility services do not always comply with the temperature regime of the hot water supply. Deviation of parameters in any direction is grounds for contacting the housing and communal services.

However, before contacting the organization, the owner must make sure that he is right. To do this, you need to measure the temperature of the water from the tap.

To take a measurement, you need to take a mercury thermometer and perform the following steps:

Set the mixer handle to the extreme left position, ensuring that only hot water is supplied.
Open the tap and wait two to three minutes until the cold water drains out.
Fill a basin with hot water.
Without closing the tap, measure the temperature. Water must constantly flow into the container.
Wait until the temperature stops increasing. Record the readings.

It must comply with the standards depending on the DHW system. However, residents should note that measurements must be carried out under certain conditions.

The room temperature should be within 20-35°C, humidity from 30 to 80%, atmospheric pressure 84-106 kPa.

If the water supply does not meet the requirements of regulatory documentation, residents of an apartment building must contact the Criminal Code.

How to measure temperature correctly?

IMPORTANT
Self-measuring the temperature of hot water in the tap is not legally binding. It is necessary in case of doubts about the water utility’s compliance with accepted standards. After personally recording violations and identifying the grounds for an application to the management company, you need to resort to an independent examination, during which specialists will measure the temperature of hot water from the tap in the apartment and draw up an official report.

To measure the temperature of the tap water in 2021 you should:

Turn on the hot water and wait 2-3 minutes until the temperature stops fluctuating.
Place a container with a volume of one or more liters under running water and wait until the liquid begins to flow out over the edge.
Place a thermometer for measuring the temperature of liquids in a container of water.
Wait for a fixed result and remove the device from the water.

The thermometer should be installed in a place as close as possible to the stream of water, since the liquid cools quickly when it comes into contact with the external environment. This will create a certain measurement error.

How to measure DHW temperature

A thermometer with a scale of one hundred degrees Celsius is suitable for these purposes. The division value should ideally be at least one degree. The ability to carry out such standard measurements is necessary not only to understand the situation, but also to prove certain violations relative to the temperature norm. Otherwise, it will not be possible to substantiate claims against the management company (MC).

In the apartment

Here's how hot water temperature standards are measured in residential buildings according to regulatory documents:

Open the tap. Wait three minutes until the stagnant liquid leaves, because its temperature is lower.
Then place a container under the stream. However, it cannot be removed. When the container is overfilled and the water overflows, continue to hold it.
A thermometer is lowered into the glass, closer to the center.
When the degrees stop increasing, it is important to record the result obtained.

Filling a container with water, walking away and measuring the temperature is not an option, because by this time the liquid will have already cooled down.

That’s why you need to do this according to the standards described above. Of course, you can write down the resulting temperature result in a notepad. However, to be more convincing, it is better to film everything on a video camera, from the beginning of the process to its end.

Norms and rules for supplying hot water and cold water

Where to go if the temperature standards for hot water in an apartment do not meet in 2021?

To regulate issues related to the provision of low-quality utility services, there is Russian Government Decree No. 354. According to Section X, if a violation in the provision of services is detected, the contractor is obliged to inform residents within 24 hours about the reasons and timing for eliminating this problem. During the elimination of violations, the consumer can recalculate the payment and demand compensation in the form of a reduction. To do this you need:

Call or send a written request to the emergency dispatch service and find out if they are solving the problem. The dispatcher, in turn, is obliged to inform the consumer about the possible causes of violations. If the service does not know the reason, they are obliged to conduct an inspection within at least 2 hours after the request.
In case of a dispute with the supplier company, conduct an examination of the quality of hot water supply. To do this, you need to contact the organization and call its representative. If the company refuses to provide an employee, in 2021 you should contact Rospotrebnadzor.
Based on the results of the inspection, the expert draws up an act in which he makes a conclusion about the presence or absence of a violation, indicates the method of conducting the examination, address, date, time and other data. Copies of the conclusions must remain with all parties involved in the audit. One copy each must remain with the consumer and the contractor.
A report on the discrepancy between the temperature of hot water from the tap in the apartment and the accepted standards must be sent to the Criminal Code. In 2021, an application for recalculation of fees for hot water supply must be attached to it.

Note:
If the conclusion of the examination does not satisfy the citizen, he can use the services of an independent expert. In this case, the management company must bear the costs of additional verification. If the results of measuring the temperature of hot water in the tap remain the same, the applicant will have to pay for the examination.

How to measure the temperature of hot water in an apartment?

If you suspect that the water is not hot enough, the owner of the apartment must first verify this. To do this, he needs to take measurements. The data is of an educational nature; it is not recommended to base a claim dispute or lawsuit on it.

