×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Revesring the Escalator Direction

Revesring the Escalator Direction

Revesring the Escalator Direction

(OP)
I am to manage a complex building with Escalators and I heard that a consultant from the owner side asked the maintenance personnel to reverse the direction of the escalators to minimize wear and tear. I really cannot comprehend because running the escalators either way will still wear down the equipment no matter what the direction will be (up or down). Just wanted to verify if the conultant has a point in reversing the escalators monthly. By the way, he uses power plays since he has lots of connection from the owner. Thanks a lot.

Mechathan

RE: Revesring the Escalator Direction

The first thing that pops into mind is that things like gearing, when running, only wear one side of the teeth.  By reversing it, you wear both sides.  

RE: Revesring the Escalator Direction

When it comes to people-moving equipment, I would make no assumptions. Consult with the escalator supplier to verify that this is an allowable action. You could end up with a big liability issue.

RE: Revesring the Escalator Direction

Years ago I read one of those half-assed management books.  It used the example of a new boss who showed everyone he was the boss by reversing the direction that the escalators ran.  He did it just to prove he could.  

Doesn’t the right escalator (as you face them from the bottom) always go up.

Thomas J. Walz
Carbide Processors, Inc.
www.carbideprocessors.com

RE: Revesring the Escalator Direction

Some escalators are reversed on a daily basis, for instance to cope with increased one-way traffic such as morning and evening commutes. That said, I agree with dvd, get the escalator rep to ok it. It could be your escalator isn't built for reverse direction.

RE: Revesring the Escalator Direction

(OP)
Yup, the elevator from the right side goes up, as a general practice. We will get the escalator suplier if reversing can be allowed, but right now the design might fit in to a reversible operation. Thanks for all the help.

Mechathan

RE: Revesring the Escalator Direction

Better check your local building codes, too. If there is a law somewhere that says "thou shalt have the escalator on the right going up" then what you are proposing is a non-starter.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources