SNiPs and GOSTs for balconies and loggias - construction documentation

GOSTs and SNiPs for balconies and loggias: regulatory documents

Construction work on the reconstruction and transformation of balconies is carried out, guided by the provisions of official documents adopted by the executive branch.
The standards set out in the rules are not only technical, but also legal. In addition to the abbreviation SNiP (which stands for “Building Norms and Rules”), you may come across the concept of SP (“Code of Rules”) - it’s the same thing. GOSTs are national standards that exist within one state, or, less often, within a community. Each standard is assigned a number; in addition, the title contains the year of publication of the document. If there is a letter “P” next to the GOST abbreviation, it means that the standards are relevant for Russia.

There is a lot of outdated information posted online, so you should rely on official sources, which usually indicate whether the documents are current for the current year. If the norms have been reissued and renamed, there is usually a link to the old statement, but a new edition of the document is always present.

In the process of studying the documentation, it is necessary to distinguish a balcony from a loggia, since some provisions relate to one type of architectural structure. The term “balcony” in regulatory documents refers to a platform protected by a fence and protruding beyond the border of the facade, while three of its sides remain free, and only one is adjacent to the house.

A loggia can have 1 to 3 sides free, but its outer side is at the level of the facade, and the part adjacent to the house is not always separated from the room.

The presented documents contain useful information regarding the construction, reconstruction and repair of balconies and loggias. In GOSTs, technical conditions are highlighted as a mandatory item - requirements for structures as a whole and individual elements. If it is not possible to carry them out, then construction actions for construction, repair or restoration are considered illegal.

Experience from other countries:

Ukraine

Starting from December 16, 2013, smoking is prohibited in Ukraine in public places, which include common balconies, elevators, interfloor areas and entrances of apartment buildings. Fines for violating these requirements range from 51 to 240 UAH.

As a result, already in the first year of the law, the number of smokers in Ukraine decreased by 0.3%.

Belarus

In April of this year, the Ministry of Health decided to amend Decree No. 28. According to this document, a complete ban on the use of tobacco products in elevators, auxiliary rooms, common balconies, loggias and other areas of multi-apartment residential buildings is planned for 2016.

Kazakhstan

Since July 2011, a ban on smoking in public areas of apartment buildings has also been in effect in Kazakhstan. The fine for violating this rule is 1 monthly calculation index (MCI) for the first time, or 2-5 MCI for repeated disregard of the anti-tobacco law.

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GOST 25772-83 Steel fencing for stairs, balconies and roofs. General technical conditions (449 KB, pdf)

The requirements set out in the document are dictated by safety standards. The section lists the types of balcony railings for buildings of different heights and purposes, as well as recommended sizes. The standards for balcony railings partially apply to roof structures.

Particular attention is paid to technical characteristics, for example, the ability to withstand certain loads (SNiP 2.01.07). Fences for residential buildings must be screen-based, without deformation or traces of rust, and the seams must be welded (according to SNiP III-18). For safety reasons, fencing structures in children's institutions should not contain horizontal crossbars.

Special requirements apply to packaging, labeling and installation of products. At the end, diagrams of samples of balcony fencing structures are provided - lattice, screen and combined types.

Installation standards

Installation of the parapet and balcony railings is carried out according to the standards described in GOST, SNiP and SP; its technology depends on the selected material.

The assembly of metal balcony railings is carried out after the necessary preparatory work in the following sequence:

1. Installation of the frame, securing it to the load-bearing wall of the building using anchor bolts by welding. Welding is performed according to the requirements of SNiP III-18.
2. Fixing screen or lattice filling to the frame.
3. Installation of railings, if they do not form a single element with filling.
4. Treatment of metal parts with anti-corrosion coating (if necessary).

The pitch of the racks is determined based on the working design, but should be no more than 1.2 m.

The height of the railing on the balcony is equal to the height of the fence. The handrails are continuous, their thickness is 60 mm. The spacing of the handrail attachment points is no more than 1.2 m. The handrail is needed not only for comfortable use of the fence, but also to ensure the rigidity of the entire structure. At corner joints, the handrail is assembled using metal corners in a hidden way.

If the fence on the balcony is made of wood or lumber, then it must be treated with an antiseptic using an industrial method under pressure.

SNiP

SP 20.13330.2016 “Loads and impacts” regulates the load on railings and handrails within 80 kgf/m.

According to SP 1.13130.2009 “Fire protection systems. Evacuation routes and exits,” the height of the balcony railing is determined to be 1200 mm in multi-apartment buildings, regardless of the number of floors.

