Building Service Chapter 6

PSMZA Course Note (Chapter 6)

Ver. 1 (MSH-Jun2013): CC608 Building Services 1

6.0 TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN HIGH-RISE BUILDING The high-rise building is generally defined as one that is taller than the maximum height

which people are willing to walk up; it thus requires mechanical vertical transportation. The building or structure used as a residential and/or office building. In some areas they may be referred to as "MDU" standing for "Multi Dwelling Unit". High-rise buildings became possible with the invention of the elevator (lift) and cheaper, more abundant building materials. The materials used for the structural system of high-rise buildings are reinforced concrete and steel. Most style skyscrapers have a steel frame, while residential blocks are usually constructed of concrete. There is no clear definition of any difference between a tower block and a skyscraper, although a building with fifty or more storeys is generally considered a skyscraper.

High-rise structures pose particular design challenges for structural and geotechnical engineers, particularly if situated in a seismically active region or if the underlying soils have geotechnical risk factors such as high compressibility or bay mud. They also pose serious challenges to firefighters during emergencies in high-rise structures. New and old building design, building systems like the building standpipe system, HVAC systems (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), fire sprinkler system and other things like stairwell and elevator evacuations pose significant problems.

6.1 Types and Function of Transportation System In High-Rise Building

Transportation systems form integral building blocks for a modern society. Efficient and safe movement of people and goods ensures a thriving economy and provides for an improved quality of life. Because transportation systems are interrelated with many other activities, the challenges of creating and managing transportation systems must be addressed in an interdisciplinary manner.

There are two types transportation in high-rise building; it’s vertical and horizontal

movement. Vertical and horizontal transportation means that transportation that is used to transport people and goods from one level to another for example vertical, and one point to another same level point such as horizontal. The used of this transportation will save time and energy of human being in our everyday life.

Other than that, it is also useful and convenient especially to elderly and people who are

lugged down by their shopping load or luggage. This type of transportations can be found in various office buildings, shopping complexes, airport terminal, and many more. There are various types of vertical and horizontal transportations, some may only serve the purpose of transporting, and others are installed as part of the aesthetic value, for example in exhibition halls, zoos, museum, and many more.

For vertical transportation consists of elevator and escalator, while for horizontal is

travelator or walkway. This transportation is a slow moving conveyor mechanism that transports people, across a horizontal or inclined plane, over a short distance.

6.2 Escalator An escalator is a moving staircase a conveyor transport device for carrying people

between floors of a building. The device consists of a motor-driven chain of individual, linked steps that move up or down on tracks, allowing the step treads to remain horizontal. Escalators are used around the world to move pedestrian traffic in places where elevators would be impractical. Principal areas of usage include department stores, shopping malls, airports, transit systems, convention centers, hotels, arenas, stadiums and public buildings.



6.2.1 The Advantages and Disadvantages of Escalator Escalators, like moving walkways, are often powered by constant-speed alternating current motors and move at approximately 0.3 - 0.6 m per second. The typical angle of inclination of an escalator to the horizontal floor level is 30 degrees with a standard rise[clarification needed] up to about 18 m. Modern escalators have single-piece aluminum or stainless steel steps that move on a system of tracks in a continuous loop. There are the advantages and disadvantages when use this transportation, it’s:

i. The advantages a. Have the capacity to transport large number of people at shorter time. b. Faster mode of transportation for short vertical distances. c. Can be placed/substituted as normal staircase even during malfunction. d. No waiting internal except during heavy traffic. e. May be weather – proved for outdoor use. f. Power – driven, continuously moving staircase. g. Moves at a constant speed at approximately 0.3-0.6m per second with a standard

rise up to about 18m.

ii. The Disadvantages a. Only convenient for short vertical distance, better to use lifts for lengthier vertical

distance b. Takes up space to install c. Higher risk of injuries

6.2.2 Design and Layout Consideration of Escalator Escalators are required to have moving handrails that keep pace with the movement of the steps. This helps riders steady themselves, especially when stepping onto the moving stairs. Occasionally, a handrail will move at a slightly different speed from the steps, causing it to "creep" slowly forward or backward relative to the steps. Riders may find this effect disconcerting and this problem should be fixed. Escalators have three typical configuration options

i. Parallel (up and down escalators side by side or separated by a distance) ii. Crisscross (minimizes space requirements by "stacking" escalators that go in one

direction) iii. Multiple parallel (two or more escalators together that travel in one direction next to

one or two escalators) iv. Spiral (develop more comfortable public environments for humankind and a

pioneering technology)

Figure 6.1: Moving staircase transform



The direction of escalator movement (up or down) can be permanently set, or be controlled by personnel according to the predominant flow of the crowd, or be controlled automatically. In some setups, direction is controlled automatically by whoever arrives first, whether at the bottom or at the top (the system is programmed so that the direction is not reversed while a passenger is on the escalator). A number of factors affect escalator design, including:

i. Physical requirements Physical factors like the vertical and horizontal distance to be spanned must be considered. These factors will determine the pitch of the escalator and its actual length. The ability of the building infrastructure to support the heavy components is also a critical physical concern.

ii. Location Location is important because escalators should be situated where they can be easily seen by the general public. In department stores, customers should be able to view the merchandise easily.

