Following a comprehensive examination of the technical condition of Soviet-era standardized apartment buildings, the Ministry of Economics, in collaboration with experienced construction specialists, has conducted an in-depth study of the structural condition of Series 104 and 119 apartment buildings.

As part of the study, a technical inspection was carried out on 20 apartment buildings from these series to assess their mechanical strength, stability, and potential common structural defects that could affect their safety. The study included buildings located in Riga, Jelgava, and Liepāja, which were commissioned between 1980 and 1992. Additionally, structural nodes of a newly built Series 119 building were also analyzed.

The study concluded that the load-bearing structures of these buildings generally meet the requirements for mechanical strength and stability. Identified damages do not compromise the buildings' mechanical strength and stability. However, certain buildings were found to have defects impacting usage safety and fire safety. Experts noted that the technical condition of load-bearing and enclosing structures is influenced primarily by the quality of construction and maintenance during the building's operational period.

Key recommendations for improving the technical condition of these series buildings to ensure safe and sustainable future use include:

• Initiating timely monitoring of vertical alignment, settlement, and cracks in buildings where deformation signs are observed.
• Addressing damage to roof-supporting reinforced concrete beams.
• Promptly repairing damage to balcony railing fastenings.

No typical or recurring defects in load-bearing structures were identified during the study that could compromise safety, and thus no standardized solutions for strengthening load-bearing structures were developed. However, an informational guide was prepared for conducting in-depth technical inspections of load-bearing structures in these series buildings, alongside proposals for building maintenance, operational timeframes, and scenarios requiring structural reinforcement work.

The study results are available on the Construction Information System website.

It is worth noting that, in previous years, the Ministry of Economics, in collaboration with construction specialists, conducted inspections of Series 316 and 318 apartment buildings, including their balconies, as well as Series 464, 467A, 602, 602P, and 103 buildings.

With the completion of the study on Series 104 and 119 buildings, the cycle of investigations aimed at verifying the mechanical strength and stability of standardized buildings has concluded. Based on the overall findings, the continued operation of standardized apartment buildings is deemed safe. At the same time, apartment owners and building managers are urged to focus on regular and high-quality inspections, paying particular attention to the recommendations provided for addressing deficiencies or non-compliances identified in each building series, and to avoid delaying necessary repairs for extending the lifespan of these buildings.

The results of previous inspections and standardized recommendations for strengthening buildings are available on the Construction Information System website: https://bis.gov.lv/noderigi/daudzdzivoklu-eku-izpete.

Public Relations Department
Ministry of Economics
prese@em.gov.lv