One of the most difficult issues in legislative practice for citizens is replacing a gas stove in an apartment that you own or rent. At first glance, there is no difficulty in removing one device and installing another; almost anyone can do it, you don’t even need to be a specialist or a gas service worker.
But what about the documentary base? Do such changes need to be legalized and how to do this? And if you bypass the paperwork, wouldn't it be cheaper to pay the fine?
We will try to answer all these questions, we will tell you about the existing laws, norms and rules for replacing this important device.
Reasons for replacing the stove
There are many reasons why you will need or want to change your gas supply equipment.
The most common among them:
- purchasing a more modern model;
- replacing a gas stove with an electric one;
- desire to change colors or change the design of the room;
- poor appearance, wear;
- carrying out major renovations in the house;
- device breakdown;
- expiration date.
Also, the replacement of a gas stove is established at the legislative level, in accordance with PP No. 410, which states that gas-using appliances should be changed when they fail, unless changing nozzles is no longer necessary, when the appliance does not meet safety standards, at the usual request of the customer and again - the same, at the end of its service life.
To do this, you need to contact the gas service company with which a maintenance agreement has been concluded. This is what your maintenance contract should look like.
If during maintenance it turns out that the gas stove does not meet safety standards in its current condition, it will either be recommended to be repaired or replaced if its condition is irreversible and cannot be repaired
If everything is clear on the first points, then what does “expiration date” mean?
According to GOST R 50696-94, the service life of a gas stove cannot be more than 14 years. But this document has long been canceled, as well as the GOST R 50696-96 that replaced it, in which the maximum service life of the device was 20 years, if gas workers approve its performance at the end of the operating time designated by the manufacturer.
Now this is actually not regulated, although the current PP No. 410 states that gas supply can be turned off when the expiration date of the equipment established by the manufacturer expires. Before this period expires, you just need to apply for a technical inspection and if the gas workers write you a certificate of validity of the device, you will extend its life until it wears out. Wear is considered to be a violation of the tightness of taps designed for 11,000 cycles, burnout of the oven and other defects that cannot be repaired.
New fines
First of all, I would like to note that the number of mandatory diagnostic checks for owners of gas equipment is increasing in order to increase the safety of citizens. This is logical and even correct, but the problem is that diagnostics are paid, and an increase in their number also leads to increased costs for citizens. The number of inspections to identify violations is also increasing.
But increasing security here is only one side of the coin. An increase in the number of mandatory inspections can lead to abuse by inspection bodies, and the main purpose of such inspections may not be to control the operation of equipment and its serviceability, but to identify violations, violators and issue the maximum number of fines.
But at the same time, certain changes are being introduced. It is very important to carefully monitor the timing of scheduled inspections of gas equipment, which must be indicated in the technical passport. It is also important to promptly replace equipment that has reached the end of its service life.
Using equipment that has not passed technical diagnostics is strictly prohibited. And violation of this requirement will be punishable by a serious fine. The amount of the fine is set individually and depends on many factors. During the diagnostics, specialists must issue an opinion on whether the gas equipment can continue to be used, or whether it needs to be replaced with a new one.
It is also important to remember that if you use untested equipment, as well as equipment that has not been diagnosed, the owner of a residential premises may not only be issued a serious fine, but also have the gas supply cut off until the violations are eliminated. Therefore, inspections must be carried out in a timely manner - this will help to avoid unnecessary problems and additional costs.
What is needed to change the stove?
So, you are about to change the stove. What you need to prepare for this:
- The stove itself, in the case where you do not have the preferential status necessary for a free replacement. The device must comply with GOST 33998 and have a gas control system.
- Equipment for installation, necessary tools, consumables and materials.
- Equipment - everything for sealing, flexible hoses and so on.
- Documents for redevelopment if the kitchen is moved to another location.
- Documents confirming the authority of the owner or tenant of the apartment.
- Identification.
- Consent of all apartment owners.
- All papers on gas supply.
- Technical passport of the apartment.
Again, if the location for the device remains the same and only the device itself is replaced with a similar one, there is no need to legalize the conversion.
If you are changing a gas stove to an electric one, you must legalize the conversion; if you are moving the appliance to another room, then the redevelopment. If you are simply replacing it with a similar one, you do not need to carry out any approvals on both points.
