Starting September 1, shopping centers and other commercial facilities in Russia may suspend the operation of escalators, travelators, and lifts for people with limited mobility. This is reported by "Kommersant" with reference to a letter from the Russian Council of Shopping Centers (RCSC) to the head of Rostekhnadzor, Alexander Trembitsky.
According to the newspaper, the RCSC's appeal was sent on August 21. The association asks regional departments to clarify the legality of operating equipment after September 1, as the use of technology will legally become impossible without a new technical inspection. Rostekhnadzor is currently considering the letter and preparing a response.
The problem arose due to the abolition of the old inspection system and the lack of new accreditation. Formally, facilities are required to undergo technical inspection, but due to the shortage of accredited organizations, this is impossible. A possible solution could be the introduction of a transition period until September 1, 2027.
There are about 2,000 shopping complexes with escalators in Russia, and a total of about 12,000 escalators and travelators and 10,000 lifting platforms for people with limited mobility are used, experts note. In recent years, the equipment market has shown fluctuations: in 2019, 1039 units were installed, by 2022 the figure decreased to 495, and in 2023 it recovered to 605 units, increasing by 22.2% compared to the previous year.
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