To obtain a significant document that is recognized as evidence, you must:

Notify the management company in writing about the need to measure the temperature of the water in the tap. You can send a complaint to which you describe the situation and demand that measures be taken, including measurements;
On the appointed day and time, wait for the utility workers, and based on the results of measurements, draw up a report, which is signed by both the owner of the apartment and the employees of the management company.

The report on the lack of hot water in the apartment is drawn up in two copies. The procedure is performed in accordance with the guidelines MUK 4.3.2900-11. They regulate the centralized measurements of the temperature of hot water supplied to MKD apartments. For example, the pressure of the jet during the procedure should be from 2 liters per minute.

In this case, utility workers open the tap at full capacity. Time is also allowed to drain stagnant water in the pipes. It is at least 3 minutes. This requirement is regulated by government decree No. 354.

When can I file a complaint?

If violations of the temperature of hot water from the tap in an apartment are detected in an apartment in 2021, the consumer has the right to submit a complaint to the management company and receive a guarantee that the problems will be corrected. In accordance with clause 111 of section X of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354, the service is provided with poor quality:

From the moment employees of the supplier company discovered violations of the quality of hot water.
From the consumer’s application to the emergency dispatch service.
From recording violations by metering devices under individual, apartment or collective control.
From drawing up a report on the results of checking the quality of service provision.

You can file a complaint from the moment violations are recorded until all failures are eliminated.

Complaint to the Criminal Code about hot water temperature

After receiving a report confirming the fact that the hot water temperature standard in the apartment has not been met, you need to file a claim with the Criminal Code. Requirements in this case:

Take measures to eliminate the situation with the lack of hot water, increasing its temperature to the standards established by law;
Recalculate the cost of utilities for the entire period when they were supplied in violation.

If the management company refuses to satisfy the apartment owner’s request, a complaint about the lack of hot water in the apartment is filed with the regulatory authorities. It indicates all the facts set out in the previous statement addressed to the Criminal Code, as well as the refusal to take measures (in whole or in part) on the part of public utilities. The complaint is submitted to the territorial bodies of the state housing inspection, as well as to Rospotrebnadzor.

Sample complaint to the Criminal Code about a discrepancy in hot water temperature (11 Downloads) Sample complaint to the GZHI against the Criminal Code about hot water (32 Downloads) Sample complaint to the GZHI against the Criminal Code about the temperature of hot water (28 Downloads) Sample complaint to the GZHI against the Criminal Code about the lack of hot water (29 Downloads) Sample complaint to the Criminal Code to Rospotrebnadzor for low hot water temperature (12 Downloads) Sample application to the prosecutor's office to the Criminal Code for low hot water temperature (18 Downloads) Sample application to the prosecutor's office to the Criminal Code for lack of hot water (16 Downloads)

Step-by-step instructions and required documents when filing a complaint

A complaint statement is an official document, the preparation of which must follow certain rules:

In the upper right corner you should place information about who is sending the application and where. You must provide your residence address and personal contact information, such as telephone number and email address (if available).
Below, in the center of the sheet, write “Statement”, then the following: “about violation of standards for providing the population with public utilities.” Here you can specify another reason that matches the problem. Many applicants limit themselves to the title - this is acceptable.
Below you should write the complaint itself with a detailed description of the violations identified. The address where the violation was recorded should be noted. Also in the text of the complaint you can place a link to legal documents regulating permissible deviations.
Below you need to write an appeal to an official of the State Housing Inspectorate and place a request for an examination and troubleshooting.
At the end, you must put your signature and the date the complaint was written.

The written application can be taken to the management company or sent there by mail or registered mail. Applications are also accepted electronically. Correct filling ensures that the process of solving a violation of the normal temperature of hot water in the tap will speed up the process. If the description of violations is incorrectly formatted, that is, written in a conversational style, contains slang words and profanity, the supplier company’s employees have the right not to consider the complaint and not to respond to the applicant.

Before you start filing a complaint, you should prepare and find out which company is responsible for providing hot water supply to the desired address in 2021. To file a claim you need:

Write a statement according to the sample. If the application is written on behalf of several consumers, for example, neighbors, troubleshooting will take less time.
Send a complaint to the State Housing Inspectorate. This can be done in person or by mail. In response, the consumer must receive a letter from the official, who is required to send a detailed response within thirty days of receiving the complaint. The time spent on eliminating all violations varies and averages 1.5-2 months.

Attention
A statement of dissatisfaction with the quality of the services provided can be sent directly to the organization that is responsible for hot water supply, Rospotrebnadzor, the Federal Service for Supervision and Consumer Rights Protection, or, in case of inaction of the services, to the court. During the trial, it is necessary to prove that the temperature of the hot water in the tap does not comply with the standards adopted by SanPiN 2.1.4.2496-09. If the case is won, the consumer may demand payment of moral compensation.