Figure 6.2: Parallel escalator Figure 6.3: Multiple parallel escalator

Figure 6.4: Spiral escalator Figure 6.5: Crisscross escalator



iii. Traffic patterns Up and down escalator traffic should be physically separated and should not lead into confined spaces. Traffic patterns must also be anticipated in escalator design. In some buildings, the objective is simply to move people from one floor to another, but in others there may be a more specific requirement, such as funneling visitors towards a main exit or exhibit. The number of passengers is important because escalators are designed to carry a certain maximum number of people. For example, a single-width escalator traveling at about 0.46 m per second can move an estimated 170 persons per five minute period. The carrying capacity of an escalator system must match the expected peak traffic demand, presuming that passengers ride single file. This is crucial for applications in which there are sudden increases in the number of riders. For example, escalators at stations must be designed to cater for the peak traffic flow discharged from a train, without causing excessive bunching at the escalator entrance

iv. Safety considerations

Escalators help in controlling traffic flow of people. For example, an escalator to an exit effectively discourages most people from using it as an entrance, and may reduce security concerns. Similarly, escalators often are used as the exit of airport security checkpoints. Such an egress point would generally be staffed to prevent its use as an entrance, as well. It is preferred that staircases be located adjacent to the escalator if the escalator is the primary means of transport between floors. It may also be necessary to provide an elevator lift adjacent to an escalator for wheelchairs and disabled persons.

v. Aesthetic preferences Consideration should be given to the aesthetics of the escalator. The architects and designers can choose from a wide range of styles and colors for the handrails and balustrades.

6.2.3 Escalator Component

Escalator is a stairway whose steps move continually on a circulating belt or simply they are the moving stairs. An electrical services engineer should also know something about escalator. The main component an escalator:

i. Landing platforms These two platforms house the curved sections of the tracks, as well as the gears and motors that drive the stairs. The top platform contains the motor assembly and the main drive gear, while the bottom holds the step return idler sprockets. These sections also anchor the ends of the escalator truss. In addition, the platforms contain a floor plate and a comb plate. The floor plate provides a place for the passengers to stand before they step onto the moving stairs. This plate is flush with the finished floor and is either hinged or removable to allow easy access to the machinery below. The comb plate is the piece between the stationary floor plate and the moving step. It is so named because its edge has a series of cleats that resemble the teeth of a comb. These teeth mesh with matching cleats on the edges of the steps. This design is necessary to minimize the gap between the stair and the landing, which helps prevent objects from getting caught in the gap.

ii. Truss The truss is a hollow metal structure that bridges the lower and upper landings. It is composed of two side sections joined together with cross braces across the bottom and just below the top. The ends of the truss are attached to the top and bottom landing platforms via steel or concrete supports. The truss carries all the straight track sections connecting the upper and lower sections.



iii. Tracks The track system is built into the truss to guide the step chain, which continuously pulls the steps from the bottom platform and back to the top in an endless loop. There are actually two tracks: one for the front wheels of the steps (called the step-wheel track) and one for the back wheels of the steps (called the trailer-wheel track). The relative positions of these tracks cause the steps to form a staircase as they move out from under the comb plate. Along the straight section of the truss the tracks are at their maximum distance apart. This configuration forces the back of one step to be at a 90-degree angle relative to the step behind it. This right angle bends the steps into a shape resembling a staircase. At the top and bottom of the escalator, the two tracks converge so that the front and back wheels of the steps are almost in a straight line. This causes the stairs to lay in a flat sheet like arrangement, one after another, so they can easily travel around the bend in the curved section of track. The tracks carry the steps down along the underside of the truss until they reach the bottom landing, where they pass through another curved section of track before exiting the bottom landing. At this point the tracks separate and the steps once again assume a staircase configuration. This cycle is repeated continually as the steps are pulled from bottom to top and back to the bottom again.

iv. Steps The steps themselves are solid, one piece, die-cast aluminum or steel. Yellow demarcation lines may be added to clearly indicate their edges. "step-type" escalators featured flat treads and smooth risers; other escalator models have cleated treads and smooth risers. The steps are linked by a continuous metal chain that forms a closed loop. The front and back edges of the steps are each connected to two wheels. The rear wheels are set further apart to fit into the back track and the front wheels have shorter axles to fit into the narrower front track. As described above, the position of the tracks controls the orientation of the steps.

