This document specifies the technical requirements to minimize the hazards listed in Clause 4 which can arise during the commissioning, the operation and the maintenance of passenger stairs when used as intended, including misuse reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer, when carried out in accordance with the specifications given by the manufacturer or his authorized representative. It also takes into account some requirements recognized as essential by authorities, aircraft and ground support equipment (GSE) manufacturers as well as airlines and ground handling agencies.
This document applies to:
a) self-propelled passenger stairs with seated or standing driver with top speed above 6 km/h (Category A);
b) towable passenger stairs, with self-propelled function at docking with top speed up to 6 km/h with drive controls from ground, remote control or standing driver position (Category B);
c) towable stairs, with manual positioning, equipped with powered means, e.g. for height adjustment, stabilizers (Category C);
d) automatic levelling systems of stairs for embarking/disembarking of passengers.
This document does not apply to stairs to be moved on public roadways.
"Powered" is also understood as manual effort stored in springs or hydraulic accumulators, etc., the dangerous action of which can be produced or can continue after the manual effort has ceased or directly applied manual effort for lifting or lowering loads.
Those clauses of this document that can apply can also be used as a guideline for the design of towable stairs without powered means.
This document does not establish additional requirements for the following:
e) persons falling out of an aircraft with the passenger stairs not in position;
f) hazards resulting from a moving stairway (escalator);
g) aircraft upper deck door access.
No extra requirements on noise and vibration are provided other than those in EN 1915-3:2004+A1:2009 and EN 1915-4:2004+A1:2009.
NOTE EN 1915-3:2004+A1:2009 and EN 1915-4:2004+A1:2009 provide the general GSE vibration and noise requirements.
This document is not applicable to passenger stairs which are manufactured before the date of its publication.
This part of EN 12312, when used in conjunction with EN 1915-1:2023, EN 1915-2:2001+A1:2009, EN 1915-3:2004+A1:2009 and EN 1915-4:2004+A1:2009, provides the requirements for passenger stairs.