Article 14- Escalator Balustrade Dimensions and Safety Requirements

Balustrade Dimensions of Escalator and Moving Walks

The balustrade is a safeguard on two sides of the escalator which provides passengers safety and supports the handrail. The vertical height of the balustrade from the step nose or pallet surface to the top handrail, on the incline, must be between 0.90 and 1.10 meters. Moreover, sitting on and climbing the balustrade are not authorized and suitable measures should be taken to prevent the passengers from falling and discourage them from climbing the balustrade. 

Balustrades must withstand a simultaneously applied static lateral force of 600 N and vertical force of 730 N, both equally distributed over 1 meter and acting on the top of the handrail guiding system in the same place.

The newel of the balustrade including the handrail must extend horizontally by a minimum of 600 millimeters in length beyond the comb intersection line and a minimum of 300 millimeters of this length must continue horizontally at the landings (before the curve).

Note: For inclined moving walks that do not have horizontal sections at the landings, it is authorized to continue the handrail parallel to the angle of inclination.

Balustrade Safety Requirements

For the escalator and moving walk balustrades safety, the following items must be considered:

- Balustrades parts on the side of the steps and pallets must be smooth and flush without sharp edges. 

- Covers not placed in the direction of travel must not protrude more than 3 millimeters and must be firm with rounded or beveled edges. 

- The joints in the direction of travel must not cause harm or injury due to trapping (Especially the joints between the skirt and the interior panel).

- The gaps between the interior panels must be less than 4 millimeters with rounded or beveled edges. 

- If a force of 500 N is applied at any point at right angles to the surface of the interior panel in a (2500 mm2 square or rounded area), no gaps over 4 millimeters and no permanent deformations must be seen.

- For the glass panels, we must use tempered glass with a minimum thickness of 6 millimeters for the single-layered type. In the case of multi-layered glass panels, we must use laminated tempered glass which in this case at least one layer must be minimum 6 millimeters.

- The inner lower decking is installed inclined and the angle of inclination created between the inner lower decking and horizon must be at least 25 degrees. And this does not include the horizontal parts of the inner lower decking that joins the interior panels. This horizontal part must be less than 30 millimeters.

- The horizontal width of each inclined inner lower decking at an angle of less than 45 degrees must be less than 0.12 meters.