There’s more to escalators than just moving stairs
We’ve become accustomed to seeing escalators in department stores and office buildings. There has also been an increase in the installation of home escalators for convenience or health-related reasons. Escalators for schools and universities may not be as common, but it is still a viable option for larger campuses.
Escalators consist of five main components, the first being the landing platforms. These are found at the bottom and top of the escalator, with the latter housing the motor. The second part is the truss, which acts as a bridge between the two landings. The tracks are the third component and they allow the steps to move continuously through a loop formation. The last two components are the steps and the railings. Vertical transportation consultants are responsible for coming up with great and functional escalator designs to suit their clients’ requirements.
Vertical transportation engineers will go through the design and gauge the practicality of it. Many factors need to be taken into consideration, including where the escalator will be located as well as the type of foot traffic it will be subjected to. However, it is important to first determine the distance between the two floors of the building that the escalator has to span. This will determine both its length and pitch.
The width of the escalator is determined by its use. Just like elevators, escalators have a maximum weight limit, which is directly impacted by its width. Safety also needs to be taken into account. Because there are gears and motors involved, enough ventilation needs to be present around the housing platforms. Lastly, aesthetics need to be taken into consideration. This will largely depend on where it will be located, and its use.