According to the use of one or another type of filling, all residential buildings are divided into multi-apartment and single-apartment buildings. GOST and SP establish the use of only screen fencing for all residential buildings. The design standards do not prohibit the types of filling for balcony railings in single-family houses. For the design of multi-apartment residential buildings, there are fire safety requirements that define balconies for various purposes as a fire safety zone. This zone meets the following requirements:

1. The height of the fence is at least 1200 mm (clause 5.4.20 SP 1.13130.2009). The height of the balcony railing is measured from the top level of the balcony floor.
2. Screen type fencing. The screen corresponds to the fire resistance level of the building itself (clause 5.4.18 of SP 2.13130.2012). Fencing of loggias and balconies in buildings three floors or more high is made of non-combustible materials.
3. Balcony fencing can complement glazing.

These requirements do not apply to single-family houses. The design of single-apartment buildings with a height of no more than 3 floors (including the attic and basement) is not accompanied by the development of a special section on ensuring fire safety. This means that the balcony fencing of such a house can be either screen or lattice and have a height at the request of the house owner.

GOST

The height of the enclosing screen, according to the current GOST 25772-83, depends on the height of the building. But, as shown above, the design of residential buildings must take into account fire safety requirements, which determine the height of the fence to be 1200 mm. The installation process is regulated by GOST requirements:

1. Protection of load-bearing elements from corrosion.
2. Preserving the integrity of parts of enclosing elements and parts.
3. Compliance with the height of the fence according to regulatory design requirements.
4. The use of fencing elements with a safety margin is protection of connecting elements from the effects of moisture and corrosion (SP 28.13330.2012).

Installation of balusters (wooden or stone fencing posts) is regulated by GOST 23120-2016. To maintain the same distance in the flights of stairs between the racks, markings are carried out taking into account their centers. Some requirements for the installation of balusters are given below:

1. The distance between the centers of two adjacent balusters is 152 mm.
2. The distance between two adjacent balusters does not exceed 107 mm.
3. The elements are attached using 2 rigid fastening points at the top and bottom.

Compliance with the requirements of GOST, SNiP and SP will make the balcony fencing safe, aesthetically attractive and durable.

GOST 25697-83 Reinforced concrete slabs for balconies and loggias. General technical conditions (163 KB, pdf)

This section contains requirements that apply only to balconies and loggias based on reinforced concrete slabs. A complete classification is presented, dividing slabs according to design features and method of support (attachment to load-bearing structures).

Markings, installation conditions, and possible designs are also presented. Information is given on the dimensions of reinforced concrete slabs, which may depend on the architectural features of the building and wall material. In addition to product characteristics, here you can also find information about related fittings, appearance and finishing of finished slabs. The appendix shows the recommended grades of concrete for beam and cantilever structures.

SNiP 31-01-2003 “Residential multi-apartment buildings” (406 KB, pdf)

The document was updated in 2016 and now looks like SP 54.13330. It applies to buildings whose height does not exceed 75 m. The list of requirements and standards has two goals: to increase the level of safety of people and to preserve buildings. The information is accompanied by a list of GOSTs, which must also be observed during the construction or reconstruction process.

The text of the section explains the terminology and contains references to sanitary standards (SanPiN) and other related standards. The dimensions of stairs, doorways, and elevators regarding the transportation of bedridden patients or the movement of disabled people in wheelchairs are specified separately. The dimensions of apartments are touched upon, and the conditions necessary for designing balconies are listed.

What is prohibited for the owner of a balcony or loggia?

There are a lot of things you can't do on the balcony

There are a number of restrictions on the actions of homeowners and landlords in relation to their living space. They are prescribed in Construction Norms and Rules (SNiP) and State Standards (GOST) and technical operating regulations.

• According to SNiP, the load on the balcony floor along the fence should be no more than 400 kg per square meter. meter. And over the entire area of ​​the balcony - 200 kg per square meter. meter. It is prohibited to place anything heavier than 30 kg on the railing. This is important to know when repairing a balcony or loggia. Consider also the antiquity of this object. If the wear rate of the balcony is more than 50 percent, then the load standard must also be reduced by half. Otherwise there will be trouble.
• You cannot repaint the outside of a balcony or loggia in colors that are very different from the original ones. The facade of the house was approved by the city architecture department.
• It is now prohibited to install devices for drying clothes, as well as flower pots with pallets behind the balcony railing. Everything that is on your balcony must be firmly secured indoors.

Is it possible to smoke IQOS (IQOS) on the balcony of an apartment building?

Many modern projects of multi-storey buildings provide for the presence of balconies for common use. In this regard, many smokers are interested in whether it is possible to use IQOS (IQOS) on the balcony of an apartment building? Moreover, these are not ordinary cigarettes, and they work not by combustion, but by heating the tobacco.

