Aluminium LED Stair Nosing 77.5mm x 48.5mm, Anti-Slip Insert, Lit Riser Diffuser, 1.0m to 2.8m

A stair that is used after dark, or dimmed on purpose, needs its step edges to do two jobs at once: give a foot something to grip and show the eye where the edge is. This profile does both. It is an anodised aluminium nosing with a 77.5mm tread and a 48.5mm riser, carrying a Tredsafe anti-slip insert on the tread and an LED channel behind a frosted diffuser on the riser face, so the light shines outwards from the edge of every step. Specify it for cinemas, theatres, hotel and bar stairs, and any commercial stair where the lighting is low by design.

Why it works

The light is in the riser, not on the tread. The LED channel sits inside the riser leg and faces outwards through a frosted polycarbonate diffuser, so each step edge reads as a continuous line of light from below without glare on the walking surface. LED tape and drivers are supplied separately, and the channel accepts single-colour, colour-temperature and RGB tape.

The insert does the anti-slip work. The tread channel takes a PVC and silica-quartz insert that tests at PTV 57 dry and 47 wet on the pendulum test, and R11 on the ramp test, which puts it in the low slip-potential band wet and dry. It is UV-resistant, so the profile is rated for indoor and outdoor use.

A commercial gauge at a slimline height. At 3.5mm gauge in 6063 T6 alloy the section takes trolley and heavy foot traffic, while the 48.5mm riser keeps the profile discreet against a standard step.

Where it is used

Cinema and theatre auditorium steps, hotel and restaurant stairs, nightclub and bar stairways, and commercial stairs where ambient light is deliberately low. It fits over carpet, laminate, LVT and tile, and the four insert colours let you set the contrast against the floor rather than accept it.

Specifications

Choosing the right option

Insert colour is a contrast decision before it is a style one. The published LRV figures make it simple: against a dark floor, White (82.7) or Yellow (46.1) gives the strongest edge; against a pale stone or light carpet, Black (4.8) or Dolphin Grey (18.3) does. The 30-point LRV difference that BS 8300 works to is comfortably achievable with either pairing. Yellow is the conventional choice where a stair must read clearly to everyone in a public building; Black and Dolphin Grey are the quieter choices for hospitality interiors.

Length is bought as a stock piece. Measure the full width of the step and choose the shortest length that covers it; a 2.8m length covers most commercial flights in one piece and can be cut on site with a fine-toothed blade. For a run of steps, order one length per step.

Lighting is specified separately. The channel is sized for standard LED tape; choose warm white for hospitality, a colour-temperature tape where the scheme needs to shift through the day, or RGB where the stair is part of the show. Size the driver to the total tape length across the flight.

Visual contrast and the regulations

Approved Document K covers stair geometry. Approved Document M, BS 8300-2:2018 and the Equality Act 2010 are where the guidance on making step nosings apparent sits, describing a contrasting band of roughly 50-65mm on the tread and 30-55mm on the riser. Here the tread contrast comes from the insert and the riser contrast comes from the lit diffuser, which is why this profile is often chosen where a plain nosing would fail in low light. Check the insert colour against the floor covering with the LRV figures above before you order.

Installation, use and care

Fit the LED tape and test it before the nosing goes down. Set the nosing out dry, then screw through the tread channel into a clean, sound substrate, or bed it on a flooring-grade adhesive where screws are not wanted; press the insert in last so it covers the fixings. Run the tape feed at the wall end and keep the joint to the end cap tidy. Clean the insert with a neutral detergent and a bristle brush; solvents soften the PVC and should not be used. Wipe the diffuser with a soft damp cloth only.

Frequently asked questions

Does it come with the LED tape?
No. The nosing carries the channel and the frosted diffuser; the tape and driver are bought separately so you can match the colour temperature and output to the scheme.

Can it be used outside?
Yes for the profile and insert, which are rated for external use. Specify tape and drivers with a suitable ingress rating for the location.

Can I replace the insert later?
Yes. The insert presses into the tread channel and can be lifted and replaced without removing the nosing, which is how a worn public stair is brought back to specification.

Will a 2.8m length fit a narrower stair?
Yes; it cuts cleanly on site. Allow for the manufacturing tolerance of up to +/- 5mm when you set out.

Ordering and delivery

Choose the insert colour and the length, and order one piece per step. Lengths over 1.2m travel on a long-length delivery service. LED tape, drivers and matt silver end caps are available on request, so ask when you order if you want them to arrive together. Call 01282 270 010 or email sales@stairnosingsuk.co.uk to have a flight checked against your drawings.