Safety of travelators for winter sports

Travelators also known as moving walkways appeared over 20 years ago with the initial aim to facilitate the climbing of outdoor steep paths by children in skiing areas. Accidents on early installations led, in 2011, to the development of the first European standard, EVS-EN 15700, on the safety of travelators.

Due to the high safety, resilience and reliability ensured by this standard, since then the market has rapidly grown for a wide range of applications: nowadays, over five thousand travelators are deployed around the world. Travelators are present for people transportation in theme parks, golf, shopping centres, and even some large parking places. For this reason, the time had come to update EVS-EN 15700:2023 ‘Safety for conveyor belts for winter sport or tourist use’, taking into consideration new existing conditions. 

This document sets requirements for travelators for transporting passengers on their snow-sliding devices or pedestrians wearing ski boots or heavy boots for winter sports activities. For other uses, passengers shall wear suitable footwear (closed-toe, robust shoes) for travelators. It also establishes that travelators can be used by children under the age of five only if they are accompanied.

The standard also addresses the automatic operation of these devices, without the need for an operator to continuously be present at the site of the equipment. It includes requirements for the prevention of accidents and the protection of users and operators.

Thanks to the new EVS-EN 15700, tourists and mountain enthusiasts will be able to enjoy their favourite activities in full safety!