Figure 6.6: Escalator components



v. Handrail The handrail provides a convenient handhold for passengers while they are riding the escalator. In an escalator, the handrail is pulled along its track by a chain that is connected to the main drive gear by a series of pulleys. It is constructed of four distinct sections. At the center of the handrail is a "slider", also known as a "glider ply", which is a layer of a cotton or synthetic textile. The purpose of the slider layer is to allow the handrail to move smoothly along its track. The next layer, known as the "tension member", consists of either steel cable or flat steel tape, and provides the handrail with tensile strength and flexibility. On top of tension member are the inner construction components, which are made of chemically treated rubber designed to prevent the layers from separating.

In the factory, handrails are constructed by feeding rubber through a computer-controlled extrusion machine to produce layers of the required size and type in order to match specific orders. The component layers of fabric, rubber, and steel are shaped by skilled workers before being fed into the presses, where they are fused together.

Table 6.2: Escalator step width and energy usage

No. Size Width (between

balustrade panels) Single-step capacity Applications

Power consumption

1 Very small

400 mm One passenger,

with feet together

A rare historic design found mostly in older

department stores

3.7 kW (5 hp)

2 Small 600 mm One passenger

Low-volume sites, uppermost levels of department stores,

when space is limited

3.7 kW (5 hp)

3 Medium 800 mm

One passenger + one package or

one piece of luggage

Shopping malls, department stores,

smaller airports

7.5 kW (10 hp)

4 Large 1,000 mm Two passengers – one may walk

past another

Mainstay of metro systems, larger airports,

train stations, some retail usage

7.5 kW (10 hp)

6.2.4 Safety Procedures in Handling Escalator Incidents involving elevators and escalators kill about 30 and seriously injure about

17,100 people each year in the United States. Injuries to people working on or near escalator including those installing, repairing, and maintaining, and working in or near shafts account for almost half of the deaths. The two major causes of death are falls and being caught in/between moving parts of escalators. For the safety when used the escalator follow by:

i. Wear Safe Clothes and Shoes Wearing long sweaters, mittens, long skirts, untied shoelaces, drawstrings in waistbands or sweatshirts, wide pants, scarves and soft-sided shoes are very dangerous as they can get stuck in escalators. So remove these types of things during your escalator ride to protect yourself from an accident.

ii. Always Hold the Handrail Handrails are designed to keep you in place while moving so always hold them. Handrails decrease the risk of slipping and tripping accidents. While the escalator moves, they will help you to remain on place.



iii. Always Face Forward When standing on the escalator, always face forward on the middle of the step. Also keep the feet somewhat apart and don’t touch the stationary sides. Facing forward will also help you to take necessary actions if the person riding in front of you falls by accident.

iv. Keep Space Always keep space between you and the person riding in front of you to decrease the chances of injury. To avoid injury, just wait for some steps to pass over after the person riding the escalator in front you climbs on. This will also avoid crowding at the exit of the escalator.

v. Don’t Put Children in Strollers, carts, or walkers During an escalator ride, never use walkers, strollers or carts as they can create danger for you and other people. So before climbing on an escalator, remove babies and toddlers from walkers, strollers or carts.

vi. Always Secure Children When riding on escalator, allow children to stand on the same step or in front of you so that you can easily reach to them in case of an emergency. Also hold hand of your children and don’t let them to play, jump or sit on the steps as even a simple fall can cause cut on the jagged metal steps.

vii. Avoid the Edges of Steps When riding on the escalator always avoid the edges of steps where entrapment may occur. All the escalators are designed to show the edges where you may entrap. To avoid entrapments, there are yellow lines on the sides of the escalator steps which show where you have to keep your feet.

viii. Know Emergency Shut-off Buttons You should know where the emergency shut-off buttons are placed in case you want to stop escalator. Generally, these buttons are at the top and bottom of escalators on the right side when facing the steps.

ix. Others Safety Tips a. Don’t ride on escalator with barefoot. b. Never ride in the opposite direction of the escalator. c. People who are wearing bifocals should pay particular attention. d. Watch the direction of the moving step while climbing or exiting the escalator. e. Always hold small packages tightly in one hand and hold the handrail with other

hand. f. Make your kids aware of how to get off and on the escalator by verbal commands

and modeling the action with them. g. Never allow the children to use an escalator unattended as well as don’t let them

to drag their feet on the sides.



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6.3 Elevators (Lift) The elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or

goods between floors (levels, decks) of a building, vessel or other structures. Lift system installation requirements are based on the needs of the use of a building. There are several types of lifts used. Refer table 6.3 below.