List of documents that must be attached when filing a claim in court:

agreement with the supplier company for the provision of services;
all acts drawn up during appeals to the relevant authorities. Copies of acts must be notarized;
If water tests have been carried out, their results should also be brought.

With the listed documents, the consumer has the legal right to defend his interests in court.

applications can be found here.

How to measure temperature correctly

Oral complaints that are not supported by facts are usually ignored by the Criminal Code. Therefore, you need to measure the water temperature yourself.

Independent measurement of water heating does not have legal force, but it is needed if the consumer is not confident in the supplier’s compliance with standards. Having recorded a violation, the consumer receives a basis for filing a complaint with the Criminal Code and requiring an independent examination with the involvement of specialists.

Procedure

Open the tap and drain the cooled water for two to three minutes, then fill a suitable container.
Leaving the tap open so that the water flows over the edge, lower a household thermometer into the collected water.
When mercury or red alcohol stops rising in the column, record the temperature.

If your water heating does not meet 2021 standards, there is a reason to file a claim with the management company. The management company or housing and communal services must organize an independent examination, after which specialists will draw up a report on measuring the temperature of hot water.

Drawing up an act of non-compliance of hot water supply with established standards is of great importance in changing the price of a utility service downwards during recalculation. To do this, all rules must be followed in drawing up the document, otherwise the act will not have legal force. It is possible that representatives of the management company “accidentally” forget to put a stamp or signature. Two copies of the document are required: for utilities and for the consumer.

Possible outcomes of the complaint

During the trial, the issues of guilt of the management company and the reliability of the evidence presented by the plaintiff will be resolved. As a result of winning, the consumer can count on:

elimination of violations and further high-quality provision of hot water supply services;
abolition of payment for hot water from the tap in the apartment in 2021, which does not meet the requirements of SanPiN;
monetary compensation for moral damage;
reimbursement of the cost of household filters, which the plaintiff could have resorted to to independently troubleshoot problems;
payment of monetary compensation for damage to property, if any.

According to a court decision, a company that fails to ensure compliance with established standards is liable under the law.

Rules for measuring hot water temperature

Before running with claims to any authority, you should be confident in your point of view and be able to prove that the hot water temperature does not meet existing requirements. You can organize such measurements yourself. However, they will not help confirm such offenses officially. Then you will have to contact representatives of the management company and take measurements in their presence.

As a result of the measurements, a corresponding act is drawn up, which is signed by both parties: the owner of the apartment and a representative of the management organization. How the DHW temperature is correctly measured is determined by special Guidelines MUK 4.3.2900-11. In them, such a procedure is described in detail.

For example, it is prescribed that the flow pressure for the sample must be at least 2 l/min, and the duration of the preliminary drainage must be 3 minutes. When deviations are identified, it is determined whether their cause is of a technical nature (for example, the mixer in the room does not work).

Responsibility of Housing and Communal Services and Management Company

A discrepancy between the temperature of tap water in an apartment and the standards established by law is considered a violation of Art. 41 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation on the right of every citizen to health care. At the same time, providing consumers with low-quality hot water is equivalent to poor-quality service. Therefore, during the trial of the case, the court relies on the law of the Russian Federation “On the Protection of Consumer Rights”. In accordance with it, the housing and communal services or management company will bear responsibility in the form of:

return or reduction of the price of the service provided;
reimbursement of funds that were used to eliminate the negative consequences of using the service;
compensation for losses incurred by the consumer as a result of using a poor-quality service.

IMPORTANT
In 2021, the consumer has the right to demand compensation for moral damage and complete elimination of violations, followed by regular checks of the quality of hot water from the tap in the apartment.

Responsibility of the management company and housing and communal services

If the temperature of hot water from the tap does not coincide with the standards established by law, then, according to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, this is a violation of the civil right to health protection. At the same time, supplying poor-quality water to residents is a violation of consumer rights, so the starting point for legal proceedings in this case will be the law of the Russian Federation “On the Protection of Consumer Rights.”

Based on this law, the management company or housing and communal services bear responsibility, i.e. they are obliged to compensate for losses of consumers:

return unreasonably spent funds or reduce the price of the service provided;
reimburse monetary costs for eliminating negative consequences as a result of using the service;
compensate for losses incurred by the consumer due to the use of a low-quality service.

In 2021, the consumer is entitled to compensation for moral damages, elimination of violations of the hot water supply in full, after which the quality of the hot water supply is checked regularly.

The amount of compensation for violation of hot water supply norms is determined by the court. The legal costs are paid by the management company (the defendant). Compensation for moral damage is 4,000–6,000 rubles. The fine imposed on the defendant is in the range of 2,000–3,000 rubles.

