4/9/2013

SPECIALIST DIPLOMA
M&E Coordination

Lift & Escalator

Installation

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1

Lesson Outcomes

Understand the various major components in lift

installation

Understand the functions of the major components

Understand the safety functions in lift installation

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Introduction
 Vertical transportation is an essential service for any
high-rise buildings
 Passenger Lift - People ride from floor to floor
 Cargo/Goods Lift - Transport products

 Lifts must operate at peak efficiency

 without unscheduled shutdowns
 provide inter-floor movement safely, dependably and
promptly

 Vertical transportation system consists of

 installation of lift equipment integrated with the
building structure.
3

History
 Vertical transport is also known as Elevators
 There are 3 general categories:
 hydraulic
 traction
 MRL*
* MRL means “Machine Room-Less”
1. does not require a machine room
2. system saves space
3. more energy-efficient
4. avoids using polluting fluids

In any high
high--rise buildings
buildings,,
vertical transportation i.e. lifts
or elevators and escalators
are essential services to
transport people or move
goods from floor to floor 4

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Hydraulic Elevator Traction Elevator MRL Elevator

In-ground

http://www.construction.com/CE/CE_images/0709kone4.jpg

Hydraulic Elevators
 Three (3) types of hydraulic elevators
 In-ground
 Holeless (Hydraulic Jack)
 Roped
Advantages Drawbacks
1. No overhead 1. Machine room needed for
machine room is pump unit and control
necessary system
2. Elevator hoistway 2. Limited speed and
dimensions are performance
optimized 3. High noise levels as
3. Loads are distributed compared to other systems
to load bearing 4. Odor from heated oil
walls—there are no 5. Environmental concerns
overhead structural due to significant use of oil
requirements 6. Poor ride quality as
4. Machine rooms can compared with other
be located remotely systems
5. Installation costs are
generally less than
those for
conventional traction
6
roped systems

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Traction Elevator

Traction Lift
 Driven by Geared
& Gearless
machines

“Gearless" Traction “Geared" Traction

MRL Elevator
 Machine RoomLess
(MRL) Lift
 customized for low-rise
buildings
 requires a single element
of space – the shaft

The KONE EcoDisc® weighs

Source:
http://www.kone.com/countries/zh_HK/pro
ducts/hospital/passenger_elevators/mono
space/Pages/default.aspx
less than half of a conventional
geared traction machine, has only
one moving part, and is
approximately twice as efficient.
Its efficiency is three times that
of a hydraulic power unit and
uses 60% less energy – a
lifetime saving which can
represent half or more of the initial
cost of the equipment. 8

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Main System Components

 The major components that constitute the lift system

consist of the following:
 Car Cage
 Equipment located in the motor room
 Equipment located in the hoistway
 Equipment located in the pit
 Equipment located in the landings

 Figure 1.1 and 1.2 show the components of a typical

lift installation

Figure 1.1 A Typical

Lift System

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Figure 1.2 A Lift System by OTIS

The Car Cage

 The car is essentially a cage
 made of fire resistant material
 supported on a structural frame to the top member of
which the hoist cables are fastened.

 The car is guided in its vertical travel

 along the guide rails in the hoistway
 by means of guide shoes on the side members of the
structural frame
 Figure 2.1.A and 2.1.B shows some illustrations of typical
guide shoes and guide rail.

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The Car Cage

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The Car Cage

Guide shoes with rollers

which rotate on the guide
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rails.

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The Car Cage

 The car is provided with the
following components:
 safety doors
 operating/control equipment
 floor-level indicators
 lighting
 emergency exit and
 ventilation

15

The Motor-Room Components

 Major motor-room equipment are as follows:

 Controller
 Traction machine
 Motor-generator set (for DC lift only)
 Over-speed governor

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The Controller
 Controller located in the machine room
 control centre of the whole lift system
 controls the entire operation of a lift or a
group of lifts in a predetermined manner

 Controllers can be broadly grouped

into 2 types
 Electromagnetic type
 Digital type

 Main Difference
 Digital controllers have many advantages
over the electromagnetic type and are used
in almost all-modern electronically
controlled lifts. 17

Traction Machine

 Traction machine consists of:

 Hoisting motor
 Worm reduction gears (for geared lifts)
 Electromagnetic brake
 Drive sheave

Source:
http://clutchbrakeindia.com/lift-
series-brake-bbl-250x250.jpg

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Traction Machine

 Electric traction drives can be grouped into several

categories based on the motor type and its control.
 Geared traction drives
 Single-speed AC motor