Because this area can be used by many people. And it is a public place, which means the answer to the question is obvious. That is, smoking IQOS (IQOS) on the balcony of an apartment building is prohibited by law.

It may be objected that electronic cigarettes, IQOS and GLO do not emit acrid smoke and a pungent odor, and they do not produce ash. The main argument for the ban is, first of all, the moral and ethical aspect, and of course legislation. Therefore, smoking IQOS, like regular cigarettes, is permitted in specially designated areas.

Responsibilities of owners of balconies and loggias

Storing things in “flammable” boxes on an open balcony is prohibited

What owners of balconies must do is stated in the “Rules and Standards for the Technical Operation of the Housing Stock.”

• regularly paint balcony railings with anti-corrosion paint - both to update the appearance and to give strength to the railings
• Use the balcony railing no longer than its service life. For example, for metal fences the guarantee is up to 40 years, for wood – 10 years
• Monitor the condition of the concrete slab. In case of destruction, notify the Management Company to take action.
• If the balcony is not glazed, be sure to clear it of snow and ice in winter
• To store items on the balcony, you need to equip boxes made of non-combustible materials

We have information on our website on how to obtain permission to glaze a balcony. Fines and other legal nuances are also spelled out there.

Are you interested in the rules for the safe operation of PVC windows? Or why do problems arise with windows? Read this article.

What are the norms and standards for balcony glazing according to SNiP and GOST?

The question is indeed frequently asked and here you need to use the documents that you will need for glazing a balcony or loggia. These documents include:

SNiP 31-01-2003 “Residential multi-apartment buildings”, it contains a list of conditions for re-equipment and their implementation.

For the loads that your balcony as well as the structure experiences, you need to familiarize yourself with SNiP 2.01.07. “Loads and impacts.”

To fully study all the standards, you will also need GOST 30777-2012, “Turning, tilting, tilt-and-turn, sliding devices for window and balcony door units.”

Well, another GOST that is needed for glazing balconies is GOST 30971-2002, “Mounting seams of junctions of window blocks to wall openings.”

the moderator chose this answer as the best

There are quite a lot of such documents that specify the glazing of balconies, requirements for fencing, and so on.

This includes GOST 30777-2012 (rotary and tilting devices for window and door units).

This GOST contains a number of requirements regarding installation, design features of balcony blocks, as well as requirements for heat and sound insulation.

SNiP 01/31/2003, another document that sets out the rules and standards for swinging and glazing, among other things.

SNiP 2.01.07, I also recommend you read it; in this SNiP you can learn about loads on structures.

GOST R 56926-2016,

one of the main documents on this topic (window and balcony structures, glazing is a structure).

Many users do not know that for glazing a balcony (if the house was designed without glazing) it is necessary to obtain permission and the glazing itself must be carried out taking into account the requirements of those same documents (see above).

And the requirements themselves are as follows:

The glazing system must have a certificate of conformity.

If you have chosen an aluminum structure, then there should not be any “self-made” ones; only factory-made structures are allowed to be installed.

A permit must be obtained for glazing.

Balcony themselves SNiPs and GOSTs for balconies and loggias - construction documentation

Smoking on your own balcony

In accordance with current legislation, smoking on the balcony is not prohibited, provided that it does not disturb neighbors. Moreover, we are talking not only about cigarette smoke penetrating into neighboring apartments through open windows, ventilation and the slightest cracks.

Other residents of a multi-storey building may report you to the police if they find cigarette butts on their balcony - a common cause of fires. Of course, they will have to prove that such finds came from your apartment. If you successfully solve this problem, you will have to deal with the district police officer and representatives of the State Fire Inspectorate.

To avoid these troubles, it is enough to install ashtrays on your territory or replace traditional cigarettes with electronic cigarettes, which produce flavored vapor instead of smoke. However, these devices deserve more detailed study.

Read more about smoking on the balcony of your apartment.

SNiPs and GOSTs for balconies and loggias - construction documentation

Having decided to re-equip or repair a balcony or loggia in your apartment, you should understand that any manipulations associated with the reconstruction and redevelopment of these premises must necessarily comply with regulatory requirements. The main document regulating this type of activity is SNiP. Balconies and loggias, in accordance with this set of rules, are designed and built taking into account to prevent their damage and destruction during operation.

According to the requirements of SNiP, a loggia or balcony of an open or closed type should not exert additional pressure on the load-bearing and enclosing structures of the building in which they are located. When installing them, it is also important to take into account fire safety requirements and established sanitary standards.