Recalculation and compensation

If there is objective evidence of violation of standards in 2021, the management company does not have the right to refuse to recalculate the payment for hot water supply. The consumer must submit a corresponding application with an attached examination report. After this, the supplier company has no more than five days to change the tariff. The conversion factor is 0.1% of the total cost for every 3°C deviation from the minimum acceptable standard. If the hot water temperature drops to 40°C, the calculation is based on the cost of cold water.

The amount of compensation for non-compliance with the standard temperature of hot water from the tap in the apartment is determined by the court. The defendant, that is, the management company, pays all legal costs. The amount of compensation for moral damage can range from four to six thousand rubles. The exact meaning depends on the circumstances of the case. The amount of the fine for the management company varies from two to three thousand.

Recalculation for low temperature hot temperature

The cost of services for hot water supply is recalculated on the basis of a payment reduction of 0.1% for every hour and for every 3°C. For example, if at the point of collection the temperature is 48 ° C, per day you need to subtract 24 × 3 × 0.1% = 7.2% of the total payment amount from the accrued cost.

If the temperature drops below 40°C, you will be charged at cold water rates. In all cases, there is no need to wait for the management company to recalculate automatically. She will not do this on her own. The owner is required to collect the necessary documents and file a claim. If necessary, file a complaint with regulatory authorities and the court.

This algorithm is valid if the management company is to blame for the lack of hot water.
Otherwise, you will have to negotiate with utility companies to carry out work for an additional fee. It is more difficult if you have to replace common water pipes in the riser or in the entire apartment building. In this case, it is necessary to collectively resolve the issue at a general meeting, determine and draw up an additional agreement with the contractor or management company. What should the temperature of the hot water in the tap be?

Arbitrage practice

Non-compliance of hot water temperature with accepted standards can cause moral harm and cause physical and moral suffering to consumers. During the proceedings, the court forces the company providing the poor-quality service to compensate for the inconvenience caused. This situation was considered in case No. 2 - 974/10. The plaintiffs were citizen D. and her young son. They accused the management company of providing hot water that did not meet SanPiN temperature standards. To bathe her minor son, citizen D. had to heat the water manually. This went on for several years. The management company’s employees did not react in any way to the plaintiffs’ claims and did not take any measures to correct the problems.

In the statement of claim, D. demanded that the defendant recalculate the payment for hot water supply, eliminate violations and pay moral damages in favor of each plaintiff in the amount of 10 thousand rubles. During the consideration of the case, the court relied on Art. No. 161, 162 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation, according to which the management company is obliged to provide citizens living in an apartment building with favorable conditions. Also, the management company must consider all complaints and appeals from consumers. The company evaded compliance with the obligations specified in the service agreement. As a result of the trial, the court decided to satisfy the claim for compensation for moral damage, recalculate and eliminate all problems associated with providing residents with hot water.

If you have problems

It happens that the quality of hot water may decrease after pipe relocation or repair. For example, rust often appears when some work was carried out on the house system and the riser was blocked. The corrosion process in a pipe without water begins very quickly, all due to the access of oxygen. In this situation, the management company must flush hot water in the basement before supplying it to residents. Also, flushing the pipes with a compressor using a water-air mixture should be carried out once a year, on days when the water is turned off.

It also happens that the temperature of hot water decreases. If this is due to problems on the main pipeline or in the central heating point, specialists will check and adjust the equipment. To do this, you need to contact the unified dispatch service by phone: +7 (495) 539-53-53 or the management company. The consumer can also complain about the quality of hot water directly to MOEK by calling the hotline.

If the problem cannot be resolved, you can send a complaint to the Moscow Housing Inspectorate. Its employees will conduct an on-site inspection, take the necessary measurements and oblige the management organization to correct the problems.

Nuances

To understand how much the supplier company should reduce the payment for hot water from the tap in 2021, you can make the calculation yourself. When recalculating payments for hot water supply, you must follow the following algorithm:

divide the total number of days on which a violation of SanPiN was recorded by the number of days in a month;
multiply the result by the tariff rate.

The resulting number will be the amount of the discount that the consumer can charge the management company.

Comments Showing 1 of 1

Tamara 09:04 03/24/2021
Thank you.
Answer

How are hot water standards calculated?

The level of hot water consumption is less compared to the use of cold water supply. And this fact was taken into account when developing the standard for hot water consumption. According to methodological calculations, the amount of hot water consumption is 4.745 cubic meters of liquid without heating costs.

The determination of this indicator was carried out experimentally. The research allowed us to obtain optimal resource costs per consumer per month. Also, the research data correlated with the provisions of [3] SanPin 2.1.4.1074 - 01, which do not allow a decrease in hygiene standards.

The indicator takes into account the amount of actual resource use per person and, translated into more understandable figures, the consumer consumes 140 liters of hot water daily. The rule for increasing the standard for hot water supply is similar to cold water supply, that is, perhaps an increase at the initiative of utilities, but not more than twice.