Elevators are generally powered by electric motors that either drive traction cables or counterweight systems like a hoist, or pump hydraulic fluid to raise a cylindrical piston like a jack. The elevators can be broadly classified as either electric traction type or hydraulic type.

i. Traction elevators (Electric)

An elevator car and counterweight attached to opposite ends of hoist ropes. The hoist ropes pass over a driving machine that raises and lowers the car. Traction elevators run on load-bearing rails in the elevator hoist way. Traction elevators are most often used in mid-rise and high-rise buildings with five or more floors. Virtually limitless rise (high and mid rise), it’s also found a gear and gearless traction.

ii. Hydraulic elevators

Raised by forcing pressurized oil through a valve into a steel cylinder located above ground or underground. The pressure forces a piston to rise, lifting the elevator platform and car enclosure mounted on it. The car is lowered by opening the valve and allowing the weight of the car to force oil from the cylinder in a controlled manner. When the valve is closed the car is stopped. Since the weight of hydraulic elevator cars is borne by the piston, there is no need for a structural framework or load-bearing rails. Hydraulic elevators are commonly found in low-rise buildings with two to five floors or six stories. Lower speeds and cost in a higher power consumption.



Figure 6.9: Traction elevator

Figure 6.10: Hydraulic elevator



Table 6.3: Types of elevator or lift No Types of lift Diagram Description

1 Passenger

lift

It works using a lift cab for the passengers to access and travel on, raising vertically between floors. It’s rather than bespoke so follows a well-established

method of creating lifts and will suit a wide variety of needs.

2 Hospital/bed

lift

This elevators are distinguished by wider doors and larger platform sizes to allow faster, more secure of people and equipment. Commonly used at hospital.

3 Panorama

lift

View of the artistic style and the surrounding sights in riding the elevator. It usually has a glass door, or is entirely made of glass, and can be situated either

inside or outside of buildings.

4 Goods lift

Used for lifting & lowering of gifts and can carry up to three tons of load at one go.

5 Good/passe

nger lift

Used for lifting & lowering options for either passengers

or goods

6 Service lift

Commonly used at hotels, restaurants and other food service to make sure the food gets to the customer piping hot and without getting dropped on the stairs.



7 Residential

lift

Residential homes almost exclusively for disabled individuals who need a lift to easily reach upper floors of their home, helping them retain their independence

and carry on living in their own home

8 Bespoke lift

Owners can design according to their own preferences for use at home or shopping mall.

9 Platform lift

This lift type will be alongside an existing, short internal staircase or external steps, to allow access to the building with a wheelchair, or by people who have

difficulty using steps.

10 Car lift

Usually used in parking garages and car repair. Lift is built in accordance with the maximum size and weight

of the car.

11 Stair chair

lift

An mechanical device for lifting people and wheelchairs up and down stairs. For sufficiently wide stairs, a rail is mounted to the treads of the stairs or on the wall beside

the stairs. A chair or lifting platform is attached to the rail.



6.3.1 The Advantages and Disadvantages of Elevator

i. The Advantages a. Suitable for high-rise building b. Vertical transport that efficiently moves people or good between floor of a building c. Safest mode of transportation d. Faster mode of vertical transportation for lengthier vertical distance e. Statistic shows lesser risk of injuries/accident f. Traction lift more faster than hydraulic lift g. Convenient – does not take much space except for the maintenance room h. Elevator doors protect building tenants from falling into the shaft i. Hydraulic mechanism is cheaper, but installing cylinder greater than a certain

length becomes impractical

ii. The Disadvantages a. Expensive to maintain b. In case of malfunction, need to use other mean of transportation c. Longer waiting period especially heavy traffic d. Lesser capacity to transport people and good at a certain time e. Hydraulic lift is slow movement

6.3.2 Design and Layout Consideration of Elevator/Lift Several numbers of passenger elevators are usually required in most buildings in order to

cope with the traffic density. The number of elevators is derived from a traditional traffic calculation during morning up peak. In this scenario, an elevator loads at the lobby, delivers passengers to their floors, and returns empty for the next trip. The number of elevators required shall be selected on the basis of a 25 to 30 second response waiting time interval between elevators.

The main design considerations for choosing either electric traction drive or hydraulic for a particular project are the number of floors, the height of the building, the number of people to be transported, desired passenger waiting times and frequency of use. The major components were machine room, cabs and hoistway/pits.

Figure 6.11: Three major elevator component part



The other mode of vertical building transportation is “Escalator”. It can be described as moving stairs typically used to carry large number of people at high volumes through a limited no of floors. These are commonly used in high density areas or where sudden traffic surges are expected at times; for example at discharge times from offices, railways underground stations, airport terminals, theaters, shopping malls and departmental stores. In such applications, escalators will provide shorter travel time than elevators because elevator cars are limited in size and passengers have to wait longer for the service. Other typical parameter in design of elevator includes:

i. Characteristics of the premises a. Type and use of building b. Floor plate size and height of the building c. Size of population and its distribution in the premises d. Fire safety and regulations e. The house keeping of the premises f. Comfortable g. Aesthetics value

ii. Circulation efficiency/performance

a. Number of cars and their capacity b. Location and configuration of elevators in entrance lobby c. Travel length, number of stops and maximum acceptable waiting time d. Arrangement with the combination of elevator, escalator and emergency stairs

iii. Characteristic of the equipment

a. Type of transportation systems b. Rated load and car dimensions c. The speed of the lift/escalator system d. The type of motor drive control system of the machine e. Mode of group supervisory control and safety features f. Cab enclosure and hoist way door finishes g. Emergency power supplies and fire protection systems h. Requirements of the local regulations on vertical transport system i. Zoning of elevators j. Elevator doors

