Overview
ISO/TS 25740-1:2011 specifies Global Essential Safety Requirements (GESR) for escalators and moving walks. As an ISO Technical Specification (first edition, 2011), it defines safety objectives for escalators, moving walks, their components and functions, and provides a system and methods to minimize safety risks during operation, use or work on these units. The document is applicable to equipment intended to carry persons and is intended to support global harmonization of escalator and moving-walk safety while allowing technological innovation.
Key Topics and Requirements
ISO/TS 25740-1 focuses on high‑level safety objectives (what to achieve, not how to achieve it). Major technical topics covered include:
- General approach and methodology for defining and implementing GESRs (Clauses 4–5).
- Risk areas and verification: guidance on applicability, use of GESRs, and conformity assessment.
- Structural and mechanical safety: strength, size, supports, and prevention of falls from travel paths and landings.
- User protection: entrapment prevention between component parts and adjacent surfaces; uncontrolled LCU movement; stopping and collision measures.
- Non-user and maintenance hazards: protection from contact with moving parts, failure modes, working area safety, access/egress for authorized personnel.
- Electrical and environmental hazards: electric shock, electrical equipment, electromagnetic compatibility, effects of earthquakes, hazardous materials, environmental influences, noise and vibration.
- Operational risks: starting procedures, maintenance provisions, illumination of LCUs and landings.
- Annexes provide an overview of GESRs by subsystem and a comparison with the European Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC).
Note: the specification does not comprehensively address all needs of users with disabilities, nor risks during construction, alteration/dismantling, vandalism, or fire outside the LCU environment.
Applications and Who Uses It
ISO/TS 25740-1 is practical for:
- Standards developers creating region‑ or country‑level escalator safety standards.
- Designers and manufacturers of escalators and moving walks seeking globally harmonized safety objectives.
- Installers, maintenance and service organizations implementing safe operation and maintenance regimes.
- Conformity assessment, inspection and testing bodies verifying compliance with global safety requirements.
- Facility owners and project specifiers who require consistent, objective safety benchmarks for people‑moving equipment.
Using GESRs enables innovation while ensuring equivalent levels of safety and can help remove trade barriers.
Related Standards
- ISO/TS 25740-2 (planned) - global essential safety parameters (GESPs) to complement GESRs.
- ISO/TR 14799-1 and ISO/TR 14799-2 - earlier related work referenced in the introduction.
- ISO 14798 - methodology that informed the GESR approach.
- ISO/IEC Guide 51 - principles for basic safety standards.
- European Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC - comparison and compliance guidance included in Annex B.
Keywords: ISO/TS 25740-1:2011, GESR, escalator safety, moving walk safety, global essential safety requirements, escalators and moving walks standard.