What Those Brushes on Escalators Are Really For

If you’ve been to a mall, airport, or other location with multiple stories, you’ve likely stepped onto an escalator at some point. And if you have, you may have noticed the brushes that line the edges of said escalator. So, what do they actually do? They’re at a good height to brush shoes, and they’re within reach of a curious child’s hands. However, they don’t seem to be there to shine shoes or serve as a toy for kids. They don’t sweep all the way across the escalator either, meaning it’s unlikely that they’re there to clean the devices. So what purpose do these brushes serve exactly?

What Do the Brushes on an Escalator Do?

The team at Precision Brush, a company that sells escalator brushes, says they’re on an escalator as a safety precaution. According to their site, “escalator brushes are installed on the sides of escalators and moving walkways to keep people from standing too close to the edges.”

Why Are These Brushes Necessary?

As an adult who is well-versed in how to use an escalator, you might think that these brushes are superfluous. You know how to step on and off of one without snagging yourself in the track. Politeness dictates that you stand to one side of an escalator instead of the middle so that there’s a path for faster pedestrians. But you probably don’t tuck in so far that you run the risk of catching yourself on the track.

But plenty of items on or around your person are at risk of getting caught in the machinery. Precision Brush warns that “loose, low-hanging clothing, shoelaces, soft-soled shoes, and other such items are at risk for becoming caught in the moving track or moving stairs.” By installing the brushes, they’ve created a gentle buffer that minimizes that risk.

Where Will I Find These Brushes?

Brushes specifically aren’t a requirement on escalators. However, state and federal regulations demand some kind of barrier that serves the same purpose. Brushes seem to be the most common of the barriers. In fact, Precision Brush says you will often see them at airports and office buildings as well as at malls and other shopping centers.

The company reiterates the need for some kind of safety precaution on escalators, saying “keeping pedestrians safely away from the gap between the escalator or moving track and the sidewall prevents injuries and ensures safety standard compliance with state and federal regulations.”

Source

Escalator Brushes, Precision Brush.

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