The elevators capacity is derived from up-peak traffic analysis. The nominal capacity of the elevator and the rated maximum passenger capacity is than known from manufacturer’s catalogues. Table below provides standard nominal capacities and passenger relationship:

Table 6.4: Passenger Elevator Service Capacities

Nominal Capacity

Rated Max Passenger Capacity

Passengers Per Trip (Normal Peak)*

1140 kg 17 13

1360 kg 20 16

1600 kg 23 19

1800 kg 27 21

2250 kg 33 27

2730 kg 40 32

3180 kg 47 37

3640 kg 53 43 *Peak passengers per trip (normal peak = 80% of rated capacity).



In modern high rise buildings each lift is not usually required to service every level, as this would imply a large number of stops during each trip. The effect is to increase the round trip time, which in turn increases the interval and the passenger waiting time and the passengers have to endure long journey times. The solution is to limit the number of floors served by the lifts.

A rule of thumb is to serve a maximum of 15-16 floors with a lift, or a group of lifts. This

introduces the concept of zoning. Zoning is where a building is divided so that a lift or group of lifts is constrained to only serve a designated set of floors. There are two forms of zoning: interleaved and stacked. An interleaved zone is where the whole building is served by lifts, which are arranged to serve either the even floors or the odd floors. This has been a common practice in public housing and has been used in some office buildings.

Many tall buildings are divided into several zones: low zone, mid zone, high zone, etc.

with service direct from the main terminal floor, situated at ground level. These are called `local' zones. This becomes impractical with very tall buildings and shuttle lifts are employed to take passengers from the ground level main lobby to a `sky lobby'. Four basic sky lobby configurations:

i. Single deck shuttles, single deck locals, eg: World Trade Center, USA ii. Double deck shuttles, single deck locals, eg: Sears Tower, USA iii. Double deck shuttles, double deck locals, eg: Petronas Towers, Malaysia. iv. Single deck shuttles, single deck top/down locals, eg: none v. Double deck shuttles, single deck top/down locals, eg: UOB Plaza, Singapore.

Configuration 4 would be difficult to engineer, as offset lobbies would be required.

Generally shuttle lifts serve between two stops only, hence the term `shuttle', but sometimes they serve three stops, ie: with two sky lobbies (Sears Tower, USA). The number of shuttle lifts that are installed world wide is not large. Their traffic design is relatively simple, but their application in a building requires expert consideration.

Figure 6.12: The elevator design concept



This elevator system will corresponds to the demand by distinguishing the peak hours such as early of working hours and lunch time from the non-peak hours. The latest elevator group control system allows multiple elevators to work together systematically and optimally while providing maximum conveniences to the passengers.

Elevator doors protect riders from falling into the shaft. The most common configuration is to have two panels that meet in the middle, and slide open laterally. In a cascading telescopic configuration (potentially allowing wider entryways within limited space), the doors run on independent tracks so that while open, they are tucked behind one another, and while closed, they form cascading layers on one side.

Figure 6.13: The possibilities of lift grouping arrangement concept

Figure 6.14: Types of an elevator doors



6.3.3 Safety Procedures in Handling Elevators Elevators are potential sources of serious injuries and deaths to the general public and to

workers installing, repairing, and maintaining them and fire and rescue personnel. Common injuries are tripping, caught clothing, being hit by closing elevator doors, or falling down an elevator shaft when trying to exit a stalled elevator car. Accidents can occasionally occur as a result of unsafe riding practices. Though elevators are one of the safest forms of transportation, following simple guidelines can help further improve passenger safety. It’s important to not only know how to properly ride elevators, but also what to do if the elevator becomes stalled.

i. When waiting for elevators

a) Know your destination. b) Push the elevator call button once for the direction you want to go in. c) Look and listen for the signal announcing your car’s arrival. d) Be aware of health conditions that could contribute to falls or accidents. e) Stand clear of the elevator doors and stand aside for exiting passengers. f) If the arriving car is full, wait for the next car. g) Don’t attempt to maneuver in or stop closing doors, wait for the next car. h) In the event of a fire or other situation that could lead to a disruption in electrical

services, take the stairs.

ii. When boarding elevators a) Watch your step – the elevator car may not be perfectly level with the floor. b) Stand clear of the doors – keep clothes and carry-ons away from the opening. c) Hold children and pets firmly. d) Passengers nearest to the doors should move first when the car arrives. e) Push and hold the DOOR OPEN button if doors need to be held open, or ask

someone to push the button for you. f) Never try to stop a closing door, wait for the next car. g) Once on board, quickly press the button for your floor and move to the back of

the car to make room for other passengers.

