IS IT WARM?

One person was killed by an explosion in a nine-storey building in Baku's Nizami district in May 2008. The outcome was lethal, but many sighed with relief - it could have been worse. After all, incidents that involve gas leaks in residential buildings and are accompanied by loss of life have repeatedly taken place in Baku. A few months later, in August, a gas leak caused an explosion in a five-storey building in the same Nizami district. Fortunately, no-one was killed, but the apartments on the first and second floors of the building were severely damaged. On 13 December 2008, the list of tragic accidents in Nizami district was topped by another powerful explosion in a five-storey residential building in Naxcivani Street. As a result, the third, fourth and fifth floors of the two-block building were completely destroyed. Three people were killed and five received various injuries, while many inhabitants of the house had to be evacuated. The cause was careless use of gas. This was followed by explosions on 8 January 2009 in a dormitory in Nasimi district and in a private house in Binaqadi district. Five people were injured, and the cause was the same. On 16 January 2009, another powerful explosion occurred in Nasimi district. The theory that the accident was caused by a gas leak in one of the apartments was confirmed. The investigation revealed that an illegal rubber tube connected to a gas furnace had been installed in the apartment. During the explosion, the gas tap was open. Three people were killed and nine were injured. On 19 and 29 January 2010, gas leaks caused explosions in residential buildings in Sabayil and Nasimi districts of Baku respectively. A number of such incidents also took place in private homes. Explosions are especially frequent in winter when citizens have to use sub-standard gas appliances.

What are we to do?

Perhaps, there is no point in asking what to do and who is to blame, because it is well known that if in summer a gas leak results probably from carelessness, in winter it is a regular occurrence. It is cold. Most buildings in the city have had no heating system for 8-9 years as the main and internal communications and heating systems are worn out and have not been repaired since the collapse of the Soviet Union. In addition, many residents have simply dismantled heating pipes at their homes because of their uselessness, while many new buildings have no such systems as they use Combi gas heaters. Residents of prefabricated houses are in the worst situation. Reinforced concrete structures "successfully" let in moisture and cold from outside. As a result, residents constantly use gas burners and sub-standard gas heaters, which result in poisoning with combustion products, gas leaks and, as a consequence, explosions. Some people can afford to use electric heaters - heating elements, reflectors, etc. But for many the cost of electricity is too high as the incomes of most people still leave much to be desired. People admit that, trying to warm their apartments and not to splurge on electricity bills, they are forced to "tamper" with or disable electrical meters. But many cannot do so because in some homes disc electricity meters have been replaced by digital ones to prevent theft of electricity. They can't be tampered with. As a result, people are forced to use gas heaters. It is dangerous, but much cheaper.

The explosions and deaths forced the Azariqaz closed joint-stock company to issue an official statement in 2009 on the basis of investigations - the increasing number of explosions in residential buildings is caused by the use of sub-standard gas heaters and careless handling of gas by consumers. In this connection, it was decided to speed up the restoration of the central heating system in Azerbaijan. Azariqaz sent an appeal to the Cabinet of Ministers for the restoration of the central heating system in homes. It also noted that the use of gas heaters in high-rise buildings is prohibited and people are encouraged to use electric heaters (which not everyone can afford yet - author). In order to strengthen safety measures while supplying gas to residential buildings, the company decided not to supply gas to institutions that use gas without approved projects. As part of the package of proposals to the Cabinet of Ministers, Azariqaz also indicated the need to address gaps in legislation, improve the regulatory framework, ban the importation of sub-standard gas appliances, apply sanctions against citizens who violate the rules of using gas lines and appliances, etc. As a result of a survey conducted by the State Committee for Standardization, Metrology and Patents in 2009, 29 shopping centres selling 57 types of sub-standard gas heaters were identified.

Mobile approach

Talking about the problem of heating not only in homes, but also at social institutions - kindergartens, schools and hospitals, it should be noted that in anticipation of the autumn-winter season of 2004/2005, officials resorted to the radical reconstruction of the heating system. The government of Azerbaijan raised the issue of reforming the fuel and energy complex (FEC) of the country in 2004 and requested technical assistance from the US Agency for International Development (USAID). In turn, USAID held a tender which was won by PA Consulting Group. The company's specialists prepared rationalist proposals and came to the conclusion that before reforming the FEC, it is necessary to put in order the system of housing and communal services in general and the heating industry in particular. So PA Consulting experts took an active part in a qualitatively new approach to the reform of the heating system in Azerbaijan.

Government agencies and the government itself carefully studied numerous proposals from both domestic and foreign experts. In summer 2005, the Cabinet of Ministers took serious measures to reform the country's heating sector. It was then, long before the heating season of 2005/2006, that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev issued an instruction "On improving governance in the field of heat supplies". As part of the instruction, the Azaristiliktachizat joint-stock company was set up. Prior to the winter of 2006, the state of thermal plants in the country was studied and most of them were repaired. For the first time in the past 15 years, the country launched an action plan to prepare the industry for the autumn-winter season.

