Residents apartment buildings Recently, more and more often they find various kinds of notifications in their mailboxes, in which they are strongly recommended to verify individual metering devices. In some cases, representatives of companies offering the corresponding service even visit the owners in person, scaring them with fines for refusing to undergo the procedure. Is the verification of water meters legal, who has the right to conduct it, and what threatens the owner in case of refusal?

Are water meter verification requirements legal?

First, let's find out if the verification of water meters is legal at all. For this, it is necessary to refer to paragraph 34 of the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354 of 05/06/2011. It says that it is the responsibility of the owners and is made at their expense. It is also noted there that the timing of this procedure is determined based on the data specified in the technical documentation.

The current legislation does not provide for any sanctions for refusing to verify apartment meters water. However, according to Art. 9 of the Federal Law “On Ensuring the Uniformity of Measurements”, a meter that has not been verified in a timely manner is considered unsuitable for operation. This means that the supplying organization or the management company has every right not to accept his testimony and charge water fees according to the standards.

Based on all this, we can conclude that the procedure itself is indeed legal and necessary. Another question is that only the owner of the meter and the organization that registered it can know the date of its holding. All other companies and individuals hinting at the need for it right now, or even offering to replace the old water meter with a new one, since its service life has expired, are at best trying to mislead consumers. Self-respecting companies offer their services for checking meters, and do not impose them.

Who has the right to calibrate meters

Only a legal entity or individual entrepreneurs, who are the owners, issued by the Federal Accreditation Service. Therefore, when concluding an agreement with any company offering these services, be sure to check the availability of this document. If it is not there or the validity of the certificate has expired, then the verification will not be considered legal. With about the same success, you can do it yourself.

Water meters allow you to save and pay only for consumed cubic meters of cold / hot water. Install them, and you will not care about common house expenses, random impulses, inattentive neighbors who forgot to turn off the tap. You can control when and how much water to use. If there is a metering device in the apartment or house, then the receipt will only contain the amount for the consumed water - but only on condition that the controlling organizations are confident in the reality of the testimony. And for this it is necessary that the counters be verified in a timely manner. What is it and how often is it necessary? Let's figure it out.

Why is verification necessary and what is it?

The entire public sector, including the supply and payment of water, is regulated by law. Various acts and regulations specify the obligations and rights of suppliers and consumers utilities. In particular, they state that consumers must monitor the correct operation of meters and timely transfer metering devices for verification.

Verification is a special procedure during which the accuracy of measurements and the performance of the device are checked. In the passport of each device there are boundary limits of accuracy: if a large error is detected during measurements, then the meter is considered to have failed verification. If everything is within the normal range, then the device can be operated further - until the next calibration interval or until the device's service life ends.

How to set verification time

The frequency of verification of water meters is regulated at the legislative level - both by municipal and federal laws. Also, this period is indicated in the documents for the counter - in the passport of the device, which is provided by the manufacturer.

However, it should be noted that for different devices the verification periods are different:

• for hot water - 4 years;
• for cold water - 72 months or 6 years.

This difference is due to the fact that in the hot water system, the mechanism (impeller and gaskets) wear out faster, since you have to work at elevated temperatures, from 70 to 90 degrees.

But it is always worth remembering that these terms, in general, are not standardized. After all, the latest municipal law recommends that verification be carried out at the intervals that are indicated in the passport of the meter by the manufacturer. This is also evidenced by government decree 354. As a rule, for domestic devices, these values ​​\u200b\u200bdo not differ from the general established norms, but for devices of foreign manufacturers they may differ.