 Two-speed AC motor

 Variable voltage AC motor

 Variable voltage AC motor

 Variable voltage DC motor

 Gearless traction motor

 Variable voltage DC motor
 Variable voltage AC motor

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Different Types Of Lifts Functions

 Geared Machine
 for medium-rise buildings
 elevator speeds up to 350 fpm
 load capacities up to 30,000 pounds
 comprises a high-speed electric motor that
drives the hoisting sheave (pulley) through
a gear reduction unit

 Gearless Machine
 for high-rise buildings
 provides elevator speeds up to 1,800 fpm
 large, relatively slow-speed electric motor
(about 50 to 200 RPM)
 drive sheave is an integral part of the
motor armature (shaft) http://www.magilcorp.com/Besthomelift/i
mages/uploaded/residential-elevator-
gearless-machine1.jpg

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(A) Traction Geared

 Early Advancements In Elevator Technology
 Use Of Worm Gears In Hoisting Machine
 geared machines use worm gear
 control the movement of the elevator car
 provide high gear reduction ratios
 possible to use smaller, more compact machines to do the job of
earlier designs
 permit some standardization since many gear ratio combinations
can be used in the same housing

 Gear Reduction Unit

 consists of a horizontal steel worm that drives a bronze gear
 gearing arrangement can be either left- or right-handed
 worm can be either above or below the gear
 reducing gear is used with electric motor that are driven by AC or
DC 21

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Typical Reduction Gear

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Traction Machine

 Gearless traction motor

 Variable voltage DC motor
 Variable voltage AC motor

Source: http://www.rhinemico.com/_d271762051.htm 24

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(B) Traction Gearless

 Traction Gearless
 Low Speed & High Torque
Electric Motor
 powered by AC or DC
 Electrically Released Spring
Applied Brake
 is arranged to apply to the
drive sheave
 Larger Diameter Sheave
 conforms to bending radius of
elevator hoisting ropes

25

Traction Machine

 Electric traction drives can be grouped into several

categories based on the motor type and its control.

 Geared traction drives:-

 Single-speed AC motor
 Two-speed AC motor
 Variable voltage AC motor
 Variable voltage AC motor
 Variable voltage DC motor

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Electromagnetic Brake
 Electromagnetic brake is extremely
reliable

 Fail-safe Design
 brake activated whenever there is a
power failure
 brake grips the drum by brake spring
pressure when the supply is cut off

 Components
 brake assembly consists of 2 brake
shoes lined with pads
 forced onto the brake drum by spiral
springs

Drive Sheave

 “Sheave” is the name given to a pulley to which power is

applied and is that part of the lift machine transmitting power
to the hoist ropes.
 The larger diameter sheave is preferred to smaller ones, because
they have longer life span and better traction.

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The Motor-generator Set (For DC Lifts Only)

 Motor-generator Set Function

 vary the voltage of the D.C. hoisting motor and hence vary or
control the speed of the lift.

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The Motor-generator Set

(For DC Lifts Only)

 Over-speed Governor Function

 activates the safety gear if the lift
moves in the downward direction
at a speed > nominal speed @
predetermined margin
 once safety gear is activated
 safety gear gradually clamps

the guide rails and brings it to a

stop
 governor also cut off the

electricity supply to the motor

at the same time it activates
the safety gear

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The Hoistway Components

 Beside the car cage, the other major hoistway

components are:
 The Counter weight
 The guide rails
 The Wire Rope
 The Car Travelling Cable

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The Counter Weight

 Counterweight Function:
 provide traction
 balance the weight of the car plus a predetermined
proportion, usually 40% to 50% of the maximum car load
(contact load)
 thereby reducing the size of the motor

 Counterweight Design
 consists of cast-iron sections firmly secured against
movement by at least 2 steel tie rods
 steel tie rods come with lock nuts and split pins at
each end which pass through each section as shown in
Figure 2.3.A
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The Counter Weight

Figure 2.3.A Counterweight
 In addition to the rods, the
sections are often mounted in a
steel framework.
 For heavy loads, the sections
are weighted with lead so as to
reduce the size of the
counterweight.
 The hoistway ropes are secured
to the counterweight top frame
by screwed eyebolts, which
allow rope adjustment.
 4 spring-loaded guide shoes
are fitted to ensure that the
counterweight will travel
vertically and smoothly in its
guides. 33

The Guide Rails

 Function of Guide Rails

 guide the car & counter weight to move
smoothly in their vertical travel
 plumb line aligned - minimise the jerks
of the lift when it moves
 prevent contact between the car and
counter weight during their vertical travel
in the same shaft

 Design & Made

 Most made of high tensile steel
sections
 Usually machined with “T” profiles to
provide a smooth and even surface.
 Normally made in lengths of 15m each
with ends joined together by machined
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steel fishplates

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The Wire Rope

 The ropes that are

connected to the crosshead
(top beam of the lift car)

 The crosshead carry the

weight of the car

 Live load are made of groups

of traction steel wires
specially designed for this
application.

