The individual moving tread-and-riser unit of an escalator that carries passengers between landings, designed with a cleated surface to interlock with the comb plate at landings and prevent passenger entrapment.
Full Definition
Escalator steps are the primary passenger-carrying elements in an escalator. Each step consists of a tread plate (the horizontal surface the passenger stands on) and a riser plate (the vertical face). The tread surface is formed with longitudinal cleats (ribs) running in the direction of travel; these cleats mesh precisely with the teeth of the comb plates at the upper and lower landings to prevent objects or toes from being dragged under the step edge — a primary entrapment hazard. Steps are attached to two step chains that drive them in a continuous loop. The step is guided by four rollers on two sets of guide tracks: the main track keeps steps horizontal at the passenger-carrying level, and the return track guides them through the underpan. EN 115-1 specifies: cleat pitch, comb plate tooth geometry, step overhang clearances (≤4 mm), and step sag limits. Modern steps use die-cast aluminium for the tread plate and high-strength polymer or steel for the riser. LED step lighting integrated into the riser is increasingly common for visibility and aesthetics. Step dimensions: tread depth minimum 380 mm, width determined by escalator width.