The main types of counters

in cottages and apartment buildings can install two types of meters - domestic (simple mechanical design) and imported (electronic, with high measurement accuracy). Among the domestic ones, the most popular are: Vodopribor, Beregun, Pulsar, Teplovodomer, Meter, Staroruspribor (SGV) and Gaselectronics (SVK). Since they are all produced in accordance with GOST, the calibration intervals are the same, regardless of the name, from 4 to 6 years. Imported (German, Polish, Korean and American) are represented by Siemens, Zenner, Minomess brands. All of them work thanks to the built-in computer chip. In such meters, protection is more reliable and case materials are of better quality, they last almost 2 times longer (the calibration interval according to the passport can reach 10-16 years), but they also cost 5 times more. It is precisely because of the high price that they are not popular enough.

Today it is believed that the calibration interval is determined not by law, but by the instrument's passport. That is, you need to focus on the information that is indicated in the documentation. So, the companies PK Pribor and Teplovodomer set the calibration interval for universal metering devices at 6 years, and water meters of the SGV type should be checked every 4 years when working on cold water or every 6 years when working on hot water.

The nuances of verification - is it mandatory and can it be avoided?

The fact that your water meter will need verification should be taken care of at the time of purchase. After all, the calibration interval begins to be counted not from the moment of installation, but from the date of issue of the meter, its packaging at the factory. If you purchase a device that has been in storage for 3 years, then a year after installation it will have to be removed and given for verification. And this is an additional cost.

Or maybe you can avoid verification altogether? No, this procedure is required. The norm approving verification is also in the legislation in force at the state level, and in the technical documents for the meter. If you ignore the verification deadlines, then the meter readings cannot be accepted by the controlling organization as reliable. It turns out that all measurements taken after the expiration of the calibration interval are considered invalid. And you will have to pay bills according to the average consumption rate calculated for the whole family living in one apartment. The invoice amount can increase 3-5 times, and this is much higher than you would pay for verification and approved documents that allow you to continue using the meter.

Who will warn you about the deadlines? Do not forget that the obligation to ensure verification in a timely manner lies with you, the consumer. Of course, many management companies keep records and can notify you of the due dates, but this is their right, not their obligation. It is better to always check with the documents on hand (passport of the water meter, where all dates and intervals are affixed) than to suddenly find yourself in a situation where the service organization automatically stops the calculation according to the readings and makes accruals according to the standards.

And the last moment - what is needed to carry out verification? You can contact the water utility, but the meter will have to be dismantled. In this case, you will also get a long wait, and a lot of paperwork. Or you can contact a certified organization and invite a specialist who can check your counter on the road. It costs quite inexpensively, and all verification procedures are carried out according to the law, with the signing of the necessary acts and a mark in the passport.

Fraud companies for checking water meters

Even though subscribers measuring instruments for water, they are already accustomed to using them, practically not paying attention to the process of exploitation, it is still necessary to know the laws. This will not only help you keep abreast of the latest changes regarding the operation of meters, but will also help you avoid problems with the management company or housing and communal services.

Law on the counter in 2016

In fact, no law speaking about any changes in the installation, operation or verification of the meter came out in 2016, so the information remains the same.

But it is worth fearing fines for the lack of measuring instruments. Residents are required to install a water meter, or otherwise they will face special sanctions, which are expressed in average tariffs that increase every year. That is, the payment according to the standard for the average person increases. Pay attention to the numbers:

• In 2015, from January to June, the coefficient was 1.1;
• In 2015 from July to December - 1.2;
• In 2016, from January to June - 1.4;
• In 2016 from July to December - 1.5.

According to forecasts, in 2017 the coefficient will be even higher, that is, 1.6, which means that the government is not going to lift such sanctions, and every year the number will grow, and tariffs will increase. Therefore, even if you pay at the average rate, and spend a fairly large amount of water, over time you will have to pay considerable amounts for the spent cubes.

Also note that it will be problematic to register any of the relatives in your apartment, due to the fact that you will have to pay at the average rate for each person living in your living space.

What counters to install

According to the law, the make and model of the measuring device can be absolutely any. Each subscriber has the right to choose a meter that will fully suit him in terms of service life and characteristics. It is worth noting that the housing and communal services or your management company cannot oblige residents to choose any specific service providers for the installation and verification of meters.