The requirements for a new stove are standard. It must have all the necessary certificates and meet the requirements of GOST.
It is also recommended to check whether there will be free access to it and the gas pipeline in case of redevelopment, whether the chimney is in working order, and whether the ventilation is functioning as required.
Maintenance
To carry out maintenance of gas equipment, as well as for diagnostics, it is necessary to conclude an agreement. If there is no agreement, the owner of the residential premises may be held administratively liable and pay a fine of 2,000 rubles.
The same punishment will be for those who refuse to allow an inspection inspector into their apartment or house. In both cases, the gas supply to the premises will be suspended.
During the inspection, gas company specialists determine whether all safety standards and regulations have been complied with by the owner of the premises, whether the installed equipment meets safety standards, and whether there are risks to the life and health of others. At the same time, the necessary maintenance is also carried out, in particular, cleaning of gas burners, replacing damaged elements if necessary.
If such violations are detected, gas service employees will cut off the gas supply to the apartment, draw up a report on the presence of violations, indicating the time frame for their elimination and the amount of the fine.
Does the replacement need to be legalized?
According to Art. 7.19 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation for independently connecting the main line, you may be fined for unauthorized and uncontrolled connection of a gas stove in the amount of 10-15 thousand rubles. And if, in the event of an incorrect connection, an explosion or fire occurs, then you will face criminal liability and a fine of up to 300 thousand rubles.
If you look at PP No. 410, it also states that the replacement of gas-using equipment must be carried out by a specialized organization with a license and a contract. This could be a gas service or a private company with the appropriate approvals.
In the same document, in part 8, paragraph 77 , there is a subclause in which it is stated that a factor for turning off the gas supply without notifying the customer may be its unauthorized connection to the main line, as an option for the threat of an explosion.
In addition, PP No. 549 states that when replacing equipment with new equipment that meets technical requirements, it is imperative to notify the supplier of the change in the overall composition of the devices.
When registering gas supply, you indicate a list of gas-using equipment in the apartment and provide technical specifications for them. Also, when replacing, you must notify the State Registration Office that you are installing another stove and provide them with documentation for the device for registration
There is also a temptation to change the device yourself, having previously agreed with a friend from the gas service to complete the necessary documentation. Of course, the option is much cheaper, but it is better to entrust work with such dangerous equipment to professionals who will connect the hoses reliably and carry out the first start-up of the device, noting all its shortcomings, if any.
Act on unauthorized gas connection
Officials of gas services have the right to draw up this act. It must have the following elements:
- Information about the official who compiled it.
- Information about the offender.
- Information about connecting to networks bypassing the meter, illegal installation of gas equipment, the extent of natural gas theft, etc.
- Information about sanctions imposed on citizens.
- Orders to eliminate violations.
- Date of document preparation and information on appeal methods.
The citizen faces punishment in any case. However, its specific type depends on the situation in which a particular violation was detected.
A sample act is available. ⇐
Benefits for replacing a stove
A gas stove is not a common property of an apartment building and therefore, again, according to PP No. 410, its replacement is made at the expense of the owner of the premises.
However, there are exceptions. The MFC or management company will tell you how to replace a gas stove with a new one at the required benefits free of charge.
This is possible if the slab, subject to condition or expiration date, is listed on the state balance sheet:
- You, the owner of the apartment, are a hero of the Russian Federation or the USSR, a hero of socialist labor, a holder of the Order of Glory, a participant in the Second World War, or you have special subsidies from housing and communal services.
- The device requires replacement when the queue for an apartment is reached.
- The residents live in a non-privatized apartment and the contract includes a clause on free replacement of gas-using equipment if necessary.
Also, large and low-income families have the right to such privileges, but not in all regions. Whether you have any, you should check with local municipal authorities or by studying the regulations of individual regions.
For a free replacement, a so-called “defective certificate” is required, that is, a conclusion from specialized services that inspect gas-using equipment and issue a conclusion that the old device is faulty. The basis for its preparation is an annual inspection or an extraordinary inspection upon call from specialists.
Irregularities in the operation of a gas stove can be identified by specialists from the gas distribution department or a private company. However, before you invite them to inspect the equipment, find out whether they have all the necessary licenses for such types of work
The act is drawn up in 2-3 copies. You must transfer one to the DEZ or housing cooperative, one to the consumer, and another one is kept by the GRO specialists.
