A power-driven inclined staircase with continuously moving steps that transports passengers between floors of a building without individual floor stops.
Full Definition
An escalator consists of a motorised chain-driven step belt moving between upper and lower landing plates at a fixed angle of 30° or 35°. Steps are linked to two pairs of chains running in a truss (the structural frame) and driven by a machine room at the top or bottom. The step surface remains horizontal throughout travel via a step chain and cam mechanism. Speed is typically 0.50 m/s (EN 115-1 maximum for public buildings) or 0.65 m/s for airports and stations. EN 115-1:2017 (Safety of escalators and moving walks) specifies design, construction, installation, maintenance, and examination requirements. Key safety devices: skirt brushes and deflectors (side entrapment prevention), step demarcation lights, comb plates, emergency stop buttons at landings, anti-reversal device, speed governor, and step/chain break detection. Escalators can move 6,000–12,000 persons per hour per metre of step width, far exceeding elevator capacity for high-traffic installations.