iii. When riding elevators a) Hold the handrail, if available. b) Stand next to the elevator wall, if available. c) Pay attention to the floor indications. d) If the doors do not open when the elevator stops, push the DOOR OPEN button.

iv. When exiting elevators a) Exit immediately at your floor. Do not wait for others behind you. b) Do not push the people in front of you when exiting. c) Watch your step – the elevator car may not be perfectly level with the floor.

v. In the event of an elevator emergency

a) If the elevator should ever stop between floors, do not panic. There is plenty of air in the elevator.

b) Never climb out of a stalled elevator. c) Use the ALARM or HELP button, the telephone or the intercom to call for

assistance. d) Above all, wait for qualified help to arrive and never try to leave an elevator that

has not stopped normally. e) Emergency lighting will come on in the event of a power failure.

vi. What to do if you are stalled in an elevator

a) Push the "Door Open" Button - If you are near the landing the door will open. You can slowly and carefully step out of the elevator. Be sure to watch your step as the elevator floor may, or may not, be level with the landing.

b) Remain Calm - If the door does not open, you are still safe. Do not try to exit the elevator. Wait for trained emergency personnel to arrive. Even if the air



Figure 6.15: Travelator schematic

temperature feels warm, there is plenty of air circulating in the elevator and its shaft way.

c) Press the Alarm or Help Button, and use any available communication systems Push the alarm button and wait for someone to respond to you.

In newer elevators, there will be a "PHONE" or "HELP" button instead of an

alarm button this will place a call to a party that is trained to take action (i.e. elevator company, alarm company, etc.). It will give the exact location of the building and elevator you are in. Trained emergency personnel will answer the call for service within several minutes.

Some elevators have a two-way speaker system or telephone that will allow for communication between you and the building or rescue personnel. Do not be alarmed if you cannot be heard or if the phone does not work. Some phones are designed to only receive calls. Trained personnel should call when they arrive at the building.

vii. Relax, and do not try to extract yourself from the elevator

a) Never try to exit a stalled elevator car. It is extremely dangerous. always wait for trained emergency personnel.

b) Your best course of action is to relax, get comfortable, and wait for professional assistance.

c) You may be inconvenienced but you are safe.

6.4 Walkway/Travelator A moving walkway or moving sidewalk is a slow moving conveyor mechanism that transports people, across a horizontal or inclined plane, over a short distance. Moving walkways can be used by standing or walking on them. They are often installed in pairs, one for each direction.

A travelator, moving ramp or escalator for transporting people, comprises a people mover; a balustrade extending alongside the people mover throughout its length. The balustrade comprises a handrail belt formed as an endless loop and having an upper handhold portion, which the passenger can grasp with a hand for support, a lower return portion, and a turn-around portion between the handhold portion and the return portion.



The balustrade frame comprises a turn-around guide at the end of the balustrade to form a turn-around to support and guide the turn-around portion of the handrail belt. The turn-around guide comprises a number of pressure rollers spaced at a distance from each other and arranged in a sequence in the form of a circular arc. In addition, a drive assembly is arranged to move the handrail belt.

The drive assembly comprises a drive belt formed as an endless loop and having a contact portion which is in driving contact with the handrail belt over a predetermined length, and a power mechanism for driving the drive belt. The contact portion of the drive belt is passed over the sequence of pressure rollers between the pressure rollers and the turn-around portion of the handrail belt. The Features were:

i. Lays on existing floors - No floor pits Low Profile - 150mm Slashes civil engineering costs.

ii. Quick installation and removal iii. Easy to re-locate iv. Modular and extendible v. Walk-on, walk-off vi. Easy gradient, non-slip ramps vii. Only 150mm deep ± no need to dig expensive pits into the floor viii. Double Handrail Walkway

Figure 6.16: Airport travelator



6.5 Best of Practices in Handling Escalator and Elevator

i. Safety Procedures During Repair Work or Maintenance

Maintenance includes the inspecting, cleaning oiling and adjusting of a lift or an escalator in order to keep the equipment and their accessories in good working order and prevent faults from occurring. Some overhaul/repair works in the industry such as the replacement of main hoisting ropes in traction drive lift, the replacement of hydraulic jack in hydraulic lift, the replacement of safety gear etc. require special attention on the employees’ safety and health at work. A proprietor/contractor should devise a safe system of work for a special overhaul/repair work by taking into consideration the current legal safety requirements and the instructions, in particular, the safety precautions and warnings included in the maintenance manuals published by the lift/ escalator manufacturers. All the engineers/supervisors and workers should observe and follow strictly the safe system of work and the safety instructions of the maintenance manuals. Any alteration and deviation to the safe system of work and/or the safety instructions in the maintenance manual should be made only under the instructions and supervision of persons who are competent and having the appropriate technical skill and experience. In addition to the relevant safety precautions as mentioned in the previous section, special attentions should be paid to the following when carrying out the special overhaul/repair works: a) During the special overhaul/repair works, safe method of lifting or mechanical

handling of spare parts such as the lift car or hydraulic jack, etc. should be devised in advance in the site safety assessment. Reference should be made to the recommended method of the maintenance manual published by the manufacturers.

