Article 15- Escalator Balustrade Safety Devices
Safety Devices to Provide Balustrade Safety for Passengers
In this article, we intend to introduce the balustrade safety devices which are useful to improve passengers safety while using an escalator or moving walk.
For this purpose there are four devices that are useful for passenger safety as below:
Escalator Anti-Climbing Device
To ensure prevention of stepping on the lower outer decking and climbing from outside of the balustrade we must install an anti-climbing device(s). This device is located on the outer lower decking and begins at a height of 1000 ± 50 millimeters from the lower finished floor surface. The length of the device is 1000 millimeters which is in parallel with the balustrade. To provide safety for passengers’ hands and fingers, the height of this device can be extended to a maximum of 25 millimeters and it can go up to 150 millimeters below the handrail and the distance between the handrail and anti-climbing device must be more than 80 millimeters.
Escalator and Moving Walk Access Restriction Device
When the escalator or moving walk is installed beside a wall and the lower outer decking width is more than 125 millimeters, to prevent passengers from standing on the lower outer decking an access restriction device must be installed at the top and bottom on the walls. The distance between the balustrade panel and the access restriction device must be less than 120 millimeters.
When we have two escalators or moving walks in a parallel arrangement and the combined lower outer decking width of both escalators are more than 125 millimeters, an access restriction device must be installed at the top and bottom at the beginning of the lower outer deckings.
To provide safety for passengers’ hands and fingers the height of this device in both arrangements can be extended to 25 millimeters and it can go up to 150 millimeters below the handrail.
Escalator and Moving Walk Anti-Sliding Device
In an escalator or moving walk with a solid balustrade which has upper outer decking when the escalator is installed beside a wall and the distance between the wall and the center of the handrail is more than 300 millimeters, to prevent from sliding on the upper outer decking anti-sliding device must be installed. The distance between the handrail and anti-sliding device must be more than 100 millimeters and spaced no greater than 1800 millimeters apart. The height of the device must not be less than 20 millimeters and must not have any sharp corners or edges.
Also, when we have two escalators or moving walks in a parallel arrangement and the distance between the centers of their handrails is more than 400 millimeters we must install an anti-sliding device.
Note: All exposed fastener heads for the balustrade safety devices must be of the vandal-resistant type.
Anti-Colliding Device
The hazard of passengers colliding usually happens at floor intersections or criss-cross escalator arrangement when they are bending on the handrail to look down or are exceeding their arm from the balustrade area. In order to prevent such hazards, an appropriate width must be considered as well as installing an anti-colliding device. For this purpose, a triangular-shaped safety device as a vertical reflector must be installed with the standard height above the handrail level. This reflector must not present any sharp cutting edges.
