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528 Barry’s Advanced Construction of Buildings
Photograph 9.2 Central concrete lift shaft under construction with access to the lift shaft
covered with temporary protection.
9.3 Escalators and moving walkways
Similar to lifts, the manufacture and installation of escalators and moving walkways or
travelators are limited to a small number of manufacturers. Because of the problem of
keeping the moving parts rust free, escalators and walkways should not be used outside
unless they are adequately protected from rain and snow.
Escalators
Escalators move people vertically from one level to another, and are a popular feature of
commercial shopping centres and large retail stores, travel interchanges and other commercial
buildings. They can be used to convey people over long distances and over more
than one floor, as illustrated in Photograph 9.3 Usually installed as an architectural feature,
they help to guide people from one level to another without the need to use staircases or
lifts. The escalator comprises a moving steel mat that moulds itself to the profile of the
transport system underneath. This forms a series of steps on which one stands until reaching
the top or bottom of the escalator. Pitches tend to be steeper than staircases, typically
around 35°–45° to the horizontal.
Critical dimensions are primarily the finished floor to finished floor level. A pit is
required at the base of the escalator to house motors and associated equipment. This