b) The wire rope used for rigging a lift car should be of adequate strength and length. The sharp corners of the lift car should be padded to avoid any damage to the wire rope.

c) During the lifting of a lift car, the wire rope should be fixed at the anchorage points for the frame instead of tying around the top beam of the lift car. The wire rope should preferably be of simple 1:1 suspension system at the anchorage points in order to eliminate the relative movement of wire rope with respect to the anchorages.

d) If the wire rope is tied around a diverter pulley for lifting a lift car with a 2:1 suspension system, the wire rope should be placed in the groove of the pulley.

e) Lifting hook speeded beyond the allowable limit should be discarded immediately. f) When a wire rope is required to be looped or is making short bend, thimbles

should be used in the application. U-bolts of all clamp fastening should be on the dead end of the wire rope.

g) In clamping a wire rope into an eye, the loose end should be clamped against the main rope with minimum three clamps. The distance between two clamps should be 6 to 7 times the rope diameter apart. Clamp fastenings should be inspected and maintained regularly.

h) As a safety precaution, when the lift car (with its car top as the working platform) is hoisted up to the required position for working purposes, the safety gear of the lift car should be immediately activated so as to securely fix the lift car in position.

i) Main Hoisting Rope Replacement Work. Replacement of all the old main hoisting ropes in one goal for a traction drive

lift is not recommended. For the sake of safety during the rope replacement work, at least some numbers of the old hoisting ropes should remain intact to hold the lift car in case of emergency.

The main switch of the lift should be turned off, locked out and tagged. Proper warning notices warning that the lift is out of service should also be



posted at prominent positions so as to avoid any disturbances caused by the persons in the building intending to use the lift.

The counterweight should be set at the lowest level at the lift pit and should be securely and adequately supported to prevent it from moving during the replacement work.

For easy and safe handling of new hoisting ropes during the rope replacement work, the new ropes to be used should first be cut to the required length before delivering to the work site.

For safety sake, the old hoisting ropes should be replaced with the new hoisting ropes one after the other.

In replacement of the main hoisting ropes, the old ropes should be properly transported down to the ground for removal from the work site.

j) Hydraulic Jack Replacement Work The main switch to the hydraulic lift should be turned off, locked out and

tagged. The pressure at the hydraulic jack to be replaced should be released and the

jack should retract completely to the lowest position after the hydraulic lift car has been supported by the lifting appliance installed at the top of the lift well or at the machine room located above.

k) Safety Gear Replacement Work The lift car should be set near the bottom terminal landing to reduce the risk

of falling from height during the replacement of safety gear at the bottom of the lift car.

Proper working platform erected from the lift pit should be provided for the working personnel carrying out the safety gear replacement work.

After the special overhaul/repair work, the lifting appliance and the lifting gear for lifting/rigging purposes should be dismantled properly and the support for counterweight should also be removed before putting back the lift to normal service in the building.

ii. Best of Practices in Handling Escalator and Elevator Safety is the elevator and escalator industry’s first priority. The industry has stringent codes in place to help ensure the safety of its products, and to make certain that machinery is maintained and inspected according to its respective codes. a) Duties of The Company Safety Authority

Issue annual operating permits. Issue contractors licenses and approve qualification of contractors. Inspects all new elevator systems before they can be used. Inspects all new equipment for elevators and escalators. Approve all elevator and escalator renovations. Investigate accidents and incidents. Record and monitor schedule inspections.

b) Duties of The Owner’s and Owner’s Representatives

To keep onsite all manuals, construction prints, schematics, shop drawings plus a disk copy of proprietary software.

Annual operating permits must be mounted in the elevator machine room. (check web site for fee schedule)

Keep on file current elevator contract. Give a copy to whoever is responsible for the elevators for your company. Make sure they understand all the details of the contract.

Keep a hardbound logbook for each elevator. All work done on an elevator must be recorded and signed. All records must be kept 6 years.

If the contract is terminated, request from the Safety Authority all elevator records.



iii. Rules by The Local Authority

Elevators design shall comply with the latest edition of ASME A17.1, “Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators” with amendments and Uniform Building Code (UBC). Therefore, The adoption of the EN Standard as a Malaysian Standard was recommended by the Working Group on Lifts and Escalators under the authority of the Industry Standards Committee on Mechanical Engineering. This Malaysian Standard is the first revision of MS 2021-1, Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts - Part 1: Electric lifts. This Malaysian Standard is identical with EN 81-1:1998, Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts - Part 1: Electric lifts, including its Corrigendum 1:1999, Amendment 1:2005, Amendment 2:2004 and Amendment 3:2009, published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) with the exceptions as listed below. In the source text, “this European Standard” should read “this Malaysian Standard”;

6.6 References Books

Egan M David (1986). The Building Fire Safety Concept. University Technology Malaysia, Skudai.