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The Car Travelling Cable

 All electrical connections between
the controller in the motor room
and the car are made by means of a
multi-core hanging flexible cable.

 One end of the cable is connected to a

terminal box fitted in the well at
approximately mid-way.
 Sometimes this mid-way box is not
used

 Cables may run all the way up to the

machine room
 this arrangement raises the cost of
replacement, as longer cables have to
be used.
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The Inductor Switches

 These are switches used to provide the signals for:

 slowing,
 levelling and
 stopping of the car to the controller

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The Limit Switches

 Function Of Limits Switches
 initiate slowing, stopping and final over travel at terminal floors.
 use at intermediate floors is not favoured because of mechanical
wear and tear and the noise generated.
 Most lift manufacturers install limit switches to do the same as
back-up.

Figure 2.3.C shows a final limit switch installed

in the hoistway

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Compensating Ropes & Chains

 Function of Compensating Ropes & Chains

 Fitted on long-travel lifts having a rise of more than about
30m with the purpose of:
 making the load on the motor constant during a journey

from one end of the well to the other end

 eliminating the effect of the rope weight in reducing the

traction at the ends of travel

 Additional Load
 When the car is at the bottom of the well
 load on the motor is increased by the weight of the lifting
ropes, which may be appreciable with high rises

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Compensating Ropes & Chains

 Low speed lifts are

sometimes fitted with
compensating chains
instead of ropes.

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The Pit Components

 Major components in the pit are: -

 The buffer
 Governor tension frame

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Buffers

 There are 2 types of buffer as follows: -

 Spring Buffers
 Oil Buffers

 Spring buffers
 used where the speed of lift is not in excess of 1m/s
 capable of stopping the loaded car from contract speed
without permanent distortion

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Buffers

 Oil buffers
 used on all lifts having a contract
speed exceeding 1 m/s

 provided with means of determining

that the oil level is within the max
& min allowable limits

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Components Located At The Landing

 The main components located at the landings is the

landing door
 usually not less than 2m in height
 opens automatically when it is engaged to the car door
 opening the landing door manually by means of a
special key will render the lift inoperative
 Note: Modern cars are fitted with automatic power

drives that open and close the car door.

 A mechanical linkage transmits the power from the drive;
usually a small DC or AC motor, to the car door and the
whole assembly is called the door operator.

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Safety Devices
 Lift safety devices include
 Terminal Limit Switches – to stop the car automatically at
terminal landings.
 Final Limit Switches – to stop the car within top & bottom
clearances.
 Buffers – to lessen impact of the car and counterweight in
the event that the final terminal switch fails to stop the car
 Safety Gear(Electromagnetic brake) – to stop the car by
mechanical means, independently of any electrical circuit for
its operation.
 Car Apron – car apron or toe guard is fitted to the bottom of
a car lift at the entrance side and below the landing as
shown in Figure 3.1.A..The apron is provided to prevent a
person’s foot from being trappe
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Figure 3.1.A Car Apron

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 Counterweight Guard
 Counterweight guards of wire mesh should be provided at
the position where the car and counterweight pass each
other.
 Eliminate the possibility of injury to maintenance personal when
travelling on the lift car top
 Additional more wire mesh guard must be installed
around the counterweight in the pit extending to a height of
2m from the pit floor
 prevent injury to personnel working in the lift pit

48

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 Hoistway Safety Switch Guard

 gap between the hoistway wall and the lift car on the lift door
side must be maintained at less than 125mm.
 Otherwise, facial plates or safety netting must be installed to
reduce the gap.

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Safety Operations

 Emergency Battery Operated Power Supply

(EBOPS)
 (i) the lighting ( at least one of the car lights)
 (ii) the ventilation fan
 (iii) The alarm bell for each lift for a minimum
duration of 4 hours.
 (iv) To operate the voice communication system, if
one is provided

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Safety Operations

 Automatic Rescue Device (ARD)

 The Automatic Rescue Device (ARD) consists of a
rectifier/charger, inverter and a set of batteries.
 The batteries are maintained in charged condition all the
time by the rectifier/charger.
 In the event of power failure the dc supply from the battery is
inverted to three-phase, 400 V, 50 Hz supply by the inverter.
 The three-phase supply from the inverter is applied to the lift
motor to move the lift car to the nearest landing, stop the lift
car and open the door.
 This is to rescue automatically the passengers trapped
in the lift during power failures.

