Article 43- Installation of Escalators and Moving Walks
Initial Preparations for Installation of Escalators and Moving Walks
Every project environment conditions and the installation arrangement, dimensions, and weights of escalators or moving walks vary greatly. As a consequence, it is not possible to standardize escalator and moving walk installation and every project is usually approached and prepared individually based on the project requirements.
Proper preparation for installation ensures optimal installation and minimizes the costs and risks of accidents. Investigation of the project environment is an essential step to take in order to collect information about the entry points, twists and turns of the transportation path, floor loads, ceiling structure, and potential suspension points of the building.
The building contractor has to do his part in preparing the installation of escalators and moving walks area by:
- Preparing the end supports and mountings in a way that they can withstand the weight of the escalator which can vary depending on the height.
- Considering the specifications in the manufacturer’s layout drawing
- Providing floor level markings
- Locating a pump or drainage at the bottom part of the escalators or moving walks exposed to weather conditions to evacuate water
Construction requirement before installation
Investigation of the project environment is an essential step to take in order to collect information about the characteristics and specifications of the installation site such as entry points, twists and turns of the transportation path, floor loads, ceiling structure, and potential suspension points of the building.
The open space above the route to the installation area must be based on the dimensions that had been specified in the layout drawing.
Prior to the installation and launch of the escalator or moving walk, the following points for installation of escalators and moving walks area must be determined, designed, and implemented:
- Horizontal load
- Ceiling Opening
- Well way opening
- Exerted load to the construction beam
- Exerted load to the suspension points
Unloading and moving the escalator or moving walk into the building
Escalator or moving walk installation operation is a critical process that requires meticulous measurements as well as transportation. Unloading and moving the escalator or moving walk into the building up to the supports must be done gently and carefully to avoid any possible risks or damages.
Once the escalator or moving walk has been unloaded by crane or forklift truck, it is usually placed on roller dollies and towed by forklift truck. To minimize the on-site transportation logistics, it is extremely important to keep the transportation route as short and as straight as possible.
Placing the escalator or moving walk onto the end supports
To place the escalator or moving walk on the prepared end supports, there should be some suspension points provided in the ceiling to lift the escalator or moving walk and position it on the end supports. If there are no suspension points at the installation area, the installation team has to make use of scaffolds or gantries to hoist the machine.
Note: Every single stage of escalators or moving walks installation must be done by adequately trained and experienced installation teams and supervisors.
If the escalator or moving walk is installed in a building under construction, some safety requirements must be considered to reduce hazards and damages to the escalator or moving walk, or eliminate the fire hazards putting some certain components such as handrails in danger.
An escalator or a moving walk installed in an incomplete building is exposed to damages by dust, debris, weather conditions, and falling objects in case the ceiling of the building is still open. Consequently, escalators and moving walks must be sufficiently protected against the hazards and damages.
The escalators and moving walks must be completely covered by polyethylene sheets at the factory before transportation and delivery, to avoid any scratch or harm to the escalator or moving walk during transportation, installation, or during the time it has to remain in the building before installation.
Based on the installation of escalators and moving walks site characteristics and specifications, appropriate protections must be provided for escalators and moving walks. These protections are as below:
- Applying plywood protection sheets at the handrail newel ends at each landing to keep away access to the step band and balustrades.
- Applying plywood protection sheets all over the escalator or moving walk length to prevent any harm to the balustrades and step band by objects falling.
- Covering the whole escalator or moving walk in plywood protection sheets to prevent any harm to the balustrades, step band, and also the truss cladding by objects falling.