In addition, this regulatory act explains in which cases the construction of these premises is inappropriate due to unfavorable operating conditions. GOST loggias and balconies are taken into account in the documentation SNiP 31-01-2003 “Residential multi-apartment buildings”, which contains a detailed list of conditions that must be met when carrying out redevelopment and re-equipment of these premises, as well as general requirements for the construction of residential buildings of various types.

Where can you smoke?

According to Federal Law No. 15, the use of tobacco products is permitted at a distance of 15 m from houses and crowded places. In addition, the ban on nicotine consumption does not apply to the private property of Russians.

In just a year since the adoption of the “anti-tobacco” law, Russia has managed to increase the number of non-smokers among young people (from 15 years old). So, as of 2014, this value is 63.5% - compared to 61.8% for the previous period.

You can smoke in your apartment: on the balcony, in the toilet, in the kitchen, etc. The main thing is that the smoke from cigarettes does not disturb the comfortable living conditions of your neighbors and does not jeopardize their health. To prevent such dangers, it is enough to install a smoothly operating air ventilation system in your apartment.

Why is the MA responsible for balconies?

The common property includes a load-bearing wall and a balcony slab, essentially the balcony floor. It is recognized as the enclosing structure of an apartment building and is under the jurisdiction of the building management organization, which is responsible for the maintenance and repair of the common property of the apartment building (clause “c” of clause 2 of the RF PP No. 491, part 2 of article 162 of the RF Housing Code). The owner himself is responsible for the remaining parts of the balcony - the canopy, roof, parapet, and glazing.

The work performed for the proper maintenance of balconies is included in the minimum list of works and services approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated April 3, 2013 No. 290. The list includes, among other things, the identification of violations and performance qualities of the balcony slab (clause 9 of the RF Government Decree No. 290).

The management company must determine the condition and, if necessary, plan repairs of balcony slabs during scheduled inspections. Inspections of the condition of the structural elements of the house must be carried out at least twice a year - in spring and autumn (clause 2.1.1 of the resolution of the State Construction Committee of the Russian Federation No. 170).

What should the management authority do to properly maintain balconies?

A balcony inspection can be carried out not only according to the plan of the management organization, but also at the request of the owner or tenant of the premises in the house. If, during inspection of the balcony, the management office found signs of damage, then, according to clause 4.2.5 of Resolution No. 170, the organization is obliged to take urgent measures and ensure the safety of people by preventing the development of deformations.

The procedure for the MA in such a situation is as follows:

1. Draw up an inspection report for the damaged balcony slab, which should describe the nature and location of the damage, and the cause, if known.
2. Determine the nature and scope of the required restoration work.
3. Determine the source of financing.
4. If the balcony slab is in disrepair and poses a threat to the safety of people, then close and seal the entrance to the balcony until repair work is completed (clause 4.2.4.3 of Resolution No. 170).

Balcony repairs are always paid for by the owners of premises in an apartment building, who bear the burden of maintaining common property:

1. If current repairs are required, then the source of its financing is the funds that the residents of the house pay monthly to the MA for the maintenance and repair of the common property of the house.
2. If the damage is significant and major repairs are required, then the issue is brought to the general meeting of owners of premises in the apartment building.

Despite the fact that current repairs, like capital ones, fall within the competence of the general meeting of owners, the absence of a decision from the general meeting of owners to carry out such work is not a reason for the management not to carry them out (appeal ruling of the Altai Regional Court dated 09/06/2017 in case No. 33-9061 /2017). The management authority must carry out the current repair of the balcony slab without waiting for the decision of the OSS.

Is it possible to smoke electronic cigarettes?

At the moment, there are no specific references to electronic analogues of tobacco products in the current legislation. This fact is actively used by distributors and consumers of these products.

Particularly active smokers manage to smoke electronic cigarettes even in hotels, trains and airplanes. As for your own apartment, in this area you can use these devices without any problems, provided you avoid tobacco-flavored liquids.

The advantages of electronic cigarettes include:

• High protection against the risk of fire occurrence and spread;
• Ease of use;
• a variety of aromas of liquids used to fill devices;
• the possibility of getting a “throat hit”, just like when smoking regular cigarettes.

As for health safety, according to experts, electronic devices cannot be called completely harmless. However, many consider their effect on the body to be much milder (compared to tobacco products).

In Art. 16 Federal Law No. 15 mentions a ban on the use of devices whose design imitates real tobacco products. According to this paragraph, you can use electronic cigarettes in public places, unless the devices you choose do not look like cigarettes.

Why did the court oblige the management company to carry out routine repairs of the balcony before a major one?