In addition, it is very important to prepare all the documents - an identity card, a title document for benefits, a certificate of defectiveness of the old stove, its registration certificate and project documents for the apartment.
Where is this said?
1. Decree of the Moscow government No. 800-PP dated November 16, 2004 “On measures to improve the safety of in-house gas supply systems for the housing stock of the city of Moscow and housing and communal services facilities.”
2. Decree of the Moscow government No. 854-PP of October 31, 2006 “On amendments to the resolutions of the Moscow government of November 16, 2004 No. 800-PP, dated September 14, 2004 No. 632-PP, dated August 10, 1999. No. 727."
3. Decree of the Moscow government No. 727-PP of August 10, 1999 “On the financing of certain types of work on major repairs of the housing stock.”
Replacement procedure
So, you are planning to change the stove and you are also the owner of the apartment.
To replace you should:
- contact the head of the gas distribution department with a request to replace the equipment. You will receive a detailed estimate for consumables, necessary materials, installation of the device and the stove itself. If you buy all this yourself, you should write an application for installation of equipment;
- notify the management company or other body managing your home;
- pay the received estimate;
- wait for the gas workers and receive a document confirming the commissioning of the stove.
If the apartment is not privatized, you must first submit an application for replacement of the gas appliance to the management body of the apartment building in which you live.
When remodeling, it is necessary to follow the recommendations from SP 402.1325800.2018, in particular for the volume of premises of at least 8 cubic meters for a stove with 2 burners, 12 for a 3-burner device, 15 for devices with 4 nozzles
If an apartment is being redeveloped, the management company must be notified about this and all necessary approvals must be carried out, including at GorGaz, before installing the stove in another room.
Appeal against additional charges for supplied gas when an unauthorized connection is detected
In a situation where the gas service has identified a violation of the legislation regulating the procedure for connecting to gas, it may charge additional fees for the gas used in an illegal manner.
Additional charges and other increases in the calculation of gas payments can be appealed by a citizen in the manner described above. Based on the analysis of law enforcement practice, we can conclude that the most effective appeal is to write and file a claim in court. It is possible to crash in a manner not provided for by law only in a situation where this action is subsequently legalized.
How is equipment changed?
To make it clear in general terms, we present the technical stages of replacing one device with another.
The procedure is not complicated:
- The valve shuts off the gas flow and turns off the power supply to the old device.
- The plate is disconnected.
- The hose is replaced (if required) and then checked for leaks and the quality of the threaded connection.
- The new slab is installed and leveled.
- The hose is connected.
- The equipment is being checked and started up for the first time.
Next, the specialist issues you a certificate of access to the device for operation, and you sign the work acceptance certificate.
Criminal liability for unauthorized tapping of a household gas pipeline
In this situation, we are talking about prosecution under Article 158 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. ⇐ Installation of an illegal tee, failure to pay for gas, etc. can be regarded as theft. Theft is punishable not only by fines, but also by imprisonment. The extent of the harm caused by this action is also of particular importance.
If it exceeds five thousand rubles, then the act can be regarded as a crime under criminal law.
Replacing a gas stove with an electric one
After a series of explosions, and for other reasons, many apartment owners decided to change the gas stove to an electric one, so where to go in this case and what is needed for this, we will now consider in detail.
So, first of all, you need to contact the Criminal Code. This is necessary to determine whether the technical parameters of the MKD electrical network are capable of corresponding loads.
Unfortunately, in gasified apartment buildings, as a rule, the limit of electrical resources is limited. If everything is possible, select a stove model and provide its characteristics to the Criminal Code so that you can receive a conclusion on the compliance of the provided and consumed power with the MKD standards in an approximate calculation.
If the power is not enough, you will have to either abandon the idea or try to register a stove of less power. Also, sometimes a written request for the allocation of additional power helps, in which case it will be necessary to coordinate the project with the management company and the power supply company
Since the parameters specified in the technical passport of the apartment change, the electrification of the kitchen area is a reconstruction and is subject to mandatory approval.
When you have the project documentation in hand, contact the State Regional Office to disconnect the gas equipment in your apartment. Don't forget to take a certificate confirming this fact.
