Handrails
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Handrail Troubleshooting
Performance
www.ehc-global.com
The handrail is not driving properly or is easily stalled.
The handrail guide and drive systems in an escalator should be thought of as two separate but dependant systems within
the escalator. Improperly adjusting one system can affect the performance of the other. A handrail that is over tensioned
will introduce excessive friction within the guides system and require greater driving force to compensate. There has been
the mistaken idea in the past that when a handrail is slipping, the handrail tension should be increased. This is generally
false on most modern escalators. The one exception would be for newel drive type escalators, which have the drive
sheave at the upper newel end and are generally solid balustrade units. These require handrail tension to properly hold
the handrail to the drive sheave. For all other types of escalators, reverse bend or linear drive; increasing handrail tension
can give short term improvement but increases friction throughout the system. This will cause the handrail to heat up and
increase wear on all parts of the handrail guide and drive system.
The proper way to deal with a handrail that is slipping on reverse bend or linear drive
escalators is to increase handrail drive pressure. This should only be done once the
handrail guide and drive system have been thoroughly inspected to ensure that there
are no tracking or other issues that are creating above normal friction. The drive
pressure should not be increased above the manufacturer’s specifications as this may
lead to delamination of the handrail as mentioned earlier in this guide.
We do not recommend the use of any products within the drive area of the handrail.
This can void your warranty. Using wax on the newel end guides to reduce friction leads
to an accumulation on the drive area of the handrail which can cause handrail slippage.
Enlarged lip dimensions allow the
handrail to easily pull away from the
guide and potentially injure passengers.
Cover
Guide
Lip
The handrail is running hot or wearing unevenly or in one area.
There are a few potential causes for this:
1. Handrail tension is too high. Handrails can change length over the course of their
use and adjustments should be made regularly to keep the tension at the escalator
manufacturer’s specification.
2. The drive pressure rollers are set to give too much pressure or are seized. Inspect
the handrail drive pressure rollers on a regular basis to ensure proper settings for
pressure according to the escalator manufacturers specifications. Ensure drive
pressure rollers are in good condition and turn freely. Replace if necessary.
3. The handrail is rubbing on an internal component of the escalator.
Inspect entire handrail path for contact. Correct any handrail tracking issues found. Ensure that the lips of the handrail do not
contact any hard part of the escalator. The handrail should track centered, leaving several millimeters of clearance between
the lips and guide/drive system. Any handrail that is beginning to show weather checking cracks should be carefully monitored
as these can worsen and cause large cracks that become a safety hazard for passengers. Plan to replace these handrails in
the near future.
Excessive friction between the handrail
and guide will cause the handrail to
operate hot, noisy and staggered.
Cover
Guide
Fabric
Lip
Void