51

Operation & Testing of Fireman’s Lifts

 A Fireman lift is a passenger lift which is arranged to be used

exclusively by fireman in an emergency.
 A”fireman switch” is provided at the switch is activated; the
fireman can control the lift without interference from the landing
call points.
 There are provisions for fire Lift Requirement in public Buildings
in “FSB Fire Precaution in Building” and Lift Code of
practice SS 550: 2009 Clause 31. The Basic requirement is as
follows:-
 a. Minimum floor area shall be 1.44 sq. meters
 b. Separate protected lift hoist way or a common protected
hoist way containing other lifts being served at each story by
a protected ventilated lobby.

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Operation & Testing of Fireman’s Lifts

 c. Minimum capacity shall be 545 Kg.

 d. The fireman swath should be installed out of reach of
children.
 e. The activation of the Switch will change the lift operation
system from collective to non- collective.
 g. The fire lifts shall be located in a position where it will be
readily be accessible to fireman in any emergency and as safe
as possible from the effect of a fire in a building.
 h. The electivity supply to the fire lift should be connected to a
separate sub- main circuit which should pass through a route of
negligible fire- risk with adequate protection.

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Operation & Testing of Fireman’s Lifts

 i. Area of 0.1m2 smoke vent shall be provided at the top of the

hoist way.
 j. The landing doors for the fire lift should have a fire resistance
of half an hour. They should be provided with auto mastic
closing device which will ensure that the door is kept closed at
all times except when people are entering or leaving the lifts.
The doors when closed must be effectively smoker tight.
 k. Building with floor level of any storey, exceeding 24 m in
height shall be provided with at least one fire lift.
 l. Fire lift shall be adjacent to a staircase enclosure and be
approached by a protected ventilated lobby at each storey.

54

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 Fireman lift should be designed to have the following

operation conditions:
 (1) If the fireman switch is “on” while the lifts is travelling
down, it will proceed directly to ground floor or designated
floor by passing all landing calls and then park there with
door open.
 (2) If the fireman switch is “on” while the lift is travelling up,
the lift will stop at the next approached without opening the
door and then travel to the ground or designated floor.
 (3) During rescue operation, constant pressure must be
maintained on lift car calling button to close the doors.
Besides, calling will be registered after the doors are fully
closed. Premature release of the button will stop the
door from closing.
55

 The following tests shall be carried out before the fire lifts are
accepted:-
 (1) Time the travel of lift such that it will reach top floor from the
designated floor within 1 minute.
 (2) Turn on the fireman switch when the lift is in the following
operating modes and observe. The result shall be as tabulated
below:-

56

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 (3) When the fire switch is turn on, check that the fire lift must be
disconnected from attendant operation and/ or group supervisor
system.
 (4) Check that the fire switch shall over ride all control switches except
emergency switch or other safety circuits.
 (5) Check all other requirements such as the lift floor area, capacity,
wiring, etc. as spelt out earlier.

57

 Emergency Power Operation

 a. Emergency power operation due to power failure.
 b. Emergency power operation due to fire outbreak.
 c. Emergency power operation due to both power failure and
fire outbreak.

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Escalator Installation

59

60

Source: http://www.omega-elevators.com/civilD/images/escalator.JPG

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Lesson Outcomes

 Understand the various major components in

escalator installation

 Understand the functions of the major components.

 Understand the safety functions in escalator

installation

 Testing & Commissioning of escalator Installation.

61

Introduction

 Definition
 Escalators are continuous conveyors moving large
number of people quickly and effectively from one
floor to another.