Fullerton R. L. (1979). Building Construction in Warm Climates. Volume 1, 2, 3. Oxford

University Press, United Kingdom. Hall F. (2000). Building Services & Equipment. Pearson Limited, England. MS EN 81-1:2012. Malaysian Standard. Safety Rules for the Construction and Installation of

Lift- Part1: electric Lifts (first revision). Department of Standards Malaysia. Nor Rizman (2010). Risk Assessment for Demolition Works In Malaysia. Faculy of Civil

Engineering and Earth Resources, Universiti Malaysia Pahang. Undergraduate thesis.

Prashant A/L Tharmarajan (2007(. The Essential Aspects of Fire Safety Management In Hihg-

Rise Buildings. University Teknologi Malaysia. Degree of master science thesis. Riger W. Haines, Douglas C. Hittle (2006). Control System for Heating, Ventilating and Air

Conditioning. Springer-Verlag, New York. Stein, Benjamin, Reynolds, John S., Grondzik, Walter T., and Alison G. Kwok, (2006).

Mechanical and Electrical Equipment for Buildings. 10th ed. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2006.

Tan, C. W. and Hiew, B.K., (2004), “Effective Management of Fire Safety in a High-Rise

Building”, Buletin Ingenieur vol. 204, 12-19. Journals N.H. Salleh and A.G. Ahmad. (2009). Fire Safety Management In Heritage Buildings: The

Current Scenario In Malaysia. CIPA Symposium Kyoto Japan. UIAM and USM.



Code of Practices Approved Code Of Practice For Demolition: Health And Safety In Employment Act 1992.

Issued And Approved By The Minister Of Labour September 1994. Code of Practice for Lift Works and Escalator Works. (2002 ed). Code Of Practice For Demolition Of Buildings 2004. Published by the Building Department.

Printed by Taiwan Government Logistics Department. Code Of Practice For Demolition Of Buildings (2009). Malaysia Standard Supersede Ms 282

Part 1: 1975. Technical Committee For Construction Practices Under The Supervision Of Construction Industry Development Board, Malaysia.

Demolition Work Code Of Practice (July 2012). Australian Government. Work Health and Safety (Demolition Work Code of Practice) Approval 2012. Australian

Capital Territory. By Dr Chris Bourke, Minister for Industrial Relations. Others Publishing Coby Frampton. Benchmarking World-class maintenance. CMC Charles Brooks Associates,

Inc. Electrical Installation and Systems (2006). Training Package UEE06. Industry Skills Council,

Australia. Fire Safety Manual (2002). Florida Atlantic University USA. Garis panduan Pendawaian Elektrik di bangunan Kediaman (2008). Suruhanjaya Tenaga

Malaysia. Jabatan Keselamatan Elektrik. Laws of Malaysia. Act 341: Fire Services Act 1988. Publish by The Commissioner Of Law

Revision, Malaysia Under The Authority Of The Revision Of Laws Act 1968 In Collaboration With Percetakan Nasional Malaysia Bhd 2006.

Operations & Maintenance Best Practices: A Guide to Achieving Operational Efficiency.

(August 2010). Release 3.0. Principles of Home Inspection: Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps. (2010). Educational Course

Note. Routine Maintenance Modules. Part II. Uniform Building By Law 1984. (1996). MDC Legal Advisers: MDC Publishers Printers Guidelines For Applicants For A Demolition Licence Issued Under The Occupational Safety

And Health Regulations 1996. Occupational Safety And Health Act 198. The Government of Commerce, Western Autralia.



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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity

http://science.howstuffworks.com/electricity.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_safety

http://www.usfa.fema.gov/citizens/home_fire_prev/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maintenance,_repair,_and_operations

http://academia.edu/406774/Demolition_Work_in_Malaysia_The_Safety_Provisions

http://www.mbam.org.my/mbam/doc/news/010-05Oct09-COP%20Demolition%20Works-corrected%20on%20%2030th%20sept%202009-1.doc

http://www.mbam.org.my/mbam/doc/news/010-05Oct09-COP%20Demolition%20Works-corrected%20on%20%2030th%20sept%202009-1.doc

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demolition

http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA/about/Publications/Documents/700/Demolition%20Work.pdf

http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA/about/Publications/Documents/700/Demolition%20Work.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_conditioning

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/heat-island-sprawl.html

http://www.projectnoah.org/education

http://unfccc.int/files/methods_and_science/other_methodological_issues/interactions_with_ozone_layer/application/pdf/subgene.pdf

http://unfccc.int/files/methods_and_science/other_methodological_issues/interactions_with_ozone_layer/application/pdf/subgene.pdf

http://www.cibse.org/Docs/barney2.doc

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Building_Services/Vertical_Transportation