Free checklist
Escalator quarterly maintenance checklist
A quarterly escalator round is short on purpose: it catches the wear items that fail between annual services. This checklist is sized for a tech with a phone. Every item says what to look at and the photo that proves the round happened. Work is commonly verified against ASME A17.1 safety code for elevators and escalators, manufacturer's published instructions. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
The checklist
Every item, and the photo evidence it needs
The photo count on each row is what RTI would require before the item can be submitted. Work the list here and watch the gate hold, or load it into RTI and let it enforce the real thing.
Combs and steps
Comb plate teeth observed at both landings
Combs meshing into the step grooves at each landing, no broken, chipped or missing teeth, comb plate secure and not lifted at a corner.
Step-to-skirt gap and skirt brushes checked
Gap between the step and the skirt panel even and tight down both sides, skirt deflector brushes present, continuous and not flattened or torn away.
Step surface, demarcation and lighting observed
Step treads and yellow step demarcation lines intact, no cracked or sunken steps, step-level and combline lighting lit where fitted.
Step travel watched for noise, rocking or uneven rise
Steps flattening smoothly into the combs at each landing, no step rocking, knocking or scraping heard along the run, anything unusual reported to the elevator contractor.
No photo
Handrails and balustrade
Handrail condition and speed observed against the steps
Handrail surface unsplit and free of pinch points, tracking in its guide, moving with the steps and not visibly lagging or racing.
Handrail entry guards and inlets checked
Guard fitted where the handrail enters the newel, no gap that could draw in a finger, inlet switch cover intact.
Balustrade panels and deck observed
Interior panels and glass free of cracks or loose joints, no exposed fastener or lifted deck edge along the run.
Ceiling and floor-opening guards observed where fitted
Guard at each point where the balustrade meets a soffit or floor edge present and secure, deck anti-slide devices intact, nothing hung or stacked within a rider's reach.
No photo
Safety devices and signage
Riders held off both landings before the stop test
Stanchions or a staff member at the top and bottom approaches and the steps empty before a stop button is pressed, so no rider is thrown when the unit stops.
Emergency stop buttons observed stopping the unit
Stop button at each landing pressed and the unit seen coming to a controlled stop, button not painted over, seized or obstructed, then restarted per the site procedure.
Caution signage and landing housekeeping checked
Handrail-caution and no-stroller signage present and legible at both landings, landing plates flush, nothing stored or spilled at the approaches.
Records
Certificate of operation posted and in date
Current certificate issued by the AHJ posted in its displayed location, unit number matching this escalator and the expiry not passed.
Contractor's maintenance record checked for the quarter
Maintenance record kept on site shows the licensed mechanic's visits for the quarter, with callbacks and open repairs listed.
No photoQuarterly findings reported to the elevator contractor
Each defect seen on the round logged with its location and date and sent to the elevator contractor, the unit taken out of service by staff where the site procedure says so.
No photo
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- A chipped or missing comb tooth logged as cosmetic when it's the exact spot that catches a shoelace or a trapped item.
- An emergency stop button pressed once at commissioning and never actually observed stopping the unit, so nobody notices the run has drifted or the button is painted over.
- Handrail running noticeably slower than the steps and shrugged off, when the mismatch is what pulls a rider off balance at the landing.
Verified against
Common questions
6 answers
- What does this escalator quarterly checklist cover?
- 14 items across 4 sections, covering combs and steps, handrails and balustrade, safety devices and signage, records. Each item spells out what the person walking the job is actually looking for, not just a box to tick.
- Who should run this inspection?
- The building engineer or facilities tech walking the escalator on the quarterly round, recording what is seen rather than performing the elevator contractor's service.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- Every quarter, walked at both landings with the unit running and again stopped, so the entry guards and combs are seen in motion and at rest.
- Why do these items ask for a photo?
- 10 of the 14 items call for photo evidence, 14 photos in all. A checklist answer without the photo is a claim; the photo is what makes the record worth something in a dispute and lets a reviewer approve work without re-walking the job.
- What most often fails an escalator quarterly inspection?
- A chipped or missing comb tooth logged as cosmetic when it's the exact spot that catches a shoelace or a trapped item. An emergency stop button pressed once at commissioning and never actually observed stopping the unit, so nobody notices the run has drifted or the button is painted over. Handrail running noticeably slower than the steps and shrugged off, when the mismatch is what pulls a rider off balance at the landing.
- Can I use this checklist in RTI?
- Yes. Start a free RTI workspace, build this list as a checklist, and the Photo Gate holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and its photos are attached. Approved inspections roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper evident audit trail.
Run it with the Photo Gate
A checklist nobody can submit half-finished
Load this list into RTI, stick a QR tag on the area it covers, and the submit button stays locked until every mandatory item is answered and the 14 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper evident record behind every line.
See all 508 checklists · 6741 items and 5984 photo requirements in total.