In addition, in October 2005, another important document was proposed in order to improve "the winter life" not only for citizens of Baku, but for the entire population of Azerbaijan - "the heating strategy" which covers 2006-2015. It should be noted that as part of the work to prepare the state programme, the heating sector development strategy, as well as the experience of 30 countries were taken as a basis. It's no secret that the current heating system in Azerbaijan is completely centralized, and in addition, we still operate facilities (boilers, main heating networks, etc.) built in the 1960s. Thus, the main purpose of the state programme is the complete the decentralization of heating system and its complete reconstruction, involving the use of modern equipment. In fact, the heating system will be fully updated and people will be supplied with heat from mini-boilers designed for 2-4 houses.

According to the head of the customer services unit of Azaristiliktachizat, Rafiq Aliyev, the reconstruction of the heating system is now under way in residential homes and social and public institutions in Baku. "A considerable amount of work is scheduled for this year - the restoration of heating sources, upgrading of boilers, the construction of continuous and reliable sources of heat and new gas lines in boiler rooms," the specialist said. If last year, he said, heating was supplied to 2,050 residential buildings, lower pipes were fully restored in 32 and internal problems were solved in 120 buildings, this year heating is supplied to 2,300 residential buildings. For comparison, at the time the company was set up, only 988 residential buildings were heated in the capital. To date, among the eleven districts of Baku, Xatai district has been recognized as the most "heated" one, while there is almost no centralized heating system in Azizbayov district.

In 2008, for example, about 46 modular boilers were installed in the suburbs. They were assembled from Italian, German and Turkish materials in a factory of the company. This is a very convenient system that does not require the permanent presence of working staff. Everything is automated. In an emergency, all mechanisms of such equipment stop working. The capacity of the boiler depends on the construction of the building. This year 337 modular boilers are working across the country. In 2008, 100 boilers were installed in schools and other social institutions. Unfortunately, they cannot be installed in residential neighbourhoods because this sector requires a larger boiler capacity and appropriate size. Azaristiliktachizat has carried out an inventory of all boilers in the country. It was found that most of them are obsolete and do not meet modern requirements, including environmental ones. In addition, they are connected to the main lines which are difficult to restore after the slightest disruption in the process. Azaristiliktachizat tries to give up such centralized systems and to modernize the heating points that are on their balance sheets. This helps minimize heat loss, and if there is a leakage of water, the problem is easy to eliminate. That's to say the company gradually starts to use quarterly boilers which will also be equipped with modern units. These boilers will supply heating to 10-15 houses.

From season to season

As far as the dismantling of heating pipes in apartments is concerned, the specialist observed that unauthorized interference in this process is unacceptable. The scheme of heating in almost all houses is that if someone "cuts off" heating in the hallway, then the operation of heating pipes in all the other flats will automatically be paralyzed. These are engineering and communication facilities which supply heating to a whole house, and no-one has the right to arbitrarily cut them off. This mechanism works as follows: the lower pipes in the basement of the house send warm water to the top whence it goes down into every apartment. And if someone cuts the pipe out, then the circulation is disrupted, because the water should go back to the boiler room by the same lines, heat up again there and return to the house. If, disregarding these aspects, we supply heat to apartments, we can simply flood all of them. Therefore, if we do not put all the lines in order, the company cannot supply heating.

Interestingly, economic gain has already made many people restore the heating system at their homes. It is much more profitable to heat the home with the help of boilers, not electrical equipment. Azaristiliktachizat has very low rates - 5 qapiks per 1 sq.m. of living space, that is heating a 2-room 30 sq.m apartment costs consumers 1.5 manats per month, while heating the same apartment with electricity is several times more expensive.

The delivery of heat to homes is the responsibility of utility and municipal services (housing department), which must monitor the state of internal lines. The housing department must promptly notify the company about all problems that arise in a particular area. Azaristiliktachizat only upgrades boilers, while the housing departments use them. People who appeal to these agencies are often dissatisfied with their work. In turn, the housing department staff complain that they do not have sufficient resources, and for this reason, cannot help residents to solve their problems in a timely manner. But we should admit that most of the Baku houses were built during the Soviet era. Today, their communications require major repairs. And all this requires money. Therefore, a special programme should be developed for the housing department. Maybe it will help find a way out of this situation, the specialist believes. Interestingly, the new buildings have no central heating. During the construction of a residential house, the company informs homeowners that there is a source of heat close to their building (in the form of a modular boiler, for example) and they can use it. If they do not want to use it, that's their own business.

Regarding the situation with the supply of heating to schools and other social institutions, after the establishment of Azaristiliktachizat, the government commissioned a new programme to improve the heating systems at these facilities. The Heydar Aliyev Fund, the Education and Health Ministries are helping the joint-stock company with this. In early 2008, a protocol on cooperation was signed with them. According to this document, from the 2008/2009 heating season, all schools in Baku, except for those which have their own sources of heat, are centrally heated. In this season, the company supplies heating to 190 metropolitan schools, 148 kindergartens, 75 health institutions and 156 other social institutions. Heat is also supplied to 26 buildings of the Republican Psychiatric Hospital. With respect to preschool institutions, internal heating systems have been restored in 44 kindergartens. Similar work was carried out at 60 kindergartens in 2008. All preschool institutions connected to the company receive heating in a centralized manner. As for children's institutions which have no heating system, Azaristiliktachizat is developing a special programme for them, under which it is planned to create sources of heat in them.

