Escalators are common in different public and private spaces. This system is used consistently, and proper maintenance is required to ensure safety.
Escalators are considered an integral part of a building’s daily infrastructure. This helps in an effective movement of a large number of people in a commercial space like in an airport or a mall.
Escalator maintenance is significant for safety and compliance to combat accidents, extending its lifespan, along with obeying safety codes. This is an object of necessity that is important to ensure public safety in buildings.
What Are the Legal Requirements for Maintaining Escalators?
Whether it’s an escalator maintenance or a home lift maintenance, proper legal requirements are to be followed. You can maintain it monthly or annually, but complying with the safety codes is necessary.
ASME A17.1: ASME A17.1 encompasses the construction, installation, operation, inspection, and maintenance of escalators and lifts. This aims to promote public welfare. You need to follow it while using escalators in the USA.
EN 115: EN 115 is a European safety code for maintaining escalators and elevators. This emphasises improving the condition of the equipment, along with covering all the hazards. This is a vital consideration while maintaining this equipment.
HSE: The HSE aims to maintain the health and safety of the employees in the workplace. They must not be subjected to workplace injuries. This points out the need for maintaining the related acts.
What Are the Main Considerations of Escalator Maintenance?
If you hire a professional for escalator maintenance, several aspects are considered. These include:
Visual inspection
There is a need to check whether all the parts of an escalator are working properly. The main components are steps, handrails, and several safety devices.
Cleaning
The steps and handrails of an escalator are to be cleaned in an escalator maintenance. This is essential due to the presence of dirt and debris in this equipment.
Lubrication
An escalator has moving components like gears and chains. To lower friction and wear, lubrication is important.
Functional Testing
Professionals perform tests to understand whether all the components are functioning correctly. Sensors and brakes in an escalator must be inspected frequently.
What Are the Risks of Poor Maintenance?
If home lift maintenance or escalator maintenance is executed poorly, you might face extreme consequences. Let’s see what the possible incidents are.
Sudden stoppage
An escalator might stop all of a sudden if it is not properly maintained. People need to walk towards their probable direction if this happens.
Reverse running
Poor escalator maintenance results in its running in the opposite direction. This can make people panic-stricken, which indicates the need for daily maintenance.
How Accidents Can Be Prevented with Daily Maintenance?
93% of escalator-related accidents in the UK are related to falls. This shows the need for regular escalator maintenance. Let’s check the key outcomes.
Identifying Common Accident Risks
Some of the common accident risks in an escalator are broken steps, loosened screws, electrical breakdown, etc. These can be easily identified when escalators are maintained regularly.
Detecting Wear and Tear
You need to ensure an effective maintenance schedule for escalators. This helps to detect wear and tear early so that they do not pose greater threats.
Keeping Emergency Systems Operational
The main emergency systems of an escalator are skirt bushes, safety brakes, emergency stop buttons, etc. Daily maintenance ensures that these systems remain properly functional.
What Is the Legal Liability of Escalator Maintenance?
Homeowners as well as the facility managers are legally liable to ensure regular maintenance of escalators. Here are some of the top reasons:
Lawsuit Risks and Penalties
Are you a property owner? You must prioritise regular escalator maintenance; otherwise, you might deal with lawsuit risks. You must comply with the associated regulations. You have to pay fines if regular maintenance is not done as per the safety codes.
Insurance Implications
Poor escalator maintenance might land facility managers or homeowners in trouble. Your claims can be denied if the maintenance process is not acknowledged properly.
Responsible for Public Safety
Property owners are liable to maintain safety and security for people and tenants. This ensures regular inspection and monitoring of escalators.
Escalator Maintenance: Why Economically Beneficial?
Regular maintenance of escalators is economically advantageous, along with maintaining compliance and safety. This lowers long-term repair costs. Also, it enables reducing downtime and refraining from paying fines for safety code violations.
Summing Up
Escalator maintenance is important to ensure public safety and to obey key safety codes. Improper maintenance can lead to a sudden stoppage of an escalator or reverse running. Regular maintenance prevents accidents by detecting common risks and identifying wear and tear.
Ensure a Safe Escalator Infrastructure
Proper escalator maintenance is important to prevent accidents. Your escalators must ensure safety as well as be legally compliant. Hire a professional to ensure a proper maintenance system.
