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Concluding the study on the technical condition of Soviet-era multi-apartment standardized residential buildings, the Ministry of Economics, in cooperation with experienced construction specialists, has conducted an in-depth technical condition study of the structures of series 104 and 119 multi-apartment buildings.
As part of the study, a technical inspection was carried out on 20 multi-apartment residential buildings of these series to assess their technical condition, evaluate their mechanical strength and stability, as well as identify potential common defects that could affect their safety. The study was conducted on buildings in Riga, Jelgava, and Liepāja, which were commissioned between 1980 and 1992. Additionally, the structural nodes of a newly constructed series 119 building were examined.
The study concluded that the load-bearing structures of the buildings generally comply with mechanical strength and stability requirements. The identified damages do not affect the structural safety of the buildings concerning mechanical strength and stability; however, some buildings showed defects impacting operational safety and fire safety. Experts determined that the technical condition of load-bearing and enclosing structures is primarily influenced by the quality of construction work, design solutions, and building maintenance during operation.
As the most critical recommendations for improving the technical condition of these series buildings to ensure their continued and sustainable use, researchers have indicated:
- Timely initiation and periodic monitoring of building verticality, settlement, and cracks if signs of possible structural deformations are observed;
- Paying attention to damages in the load-bearing reinforced concrete roof beams;
- Promptly addressing damages in balcony railing fastenings.
During the study, no typical structural defects or deficiencies affecting building safety were found that would be characteristic of multiple buildings. Therefore, no standardized solutions for strengthening load-bearing structures were developed. However, an informational guide has been created for conducting in-depth technical inspections of the load-bearing structures of these series buildings, as well as recommendations on building service life, maintenance, and cases where structural or node reinforcement work is mandatory.
The study results can be accessed on the website of the Construction Information System.
As a reminder, to assess the technical condition of the existing housing stock, the Ministry of Economics, in collaboration with experienced construction specialists, has previously conducted inspections of multi-apartment buildings of series 316 and 318, as well as their balconies. Additionally, inspections were carried out on buildings of series 464, 467A, 602, 602P, and 103.
With the study of series 104 and 119 multi-apartment buildings, the research cycle aimed at evaluating the mechanical strength and stability of standardized buildings has been concluded. Based on the overall research data, it has been determined that the continued operation of standardized multi-apartment buildings is safe. At the same time, we urge apartment owners and building managers to pay attention to regular and high-quality building inspections, particularly focusing on the recommendations outlined in the studies regarding the identified deficiencies or non-compliance specific to each building series, as well as not delaying necessary repair work to ensure the longevity of buildings.
All results of previous building inspections and standardized recommendations for strengthening buildings are available on the Construction Information System website.