 Benefits
 No Delay
 No waiting time unlike lift
 Reversible Direction
 main flow of traffic during peak times can be reversed to suit
demanding conditions
 Stationary Use
 can be used when stationary similar to staircase
62

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Types of Escalator
 Common Types of Escalators
 The 30°type
 The 35°type

 Angle of Inclination
 30o & 35o refers to the inclination of the escalator to the horizontal
 Japanese manufacturers produced only 30°escalators
 European manufacturer produces both the 30°and 35°escalators

 Singapore Standard
 SS CP15:2004 Installation, Operation and Maintenance of
Escalators and Passenger Conveyors
 Stipulates angle of inclination of escalator < 30°
 Vertical rise not exceeding 6m & speed < 0.5m/sec; use 35°
escalators
63

Speed of Escalators
 Speed & Line of Inclination
 Speed of escalator along the line of inclination
 Speed affect riding time of the passenger normally ~ 45 sec
 Speed of 0.5 m/s for escalators is commonly used in
Singapore

 Vertical Rise Of The Escalator @ ~ 11m

 Speed of 0.5 m/s & max riding time of 45 sec

 For vertical rise > 11m

 Higher speed is possible
 Higher speed limit of 0.625 m/s is possible in compliance
with CP15: 2004

64

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Various Components

65

Operations of Escalator
 Operation Sequence of a Conventional Escalator
Drive
 Motor
 Brake
 V Belt or Drive
 Gear Reduction
 Driving Chain
 Sprocket Assemblies
 Chain for Handrail
 Handrail Drive
 Chain for Step Train
 Step Train

66

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Operations of Escalator
 Main drive Operation
 Power generated from 3-phase induction motor is transmitted to
the main drive sprockets through the gear reducer and a driving
chain.
 Main drive sprockets in turn drive the step chain, which is
connected, to the steps, and the handrail drive apparatus.
 Handrail and steps should therefore travel at approximately the
same speed.
Handrail

Handrail drive

Step band Drive machine

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Tensioned chain Step band drive Low noise chain

Main Components
 Main Components
(a) Truss
(b) Main drive
(c) Main drive chains
(d) Steps
(e) Balustrades
(f) Combs and Comb plate
(g) Handrails Controller

68

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Truss
 Truss
 A rigid steel construction
made in one complete unit
or into two or three
sections joined by reamer
bolts.
 At the bottom of the truss, an
oil pan is welded along its
full length to contain any
dripping oil from the
moving steps.
 The truss forms the
backbone of the escalator
 Designed with safety factor
of at least 5.
69

Main Drive
 Main Drive Components
 vertical induction motor
 gear reducer
 brake governor and
 driving chain sprockets

 Motor
 The motor rating is continuous
 Size of motor used depends on the vertical rise, speed and
width of the escalator

 Upper Truss Housing

 Main drive is usually housed in the upper truss and is
easily accessible.
70

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Main Drive
 Main Drive Chains
 These are roller chains - driving the main drive sprockets from the
gear reducer.
 The chain is normally in 2 or 14 strands depending on the size of
the escalator.
 The factor of safety for main drive chains > 8

71

Main Drive

Source:
http://www.hkengineer.org.hk/program/articlephoto/paper_nov11.jpg

72

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Steps
 Standard steps design for all escalator
manufacturers.
 Material used is normally die cast aluminium
or stainless steel
 Tread at the top and the vertical riser is
cleated for safety purposes
 Some manufacturers incorporate in the steps
a raised tread board at the sides to prevent
contact between the footwear with the skirt-
guard
 There are 4 wheels per step - 2 front driving
wheels and 2 followers
 The wheels are made of grease packed
bearing with rubber or nylon tyres shrunk on
them
 The step chain is connected only to the front
driving wheels
73
 The step chain safety chain factor is at least 8

Balustrade
 Forms of balustrade available
(a) Solid type with Formica or
laminated panel
(b) Translucent type with acrylic
materials
(c) Translucent type with tempered
glass
(d) Combination of (b) and (c)

 Some transparent balustrades

gave vertical mullions at regular
intervals but most modern
escalators are manufactured
with self-supported glass
Source:
panels. http://www.tim-power.com/?p=2217

 Lighting under the handrails can

be provided for the translucent and
transparent types. 74

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Comb And Comb Plates

 These are either made of plastic
moulded material or cast
aluminium.

 The comb teeth must be brittle so

that they will break when
obstruction occurs in the step
groove.

 The comb teeth must be

accurately aligned with the
tread board of the steps.

 This is to eliminate wear and tear

on the step tread or comb teeth.

75

Handrails
 Handrails are made of synthetic or natural rubber.

 The common type used is the synthetic rubber with reinforcement

in steel tape, steel wire or fibre wool.

 The general life span of handrail is more than 5 years

76

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Controller

 The controller unit mounted in a sheet steel box in the upper

truss.
 The controller box is usually installed such that it can be easily
lifted out and mounted on the surrounding floor for periodic
serving and maintenance purposes.

