Is it possible to drill a ventilation duct and make structural modifications to the ventilation shaft

Are you thinking about expanding the area of ​​your home due to the ventilation duct? But are you worried that such a decision could have negative consequences? You don't want to become a delinquent because of a few square centimeters. Isn't that right? So, is it possible to interfere with the construction of the ventilation mine and how can this threaten?

We will help you find answers to all these questions - in our article we will talk in detail about whether it is possible to drill a ventilation duct or subject it to other structural modifications. We will also dwell on the main regulatory legal acts regulating this issue.

Purpose of the ventilation duct

The ventilation box is part of a ventilation system designed to keep the home comfortable and safe. living conditions by removing harmful substances (for example, carbon monoxide), moisture, carbon dioxide outside building. Its performance is supported by the service organization, which must regularly conduct professional examinations and

mine cleaning.

In addition, a ventilation system is necessary to maintain optimal or permissible microclimate parameters in each residential or public space. This is stated in one of the most important profile documents, which is GOST 30494-2011. It also lists the requirements that must be met.

At the same time, air exchange in housing and a number of premises for other purposes must be present without fail. This is stated in SP 60.13330.2016.

It is forbidden to make any changes to the general ventilation system, as this leads to a decrease in safety, living conditions and therefore is considered illegal redevelopment. With which the state is actively fighting, as well as the regional authorities.

For example, in the capital, for this purpose, a Decree of the Moscow Government, known to many violators, was issued. No. 508-PP. Where it is said that unauthorized redevelopments are illegal procedures, and most importantly, dangerous, therefore they are unacceptable.

And for those who expect to find some loopholes, the city authorities have created a list of operations that cannot be performed. So, the document prohibits legalizing such procedures as reducing the section of any ventilation duct.

In addition, all ventilation systems are common house equipment, that is, it belongs in equal shares to all residents of the house. This is stated in Art. 36Housing Code.

As a result, it can be argued that it is impossible to drill a ventilation duct located in an apartment or other room.

And that's why:

• For personal use of common house property, permission must be obtained from all its other co-owners. Moreover, there are no exceptions. But at the same time, the neighbors do not have the right to give permission for redevelopment, especially illegal.
• The redevelopment must be approved by the local housing inspectorate, but this state body will not even accept an appeal asking for permission to change the design of the ventilation system.

At the same time, violators cannot count on any indulgences, mitigation of legislation, and retroactive legalization.

What does the law say about interference with the ventilation system?

As we said, a ventilation system is key to a safe and comfortable stay. And most importantly, it is usually common for a whole group of rooms. Therefore, these engineering communications should be protected and taken care of their performance and efficiency.

But in practice, things are different. For example, some residents often get in the way of ventilation ducts. It seems to them that this construction takes up their precious centimeters, which are already few in number.

As a result, many home-grown "homemade products" are trying to derive any benefit from ventilation boxes. For what they are drilling a ventilation shaft, without even thinking about whether it can be done and whether such actions are safe.

Such a procedure, which is harmful to the ventilation system, is performed not for entertainment, but for the purpose of:

• place some items (for example, paintings, other decor items, hangers, horizontal bars);
• pass the wires through the channel of the ventilation system - for example, there is a place for installing a washing machine, but between it and the outlet there is a ventilation box, which you can simply to get around, but for some reason many craftsmen drill the structure, put a thin plastic tube there, through which wires are laid and with their help they provide the connection of the machine to power grids;
• reduce the size of the ventilation duct, etc.

When performing the above illegal operations, it is not taken into account that the structure of the box is far from strong. That is, it is not designed to cope with any significant loads, including vibrations during the same drilling. For example, ventilation boxes are often a self-supporting structure that takes the load only from its own weight and is not designed for any vertical loads.

It is in this way that they use to create ventilation shafts in buildings built according to the requirements of the P-44 project. But this is the largest series of residential panel houses.

Therefore, when drilling a hole, the structure of the ventilation box is damaged, which leads to its weakening and settlement. As a result, wires, pipes, illegally laid through the boxes, are often damaged. And to avoid this, experienced intruders make oval holes. And everything would be fine, but even one additional hole made may well lead to cracks and other troubles.

And given the fact that today ventilation systems are often affected by a much larger actual load than the calculated one (the use of fans, hoods affects), then everything can turn out to be large problems. For example, holes, cracks, and even thin conduit tubes inside can lead to a high pressure zone.

As a result, reverse thrust will occur, which means that:

• no harmful substances (for example, carbon monoxide), moisture, unpleasant odors will be removed from the home;
• in addition, everything listed in the first paragraph can get into the room from other apartments.

In addition, not only the residents of this apartment, but also the neighbors can suffer from the actions of the offender and reverse thrust.

But the worst thing is not even that there may be a conflict with other tenants, representatives of the management company or the local housing inspectorate. By his actions, the offender will provoke other irresponsible citizens using the same ventilation system to the same actions. Which is fraught with the appearance of disassembled sections of air ducts, cracks, destruction and other things.

The result is disastrous - because of the inefficiency of ventilation systems, residents of thousands of Russian high-rise buildings suffer. At the same time, due to this reason, dozens of tragedies occur annually in buildings equipped with gas appliances. More about ventilation requirements for rooms with gas stoves we wrote here.

Consequences of unauthorized drilling of the box

Before you start drilling a ventilation shaft, you should think about whether there is rationality, practicality and benefit in such actions.

So in the event that the homeowner nevertheless decides to perform these illegal manipulations, he can receive the following benefits:

• Satisfy your curiosity - quite often people drill a mine to see what is inside. But there is nothing interesting behind the wall of the box, since you can find there only the entrance ventilation ducts brought from several apartments, and one common air duct designed to remove contaminated (waste) air masses outside building.
• Arrange a place for placing something on the surface of the box - shelves, paintings.
• Add a few tens of square centimeters of usable area.

That is, the standard of living, its comfort will not change significantly. Although it is quite possible to get some tactical advantages from the design change.

Before starting any manipulations with the boxes, the possible consequences should also be taken into account:

• A violation may be identified and a fine will have to be paid. The reason for this Art. 7.21Administrative Code of the Russian Federation, which says that you will have to transfer 2-2.5 thousand rubles to the budget. rubles. Employees of the local housing inspectorate have the right to impose a fine.
• The design of the ventilation box will need to be restored to its original state - the consequences of redevelopment will have to be eliminated. And this is not so easy - in some cases you will have to contact the organization that made the ventilation system project, which is expensive.
• An appeal to the court will follow, which in case of untimely or poor-quality elimination of deficiencies is entitled to make the management company, housing inspection or neighbors (in order to increase the amount of fines sanctions).
• If all of the above requirements are ignored, the sale of housing will follow to eliminate the consequences. This is rarely the case, but examples are known. The specified procedure is performed based on Art. 87 Federal law 229-FZregulating the scope of enforcement proceedings.

As a result, the negative consequences can significantly outweigh the benefits. In addition, practice shows that housing with damaged boxes costs 10-20% less than with serviceable ones.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The video describes what happens when the owner of the premises violated the integrity of the ventilation duct structure and this was revealed.

Drilling of ventilation ducts is opposed by legislation, public opinion and even common sense. The reason is that the said redevelopment will not give any cardinal advantage, but will reduce, and in some cases significantly, the comfort and safety of living. The parameters of the microclimate will also worsen, which often leads to various diseases, including asthma.

Have you faced the issue of violation of the integrity of the ventilation duct and want to supplement the above material with useful information? Or do you still have questions? You can express your opinion, share experience, ask advice from our experts and other users of the site in the block below this article.