Article 1 -Standard for Escalators and Moving Walks (EN 115)

Introduction of EN 115-1:2017 Escalator and Moving Walk Standard

The standard for escalators and moving walks, EN 115-1:2017 defines safety requirements for escalators and moving walks. It also covers all escalator major dangers and hazards as well as misusages and situations related to the above-mentioned. The objective is to protect people/objects against risks of accidents during installation, operation, maintenance & inspection work. This standard is not applied to escalators and moving walks that were manufactured before the date of the document's publication. However, it is recommended that all existing installed escalators conform to this version of the standard. 

The European Commission and the European Free Trade Association supported the essential requirements of EU Directives and instructed CEN to create the new version of the Standard.

The Final Version of EN 115 Escalator and Moving Walk Standard

The final version of the standard for escalators and moving walks is EN 115-1:2017 which was approved by the Technical Committee CEN/TC10 and superseded EN 115-1:2008+A1:2010. This version became a national standard by January 2018. The committee is a secretariat of AFNOR for Lifts, escalators, and moving walks and created the replacement standard due to the number of safety and upgrade issues in the previous document. They withdrew all other conflicting standards by January 2019. 

The Sections of the EN 115-1:2017 Standard

The standard for escalators and moving walks safety consists of the following parts: 

1.  Part 1: Construction and installation.
2.  Part 2: Regulations for the improvement of safety in escalators and moving walks.
3.  Part 3: The association of the EN 115:1995, its amendments, and EN 115-1:2008 (Technical Report).
   Countries that are bound to implement the EN 115 standard are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.
4.  Part 4: Interpretation of the EN 115 family of standards or the related ones (Technical Specification).

Member Countries who implement the EN 115 Standard

Countries that are bound to implement the EN 115 standard are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

The Areas Which EN 115 Standard Influences:

This document is a type-C standard and it is related to machine manufacturers (small, medium, and large enterprises) and health and safety bodies (regulators, accident prevention organizations, market surveillance, etc.). Also, the safety requirements of Escalators and Moving Walks influences others such as machine users/employers (small, medium, and large enterprises), machine users/employees (e.g. trade unions, organizations for people with special needs), service providers (small, medium and large enterprises), as well as consumers. 

The requisites of the type-C standard take precedence over all other requirements of other (Types A and B) standards for machines.

EN 115 Escalator standard Requirements for Users with Physical Disabilities:

The standard assumes that able people will be using Escalators and Moving Walks. It assumes that there are populations with disabilities who might make use of these products, facilities, and the environment. Use depends on the scope of their disabilities. Do not use wheelchairs on Escalators and Moving Walks because of the existing dangers.

The standard recommends people with disabilities, in wheelchairs, or with guide dogs use elevators. Projects should install signs close to Escalators and Moving Walks to indicate the location of elevators. Building designers/owners must include measures to minimize dangers, hazards, and risks to an acceptable level at the building design stage, according to the ISO 14798 methodology. 

Other Requirements of the EN 115 Standard for Escalators and Moving walks:

EN 115, the standard for escalators and moving walks assumes negotiations take place between the customer and the supplier or installer for each contract to evaluate the intended use of the escalator or moving walk, environmental conditions, civil engineering issues, as well as other requirements related to the site of installation.

 It is the responsibility of the building designer or owner to plan traffic flows for evacuation and rescue purposes.

 Based on utilization or installation environment, for operation under special conditions of exposure to weather (fully-outdoor/semi-outdoor), explosive atmosphere, or as an emergency exit, the design, components, materials, options, and instructions for use must be according to the existing conditions.

Where to Enquire About Issues of the EN 115 Standard:

To clarify any issues related to the standard which are unclear or unidentified, Contact the Interpretation Committee, which supervises the Technical Committee CEN/TC 10.