77

Safety Features
 Possible Accidents Occur With Escalators:
(a) Trapping between steps, between steps and balustrades, between steps and
combs, between moving handrail and balustrade, near obstacles such as
floors, adjacent escalators, etc.
(b) Falling at exit and entrance, and
(c) Falling in cases of emergency stop or accidental reversal of the direction of
movement.

 Safety Features
 Escalators are designed and incorporated with the several safety features to
safeguard passengers service personnel
 Following safety devices are normally incorporated with the escalators:
(a) Emergency Stop Switches or Buttons

provided at top & bottom landings of escalator for emergency
stopping
(b) Broken Step Chain Safety Device

fitted at bottom landing of escalator at the truss frame.

when step chains breaks - safety device activated to stop motor &
step train.

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Safety Features
 Safety Features
 (c) Broken Drive Chain Safety Device
 This is fitted at the upper truss part of the escalator truss where the
drive machinery is housed. This safety device will be actuated to stop
the motor when the drive chain is broken.
 (d) Step Roller Safety Devices
 These safety devices will stop the escalator in case of an abnormal
step movement when the steps are levelling off at the approach to the
landings, probably caused by objects caught in between steps or
irregular passenger movement.
 One design is installing a microswitch over the track for rear step rollers
at the upper and lower landings. The microswitch, once actuated, will
cut off the supply to the motor and stop the step movement.
 (e) Handrail Cut-off Safety Devices
 This safety device is installed at the inclined side of the escalator
behind the skirt guard. One each is provided for each handrail.
 When the handrail stretches or sags beyond pre-set limits and/or when
it suddenly snaps, the safety device will actuate and stop the escalator.

Safety Features
Safety Features
 (f) Skirt Guard Safety Device
 On each side of the skirt guard, safety switches are provided to stop the
escalator in the event that the object is drawn into the gap between the step
and skirt. The switches are provided at the top and bottom landings.
 For some escalators, a further safety is provided by having a raised tread
board at the sides of a step to prevent contact with the skirt guard.
 Yellow demarcation lines can also be incorporated in all steps so that
passengers can stand within the lines thus avoiding contact with the skirt
guard.
 (g) Non-reversal Device
 This device is installed to prevent from the pre-set direction of motion.

 (h) Overcurrent relay

 This relay is incorporated in the controller to protect the motor from
overloading.
 (i) Overspeed Governor
 This is provided for stopping the escalator in case the step overspeeds to 1.2
times the rated speed.
 The overspeed governor is normally attached to the top of the driving motor’’

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Safety Features
Safety Features
 (j) Apex Guard
 This feature is provided at the intersection between the escalator and ceiling.
 The purposes of the guard are to prevent the passenger’s arm or head from
being caught in between the intersection.
 CP 15 stipulated that the apex guard may be omitted if the intersection of the
deck board and the ceiling or soffit is more than 600mm from the centre-line of
the handrail.
 (k) Handrail Guard Safety Switches
 These safety switches are provided at the handrail returns at the upper and
lower landings.
 The purposes are to stop the escalator when any object such as children’s
fingers are drawn into the handrail.

81

Commissioning

 The commissioning test of an escalator involves the

following items:
 Safety devices
 Braking system
 Insulation resistance and earth continuity
 Functional test

82

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Preventive Maintenance of Escalator

Inspection and Testing of Escalators
 Inspection
 As with lifts, regular servicing and maintenance of escalator is important to
ensure trouble-free operation.
 The lift companies normally carry out regular servicing at least once every 2
weeks and thoroughly every month, quarterly, half-yearly, depending on the
condition of the escalator.
 Generally the following items should be checked during each fortnightly servicing: - (i)
Check the general operating condition of escalators. (ii) Check all safety switches
condition by manually actuating them. (iii) Check the relay condition in the controller.
(iv) Check the gap between step and Combplates, and step and skirt guard. (v) Check
and inspect the comb and step for any damages. (vi) Check the lighting condition in the
balustrade. (vii) Check and adjust magnetic brake. (viii) Check apex guards condition.
(ix) Check the cleanliness of the machine room. (x) Check and clean the skirt guard
with silicon coating. (xi) Check and inspect handrail tension, handrail chain tension and
lubrication. (xii) Check and inspect drive chain tension and lubrication. (xiii) Check and
inspect step chain tension and lubrication. (xiv) Check the handrail condition.
 Apart from regular servicing and as preventive maintenance measure, the escalator
company should also conduct regular check on the escalator part in interval as shown in
Table 1.8.1.1.

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Maintenance Schedule

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Metro's tight budget for escalator and elevator

repairs leads to customer frustration
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