Section 7.321. Construction

(a) Angle of inclination. The angle of inclination of new escalators shall not exceed 30° from the horizontal. The Department may, in its discretion, require that the angle of inclination of existing escalators be lessened if such change is considered necessary for the safety of the public or employes.

(b) Width. The width of all new escalators shall be measured between balustrading at a vertical height of 24 inches above the nose line of treads. No escalator shall have a width less than 22 inches or more than 29 inches unless a horizontal tread formation is utilized, in which case the width shall not be greater than 48 inches.

(c) Enclosures. Each new escalator shall be enclosed on each side from the handrail to the escalator treads. These enclosures shall, on the escalator side, be smooth without depressed or raised paneling or moulding. There shall be no jogs or abrupt changes in width between the enclosing sides. If a change in width is necessary, it shall not be more than 8.0% of the greatest width and the enclosing sides shall then be moulded to such change at an angle not greater than 15 degrees from the line of escalator travel. The use of glass panels in connection with balustrading is prohibited except when special, approved types of glass are used.

(d) Strength of truss or girder. The strength of escalator trusses or girders shall conform to the following:

(1) Generally. Escalator trusses and all supporting structure, including tracks, shall conform to the AISC Specification for design, fabrication and erection of structural steel for buildings, 1969.

(2) New installations. The escalator truss or girder shall be of sufficient strength to safely retain the escalator treads in their runs, with the maximum passenger load, should the tread chain break. Escalator trusses or girders shall be designed and constructed with a factor of safety of at least five, based on the static loads.

(3) Existing installations. Existing escalators shall be carefully examined under load. The truss or girder shall be able to carry the weight of the treads with the maximum passenger load should the tread chain break.

(e) Track arrangement. On new installations the track for guiding an escalator tread shall be so constructed as to prevent the displacement of the upper line of treads if the tread chain breaks.

(f) Treads and landings. Escalator treads and landings shall be constructed of material which affords a secure foothold such as wood or material used for safety treads. If the landing is of concrete it shall have edge insertions of metal, wood, or other antislip material.

(g) Handrails. New escalators shall be equipped on both sides with moving handrails operating at the speed of the escalator and in the same direction of travel. Existing handrails shall conform to the requirements for new installations if, in the judgment of the Department, such changes are practicable and necessary.

(h) Reconstruction. When an existing escalator is removed or reerected in a new location, such reconstruction shall be in conformity with the requirements for new installations.

The provisions of this § 7.321 amended September 23, 1977, 7 Pa.B. 2696. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (13395) to (13396).