The most common buildings of this period – the so called Stalinka type (Figure 1, 2) – the buildings built in the USSR during the time of Stalin. They include the buildings of standard series Mm 1-3, 1-440 and 1-149, II-01, II-02, II-03, II-04, II-05 and II-08.

 Figure 1 – 5-storey Stalinka

 Figure 2 – 8-storey Stalinka

Main characteristics. Most of the buildings in these years had 5 floors because according to the building codes of that time it was the highest number of floors not requiring an elevator. But sometimes 6-storey buildings were also built – with a shop on the first floor.

These Stalinkas have certain construction features. The number of floors ranges from 2 to 8. Floor height, at least 3 m. The number of apartments per floor ranges from 2 to 4. These buildings have a higher level of safety and durability compared to the buildings of previous periods.

The floors in Stalinkas were often wooden or combined with reinforced concrete often used in the bathrooms (in floor slabs). In the most important buildings, the so-called “Elite Stalinka” buildings, reinforced concrete slabs (monolithic) were used everywhere. In the Stalinkas built after the early 1950-s, prefabricated reinforced concrete slabs were used.

Bricks are the main construction material used in Stalinkas. In pre-war buildings, it was mostly red brick, but later, white brick. The outer walls are usually 640 mm thick and the internal load bearing walls were 380 mm. To reduce the amount of bricks in both pre-war and post-war Stalinkas, some of the load bearing walls between the apartments was missing. Instead, the steel or reinforced concrete columns and horizontal collar beams were used, and the floor slabs were laid on them. As a rule, brick Stalinkas have more floors, a decorated façade, spacious apartments and better soundproofing.

For the construction of low-storied Stalinkas, slag blocks were used. These slag block buildings became the basis for future mass construction with the use of industrial blocks and panels.

Wooden windows, with large window area and height.

The roofs are mostly pitched, with wooden roof frame: 2-pitched, hipped or Italian roofs.

Many Stalinka buildings have balconies. The balconies were made as a monolithic slab laid on two or more beams, and were cast on site. In the 1950’s buildings, prefabricated slabs were used.

Stalinkas feature district heating in most cases, sometimes with upper vertical inflow and a double-pipe distribution network. There are buildings with built-in boiler houses, many of which were connected to district heating. Low-storied Stalinka buildings were usually designed in one of two versions, namely with district or stove heating, and the specific implementation depended on the ability to connect to CHP or boiler houses. The buildings with stove heating were later connected to the district heating systems, or gas-fired boilers were installed in them. The situation with hot water supply is similar.

Energy saving measures. Because of the large glazing area, Stalinka buildings have significant energy losses. In addition, the windows are still wooden in most cases, and do not comply with thermal resistance norms due gaps and other leakages.

The use of the steel and reinforced concrete columns in some buildings created thermal bridges in the places where these columns connect with the collar beams and attic floor elements, as attics are usually not insulated. In buildings with gas stoves installed, it is expedient to overhaul the connection to district heating and hot water supply. A common problem for Stalinkas are cold floors on the ground floors. The roofing of many buildings requires repair because at the time of construction mostly asbestos sheeting was used as a roofing material, and there are frequent leaks as the roofing is physically worn out today.

Therefore, the recommended measures include:

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[1]Astro timer is a device for precise automatic turn on and turn off for the lighting and other electricity consumers at the time of sunrise and sunset, with daily adjustment during the year. In the process of astro timer setup, GPS coordinates are input, as well as current date and time are set.