Traditional schemes for organizing heating infrastructure are not uncontested. New technological approaches to laying communications are characterized by energy efficiency and the possibility of ensuring autonomy. According to such principles, in particular, a roof boiler room is implemented. In an apartment building, it allows you to optimize heat loss, increasing energy saving by 25-30%. Of course, there are drawbacks to this solution, which are expressed both in the complexity of the technical implementation, and in the stringent requirements of regulatory rules.
The concept of an autonomous roof boiler
The roof heating system is organized in the corresponding technical room located on the highest or one of the upper floors. Often, for these purposes, special rooms and utility units are constructed, designed specifically for the needs of the placement of heating equipment. From the boiler room, communication circuits heating the apartments spread throughout the house. These can be the same pipelines as in the case of traditional hot water supply. Another thing is that the length of these lines will be less. Since the autonomous roof boiler does not have a link to the main supply network, its management is fully concentrated in the building itself, which facilitates maintenance. But this does not at all preclude the need for connections to centralized sources of fuel or electricity. The nature of the execution of this part will depend on the type of equipment, performance and other operational characteristics.
Varieties of roof boiler rooms
There are several classifications of roof boiler rooms, determined by the principle of operation, and technical and structural features. First of all, it is worth emphasizing the popularity of gas equipment, an alternative to which is only electric boiler models. The use of gas is economical and easy to maintain. As for the electrical units, they, on the contrary, are characterized by high cost, but at the same time they eliminate the need for a gas pipeline. There is a security nuance. The fact is that a roof gas boiler in an apartment building should be carefully guarded by security systems, as a rule, automatic and suggesting the possibility of self-diagnosis using sensors. It is irrational to use solid fuel boilers on the upper floors due to technical difficulties with the organization of coal and firewood delivery. Another sign of separation involves the classification of integrated and block-modular boiler rooms. These two types are worth considering separately.
Built-in boiler rooms
The main distinguishing feature of a built-in or stationary boiler room is the technical and structural compliance with the building itself. That is, the room with its constituent components is similar to building structures that form the house itself. If the building is made of panels or bricks, then the room for the boiler room is performed in the same way. In a sense, this is the very technical room, only specifically oriented to the needs of heating. Another sign may be the fact that the project of the house itself, in which an autonomous roof boiler house is installed, provided for such an opportunity. This could be manifested both in the calculation of the bearing capacity of the walls, and in the choice of insulating materials, and in the creation of circuits for the same gasification. Not to mention the fact that the designers could consciously refuse to introduce the pipeline into the walls for one reason or another and made a bet on reinforcing the top floor.
Block-modular boiler rooms
This is a type of lightweight boiler houses that do not belong to capital technical facilities. Block-modular design consists of thin metal panels, which are additionally reinforced by profile elements, technological ribs and corners. Inside, the modular roof boiler room is carefully finished with steam, heat and waterproofing materials with a fire layer. A chimney, also of lightweight construction, is integrated to remove the products of combustion.
The advantages of block-modular objects include ease of construction, versatility in operation and the ability to quickly dismantle. Initially, materials for such premises are supplied in the form of kits that have everything necessary for the functioning of the heating system. If a roof boiler room is required in an apartment building, the project of which was not designed for construction on the top floor, the modular version will be optimal.
Normative requirements of SNiP to design
Regardless of the choice of the type of boiler house design, the developers of its project must rely on the requirements of SNiP. For this, a whole section of rules II-35-76 is provided, which applies to general boiler house design standards, as well as appendix P 1-03, which is dedicated specifically to roof structures. The technical solution must, in particular, comply with the following rules:
- Walls and engineering structures should not directly mate with walls of residential premises.
- In multi-storey buildings, the construction of roof boiler rooms should not be carried out on the ceilings of residential premises.
- The control system should provide for an autonomous alarm.
- The height of the chimneys is at least 50 cm relative to the highest point of the building.
Also, without fail, the technical rooms reserved for boiler rooms must initially have ventilation. This already applies to fire safety measures when it comes to the operation of gas equipment.
SNiP requirements for equipment power
The operation of thermal units as part of residential buildings as such requires compliance with strict restrictions. And especially this applies to objects placed on the roofs. In particular, a roof boiler house in an apartment building cannot contain heating stations with a total capacity of about 3 mW. In addition, even if the productivity is less than the above value, one should also take into account another restrictive bar regarding the general heat demand of the building. The equipment should not work at capacities that are 15% higher than the demands of all consumers at home in total.
There are limitations caused by the design of the premises. Inside the technological unit, the equipment should be at a point that provides free access to the operator to all functional parts. At the same time, the construction of roof boiler rooms should not affect the design of the house itself. That is, the project should not involve a change in the structure of the roofing cake. In extreme cases, laying of additional technological insulator layers is allowed.
Gas supply requirements
Separately, there is a set of rules (SP), focused on ensuring safety rules during the operation of gas utilities. In operating mode, the gas supply circuit should not experience a pressure load of more than 5 kPa. As noted in the same joint venture, the roof boiler rooms should be supplied with gas only from the circuit drawn along the outer wall and not having additional tie-ins. That is, the gas pipeline for the heating system purposefully focuses only on the needs of boiler equipment.
In some cases, it is allowed to lay the gas pipeline on the roof, it is sold only in open form without protection with grilles and other structures that impede access to the pipe. Also, a roof gas boiler in an apartment building is equipped with a full set of technological accessories. This shut-off valves, and purge channels, and leakage sensors.
Boiler house electrification requirements
The electrical infrastructure applies not only to boilers powered by electricity, but also to gas units. In the first case, developers must provide for a second-level energy protection class. It should correspond to heating equipment, connections and related communications. Regardless of the type of fuel used, the roof boiler house of a residential building should be provided with lightning protection and provide for grounding. Lighting is provided by hermetic lamps, the casing of which has a metal mesh.
Positive reviews about the roof boiler
Most of the positive feedback about this type of boiler room is based on optimization. The absence of additional communication channels, the reduction in the cost of building individual buildings and, as a result, the simplification of maintenance - all this, of course, creates only a positive impression. In addition, the roof boiler house of a residential building provides significant savings in energy costs during operation. In most cases, it is this aspect that becomes a decisive factor in favor of such a choice.
Negative reviews
Organizations that have experience working with rooftop boilers note design complexity due to severe restrictions. This is primarily due to the structural and power framework, which should be equipped with a roof boiler in an apartment building. The reviews indicate the fact that traditional ground facilities can be built on the basis of equipment of almost any capacity. Roof heating stations, in turn, do not allow the use of even traditional solid fuel units.
Another group of shortcomings is associated with high requirements for the provision of protective measures. For example, a roof boiler house in an apartment building should have a modern automatic control system and a wide range of devices that are activated when emergency conditions are fixed.
Conclusion
For a number of parameters and operational features, we can conclude that the roof method of placing heating equipment is the most promising. Moreover, the disadvantages of this solution are resolved today by modern technologies - this applies to compact sizes, and the introduction of automation. The only significant obstacle for organizations for which the roof gas boiler room in an apartment building becomes inaccessible is the price, which averages 2-3 million rubles. This is the cost of a modular unit with a typical boiler. To this is also worth paying for the services of designers, installers and adjusters, as a result of which the price tag will rise by about 1 million more.