However, the state of affairs with heating is more difficult in the regions. In 2008, a boiler was built in Sumqayit. In addition, the executive authorities of the city helped residents rebuild the pipes inside their flats, so heating has been supplied to homes in the city since the 2008/2009 heating season. As for Sumqayit schools, five new boilers have been installed here and it is planned to commission another 127. On the whole, heating will be supplied to 250 city institutions. The situation in other regions of the country is not controlled by the company yet, but a programme has already been developed for them.

In the field of heating supplies, Azaristiliktachizat has many problems to deal with and their solution requires more than one year. The heating strategy clearly specifies: if the country wants to achieve effective reforms in this sector, it is necessary to gradually commission independent boilers which have proven effective in many countries. The era of giant boilers is over. They will soon be replaced in the capital and the regions with autonomous ones, which will supply heating to three to fifteen houses and work on certain amounts of electricity and gas. It is therefore very important to ensure that there is no interruption in supplies, which, unfortunately, is very common in the regions.

Mini-heating

Currently, relevant structures are checking gas heaters installed in residential buildings for compliance with the standards. Of course, central heating in this situation is the best way out, but it is clear that in the near future not all homes will be provided with "state heat", and the strategy of Azaristiliktachizat aims to create conditions for individual heating systems. One such effective, convenient and secure system is the Combi mini-heating system. Many more or less wealthy people now prefer it. By the way, such equipment can be used by two or three apartment buildings and one single apartment. According to Vuqar Sultanov, the director of AVM, the official dealer of the German firm WOLF, which produces heating equipment, the advantage of the Combi heating system is that it can be used in small apartments. That's when there is no need for large installations and heavy boilers. Apartments use wall-mounted boilers with a capacity of 20, 24 or 28 kW. First, small boilers are cheaper. Second, wall-mounted boilers are airproof and rule out possible human contact with domestic gas. Third, in conditioned equipment, gas emissions are minimal. "Note that although Combi heating systems consume a minimum amount of gas, their maximum efficiency is 104-108 per cent. But the main advantage of Combi is safety. The system is so automated that leakages of water and gas are excluded," Sultanov emphasizes.

At the same time, the AVM director stressed that people with average incomes should get rid of the conviction that they cannot afford the Combi heating system. "Every producer has its own segment of the market, based on which supply is sorted out. There are both expensive and cheap boilers, but cheap does not mean low quality, as a company with a name will keep its brand under any scenario. Therefore, in the issue of pricing a good producer also needs to maintain quality. What is the main function of the Combi heating system? Heating! And economy class equipment performs this function efficiently. We also have expensive and smart equipment with so-called frills, which, for example, can turn on automatically in the absence of the homeowner at a certain time and at a given temperature, or perform other complex actions. Depending on the manufacturer there are more intelligent systems. It's like buying a car of the same brand, the price of which varies depending on the degree of its equipment - with or without a hatch, or with or without climate control, etc. But the presence or absence of frills does not mean that the car will not perform its primary function. For example, prices for economy class versions of Combi range from 650 to 1,000 manats. Besides all this can be purchased on credit," our interviewee says.

However, it is worth remembering that human life and safety are not measured in any currency. It is important to deal with the official dealer, but not with a trader at the market, even if the product has a quality certificate. "The dealer provides the customer with services and equipment certified by the manufacturer, while installation is the responsibility of a specialist. We bear responsibility for every system that has been sold. Therefore, the basic strategy of our company is improvement, which is ensured by the fact that the company pays for the training of its specialists in Italy, Germany and Holland. And we are not standing still," Sultanov notes.

In general, the AVM director believes that an individual heating system should not be compared with a centralized one, mainly because the latter is no longer necessary as it is awkward and inefficient. Azaristiliktachizat has long come to this conclusion. "It is much more economical to install large Combi systems designed for residential complexes of two or four homes rather than modernize the equipment of central heating, especially as many new buildings in Baku already operate autonomous heating systems. European countries have long adopted such a policy of heating," he said. However, it should be noted that the centralized heating system is still safer, because the more people have contact with gas, the greater the risk. "If you have an emergency in a central heating system, the valve is triggered immediately, and the system itself is under the constant supervision of specialists, while individual heating requires the most careful treatment and approach from the consumer, which does not always happen. For instance, you may be very careful, but your neighbour may not. As a result, many may suffer. Therefore, Combi heating systems are installed only on balconies or other open areas. Central heating works for 25-30 years, and individual heating for 10 years. But in any case, the Combi system is optimal, economical and effective," our interviewee concluded.