Why does an escalator need brushes? (6 photos)

Many believe that the brushes stretching down the sides escalators are needed only so that, moving up or down, passengers could clean their boots in their spare time. But actually the reason for the existence of brushes is different, and it is very serious.







Many believe that escalator brushes installed at the bottom on the sides of moving stairs, only needed to clean shoes. But in fact, there are much more serious reasons why they are installed on all escalators.





Back in the early 2000s, the news periodically appeared stories about funny or tragic escalator accidents. And although it would seem that there are few places on the escalator where you can get hurt, but people they will always be found. The most common cause of the accident was that the shoes or the passenger's clothing is caught in the side gap. Contrary to According to popular belief, the main danger of an escalator is not a set of pointed teeth at the end, and the constant upward movement of the step relative to the side wall. It's literally a cutting movement capable of capturing everything that comes into contact with two surfaces at once - for example, a child's boot or the hem of a long garment. If the passenger dragged into the escalator, and he will not stop, injuries are inevitable. victims old men, women, and small children became escalators.



Over time, designers came up with a simple and effective a means to protect the legs of passengers - they became the brushes on the sides moving stairs. They are a tactile reminder that you need to keep your feet away from the edge. Second, they reduce the number dirt that gets on the edges of the escalator - this not only leads to damage to the mechanism, but may also create a risk of fire. They involve human instincts: when a passenger feels how to a brush touches his leg or clothes, he instinctively pushes it away, not letting her catch on the escalator.



In addition to the main function, brushes reduce the amount of dirt, which falls on the edges of the escalator, and does not give small objects, for example, coins - fall between the moving stairs and the side side, which not only leads to damage to the mechanism, but can also create a risk of fire. By the way, the same brushes with the same purposes used in revolving doors.



For manufacturers in Europe installation of brushes on escalators became mandatory in 2004. According to British and European BS EN115-1:1995 requirement for escalator brushes "reduces the chance of getting stuck by reducing the likelihood objects falling into the gap between the steps and the side.