Let's look at several court cases in which owners of premises in apartment buildings demanded that management organizations repair balcony slabs.

The plaintiff lived in a house that required major repairs, but was not included in the regional program. The owner demanded that the management company carry out work to restore the balcony. The management organization refused, citing the fact that the balcony slab required major repairs. The plaintiff was advised to initiate an OSS.

Then the owner contacted the State Housing Authority. The department conducted an inspection and decided that the balcony slab had minor damage, therefore, its repair should be carried out against the funds contributed by the residents of the house for the maintenance and repair of the common property of the apartment building.

The MA assembled a commission of representatives of the municipality, regional BTI, and the State Housing Inspectorate. The commission decided that the house required major repairs and should be included in the regional program. In conclusion, the need for a major overhaul of the controversial balcony slab was recorded.

The owner filed a lawsuit. As of the date of consideration of the case, the house was not included in the regional program for major repairs. The court focused on the fact that the balcony slab is located above the sidewalk and creates a danger to the life and health of people. The organization managing the house is obliged to take measures in such a situation in accordance with clause 4.2.4.2 of Resolution No. 170.

Since the management company did not carry out security work and measures to restore the balcony, the court ruled that it did not fulfill its obligations for the maintenance and routine repair of the balcony slab, the physical wear of which had reached the maximum permissible characteristics of reliability and safety. The balcony threatened the life and health of citizens.

The judge noted that in houses where major repairs are planned in the next five years, routine repairs must be carried out to ensure standard living conditions (clause 2.3.7 of Resolution No. 170). Thus, the court ordered the management company to carry out routine repairs of the balcony slab.

When the management authority has the right to dismantle a balcony without the consent of the owner

In another case, the owner purchased an apartment in an apartment building and noticed that, contrary to the cadastral passport, there was no balcony in the premises. The former owner of the apartment explained that the balcony was dismantled in his absence.

It turned out that the balcony slab was in disrepair, which is confirmed by the inspection report. The inspection was carried out by representatives of the management organization and the municipality. To avoid the slab falling, it was decided to dismantle it. The UO complied with the decision.

The new owner demanded that the management organization restore the destroyed balcony. The management office refused, citing the absence of a decision from the general meeting of owners of premises in the building to carry out major repairs. The owner went to court.

The court sided with the management organization, since the commission that examined the balcony slab drew up a report on its emergency condition. The wear of the structural elements was more than 50%; they were not subject to repair or restoration. To prevent the balcony slab from falling, it was dismantled. The work was carried out in the absence of the owner of the apartment, since no one lived in it for a long time.

Restoring the balcony, as the court pointed out, refers to a major overhaul of the common property of an apartment building. Such a decision must be made by the owners at the general meeting (clause 1, part 2, article 44 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation). The court rejected the claim and advised the apartment owner to initiate a general meeting of owners to make a decision on restoring the balcony slab at the expense of capital repairs.

Remember

On the issue of responsibility for the condition and repair of balconies in apartment buildings, management organizations should remember the following:

1. The common property of the apartment building does not include the entire balcony, but only the balcony slab (floor) and the load-bearing wall of the house.
2. The management authority is obliged to conduct inspections and monitor the condition of the common property of the house, including balcony slabs, and take timely measures to restore their proper condition.
3. The management authority must carry out routine repairs of balcony slabs at the expense of funds collected from residents of the house for the maintenance and repair of common property, regardless of whether the corresponding decision was made at the OSS.
4. If the balcony slab requires major repairs, about which an inspection report has been drawn up, then the decision on repairs can only be made by the owners at a general meeting. In this case, the management authority should carry out work as part of routine repairs, if major repairs are not planned in the near future.
5. If the owners have not decided to overhaul the emergency balcony slab, then the management organization has the right to close and seal the entrance to the emergency balcony.

The management organization should not ignore complaints from residents of the building about the condition of the balconies: if the structure collapses due to wear and tear on the balcony slab, the management organization and its officials will bear responsibility for this.

Smoking in your own apartment

This territory falls under the definition of “private property”. Federal Law No. 15 does not apply to such territories. Non-smoking neighbors who smell cigarette smoke on their property may try to prosecute you. However, to successfully solve this problem, they will have to spend time and money on conducting a number of examinations.

The purpose of such events is to prove the deterioration of the atmosphere in the apartment and the negative impact of tobacco smoke on the health of its owners. Obtaining a positive result is only possible if you systematically and in large quantities “fumigate” neighboring living spaces.

If you have a high-quality ventilation system, this does not happen. Therefore, in order to avoid fines and conflicts with other residents of an apartment building, take care in advance to install air purification systems in the room chosen for smoking.

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