Appealing the act of unauthorized gas connection
Appealing this act is a way to protect your rights. With this, it is possible to change the scope of responsibility, bypass negative consequences, determine the procedure for eliminating violations, etc.
The appeal takes place to a higher gas service. This is the first way to protect your rights. If it does not bring any significant results, then the citizen can send a complaint, for example:
- to Rospotrebnadzor;
- to the prosecutor's office;
- to court.
The court is the final authority in resolving any conflicts, so it should only be approached in cases where all other options have already been tried.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
Why you don’t need to change gas appliances yourself can be found in the following video:
Replacing a gas stove with a new or electric one is quite easy. This procedure will not take much time. The main thing is to contact the management company or state registry office in advance to provide a complete list of documents that you need to collect on a general or individual basis and to agree on a project for replacing the device.
And under no circumstances try to carry out the procedure without permission - we have already discussed in detail whether it is possible to replace an old gas stove yourself - this is a fine and a big responsibility.
Have you ever had to replace the gas stove in your apartment? Share your experience in the comments, ask questions on the topic, and participate in the discussion of the material. The communication block is located below the article.
Cooking
Many experts have already expressed the opinion that owners of gas cookstoves need to play it safe and purchase something for cooking in case violations are detected and the gas supply is turned off. And many citizens have already rushed to buy multicookers or electric stoves, since compliance checks and diagnostics will begin immediately after the end of the New Year holidays. At the same time, many owners of old gas stoves have already replaced them with electric stoves and hobs in order to avoid paying for inspections and avoid unnecessary problems.
True, it will be impossible to cook on such a stove, because if violations are detected, as well as the absence of a diagnostic report, the gas supply to the apartment will be cut off. However, there is such wording in the law.
Therefore, owners of gas stoves and other equipment should check the availability of concluded contracts with gas services, including those for maintenance. Check the timing of the next diagnostic in the technical passport of the stove and other gas appliances, and if necessary, invite a specialist to carry out the diagnostic, so that by the time the inspection inspection arrives, all documents are in order.
The use of natural gas has transformed human life; with its help we cook food, heat apartments in winter, and heat water. However, gas is a potential source of danger, so only specialists can connect to the gas main, dismantle the old one and install a new stove, despite the apparent simplicity of this process. Moreover, they should be not just private craftsmen, but employees of special services. Otherwise, you will face a fine for unauthorized connection of a gas stove.
What are the penalties?
You will find a comprehensive answer to the question of whether it is possible to independently connect a gas stove in an apartment in the official document - “Rules for the use of gas at home” - approved by the VO “Rosstroygazifikatsiya” back in 1990. They regulate not only the principles of using equipment, but also responsibility for violating them.
We recommend paying special attention to paragraph 3, which states what exactly is prohibited to the population:
- Carry out unauthorized gasification. In this subclause, officials also included the rearrangement, replacement, and repair of all gas household appliances.
- Make redevelopment in the rooms where such devices are located.
- Independently make changes to their design, as well as change the design of ventilation and smoke ducts, seal, and brick up openings for cleaning chimneys.
Also in the mentioned Rules there are references to articles of the criminal and administrative codes, but for the most part they are not relevant and have lost their legal force. The “working” one at the moment is Article 7.19 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, which states that penalties in the amount of 10–15 thousand rubles are provided for illegal connection to the highway. The legal issue is that we are talking exclusively about a gas pipeline, but whether this includes the situation when a user installs new cooking equipment instead of old one is unclear. Although on the Internet you can find complaints from users who were issued this fine.
Stage No. 3 Registration of permits for the installation of new electrical equipment
It is necessary to draw up an act of delimitation of balance sheet ownership and operational responsibility. This is necessary if there is a question about laying a new power cable that increases the permissible power. Employees of the management organization and the service responsible for the supply of electricity will help in resolving this issue. An act of approval, which indicates the commissioning of new electrical equipment, is issued by Rostechnadzor.
In order to obtain permits and permits in order to reduce tariffs for payment of services, documents are drawn up at the energy supply organization of your city. But before this, it is necessary to coordinate this issue with the co-owners of the residential building. This decision is made by voting at the general meeting of the housing cooperative. For the vote to be successful, two-thirds of the votes must be collected. If this does not happen, then the problem can only be solved with the support of the management organization. Residents usually vote against any changes. If this is not possible, then all that remains is to seek permission through the court.
