Main characteristics. The buildings constructed before 1920, also referred to as “pre-revolutionary” (Figure 1, 2), are presumably represented by low-storied buildings (1-2 floors), though sometimes they can have up to 8 floors. Apartments in such buildings had no space norms and had their distinctiveness, though their space did not exceed 100120 m2. Floor height from 3 to 4 m.

Figure 1  2-storied pre-revolution building

 Figure 2  5-storied pre-revolution building

The interfloor overlappings in such buildings were made of wooden, metal or reinforced concrete floor beams.

The building envelope was usually constructed of bricks, or was of a combined type with use of the local materials (including wooden frames).

Wooden windows.

The roofs are mostly pitched, with wooden roof frame: hipped or Italian roof[1].

The heating systems of such buildings have been also completely reconstructed by today (modern individual or district heating), because many low-storied buildings constructed before the 1920’s had individual stove heating. The heating devices installed in the process of operation are generally sectional and tube-type radiators or heating system registers. The situation with the hot water supply systems that were reconstructed or completely installed during the period of mass connection to the district boiler houses is similar. When individual heating and hot water supply systems were installed, gas-fired water heaters were popular.

Energy saving measures. For this type of building, it is possible to use almost the full range of EE measures due to the significant aging of the construction elements of these buildings over their life period. Accordingly, these buildings require technical surveys and capital renovation or restoration.

One advantage of such buildings is their permanent nature and the significant thickness of the outer bearing walls. They were usually made of 640 mm and thicker bricks.

Therefore, the recommended measures include:



[1]Hipped roof has four pitches: two pitches are trapezoids, and two others, on the gable wall side triangles.