Terms of verification of water meters

Decree No. 831 stated that the verification deadlines established by law were cancelled. Now, it is necessary to check the measuring instruments according to the numbers indicated in the data sheet. In most cases, this is 4 years for hot water meters and 6 years for cold water meters. For some devices, the verification period is quite long, you should immediately find out from its documents. Thus, in terms of verification, almost no changes have occurred.

Terms of operation of counting devices

The average life of water meters is about 10 years, but each model is different. That is why when buying, you should pay attention to the numbers indicated in the data sheet: from the verification period to the service life. For domestic devices, it is 8-10 years, while imported devices can serve up to 15 years.

The replacement of the device will need to be carried out in the event that the period of operation has ended or the verification has shown the unsuitability of the meter for further fixing the indicators. This can happen due to factors such as pressure, water hardness, the content of various elements in it. Many devices deteriorate several years before their useful life ends.

Based on the information above, we can conclude that there have been practically no changes in the timing of work and verification of water meters. In order not to worry about innovations in laws, it is enough to read about them in time, as well as to study the information and purchased devices in their data sheets in a timely manner.

Checking and installation of water meters in Moscow http://stek-voda.ru accreditation certificate RA.RU.311514

Keywords: Water meters terms of work and verification law 2016, service providers for installation and verification of meters, where to order a water meter, how to install a meter, registration, water meter Moscow, housing and communal services

From July 1, 2013 individual appliances accounting (IPU) of water consumption formally should have appeared in all city apartments. At the same time, the residents have a new concern - a constant check of the serviceability of water meters. The frequency of work has recently begun to be regulated by instrument manufacturers.

How is it regulated

The obligation of residents of apartment buildings to independently resolve issues with checking the performance of meters is officially spelled out in the federal law "on ensuring the uniformity of measurements." But the verification interval is not fixed in any of the official regulations. Initially, the service life of the meters was set at the regional level.

In Moscow, since 2004, the rules have been regulated by a decree on "improving the calculations for cold, hot water and thermal energy." According to the current procedure, it cost to order from accredited companies a check of cold water meters every five years, hot - once every four years. But in December of the last year the check procedure set by the authorities was cancelled. The reason for this was the numerous complaints of citizens to the prosecutor's office. True, the innovation did not actually affect the life of the owners.

Despite the abolition of the deadlines set by the government, the obligation to constantly check water meters in Moscow has remained, but now it is worth ordering an examination, focusing on the interval specified in technical passport device. If the document has not been preserved, the data can be found out using the state register of measuring instruments. In the vast majority of cases, the unchecked service life of the meters coincides with the previously applicable standards: it is usually necessary to confirm the serviceability of the IPU of cold water once every five years, hot - once every four years.

How to order

You cannot check the meters yourself. Inspection is ordered in specialized commercial organizations. Representatives of the company must have a copy of the certificate authorizing them to carry out the relevant type of work. You can check its authenticity in the state register of accredited persons.

There are two ways for installers to carry out an inspection. In the first case, the devices are dismantled for two weeks and taken to the laboratory for recertification. For the duration of the test, a temporary device is installed in the apartment. The method turns out to be quite laborious for residents: the management company will have to be separately notified about the removal and return of the meter. In the second case, the check is carried out using special equipment, the meters are not dismantled, the process takes 30-40 minutes. The technology turns out to be a little more expensive, Moscow companies charge about a thousand rubles for checking each meter “on the spot”.

How to report

After the work is completed, customers receive an act on the technical condition of metering devices, from which it should be clear that the devices comply with state standards. The document must be submitted to the managing organization.

Formally, there are no sanctions for untimely inspection of the state of metering devices in the regulations. Problems can only start with the management company: the organization's database has all the information about the technical condition of the meters. If data on the technical condition were not provided on time, water charges may automatically begin to accrue according to the standard.