Anti-Slip Aluminium Stair Nosing 45 x 20mm Tile-In – 11 Insert Colours

If you are tiling a staircase, the tread edge is the part that fails first. A cut tile arris left proud of the riser chips under the first trolley wheel or heel that catches it, and once one edge has gone the repair means lifting tile. This slimline tile-in nosing is bedded into the adhesive at the same time as the tread tile, so the aluminium takes the impact instead of the ceramic. It measures 45mm across the tread and 20mm down the riser face, with a 17mm perforated anchoring leg that keys into the adhesive bed. A PVC insert fills most of the tread face and gives the step a defined, higher-grip edge. Four lengths, eleven insert colours.

Why it works

The insert grips, the aluminium protects

Two materials doing two jobs. The extrusion is 6063 aluminium — the manufacturer specifies alloy 6063 to EN 755, anodised to DIN 17611. That is the part that absorbs impact and stops the tile edge spalling. Sitting in the channel is a flexible PVC insert, which the manufacturer describes as a REACH-compliant grade developed for non-scuff stair nosing applications. The manufacturer states the standard PVC insert achieves category R11 on the inclined platform test to DIN 51130:2010, and pendulum values of PTV 66 dry and PTV 54 wet to BS 7976-2:2002. Those are the manufacturer’s published figures, not our own test results. For reference, the UK Slip Resistance Group treats a PTV of 36 and above as low slip potential.

Bedded in, not screwed on

The 17mm anchoring leg is perforated. Adhesive pushes up through the holes as you bed the profile, so the fixing is mechanical as well as chemical — there are no screws, no plugs and no drilled tile. The trade-off is that this is a profile for a tiling job in progress, not a retrofit: the tread tile has to be laid up to it. If the stairs are already tiled, you want a surface-mounted nosing instead.

Contrast you can specify

The manufacturer publishes a light reflectance value for every insert colour in the range, against a Matt Silver channel at LRV 73.8. That lets you calculate the tread-edge contrast your specification calls for rather than guessing from a swatch. The manufacturer also states that the profile meets DDA guidelines and Building Regulations; we carry that claim as published and have not independently verified it.

Where it is used

Tiled staircases in flats and communal entrance halls, school and college corridors, retail and hospitality steps, hotel back-of-house areas, and access steps into reception. It suits new tiling and full refurbishments where the treads are being re-laid. Although it is mainly used with ceramic tile, the manufacturer states it can also be used with wood, laminate and stone of the same finished thickness.

Specifications

Choosing the right option

Size (10mm or 12.5mm) is the depth of the tile bed the profile is built for, not the size of the nosing itself — both options are 45mm x 20mm on the face. Measure your tile and pick the matching profile so the tile finishes flush with the top of the channel. A 10mm porcelain on a thin-bed adhesive takes the 10mm; most 12mm and 12.5mm tiles take the 12.5mm.

Length should exceed the finished tread width so you can cut to fit. Ordering one length per step usually wastes less material than cutting long lengths down.

Insert colour is where the safety performance is decided. The manufacturer publishes these LRVs: White 79.9, Yellow 55.7, Canvas 53.2, Ice Grey 42.1, Beige 41.1, Dolphin Grey 27.6, Midnight Grey 12.8, Red 10.6, Cobalt Blue 9.2, Brown 9.1, Black 4.5. Read yours against the tread finish either side to work out the contrast you are actually achieving.

Installation, use and care

The manufacturer’s sequence is: measure and cut the profile to length; fix the riser tile if you are tiling the riser; then bed the profile into the adhesive so that the adhesive penetrates the anchoring holes, adjusting the position so the front edge covers the riser tile. Lay the tread tile up to the channel. For maintenance, the manufacturer advises cleaning inserts with a neutral detergent, rinsing with clean water and letting them dry fully before foot traffic returns. The aluminium can be brought back with steel wool or a cloth. The manufacturer is explicit that solvent cleaners should not be used on its aluminium products.

Frequently asked questions

Can I fit this to a staircase that is already tiled?

No. The anchoring leg has to sit underneath the tread tile in the adhesive bed, so the profile goes in as part of the tiling. For finished stairs you need a surface-mounted or screw-fixed nosing instead.

Is the colour the aluminium or the insert?

The insert. The aluminium channel is Matt Silver on every option; the colour you choose is the PVC strip that runs along the tread face.

What is the difference between the 10mm and 12.5mm options?

Only the depth of tile the profile is designed to sit alongside. Face dimensions are 45mm x 20mm either way. Match it to your tile thickness so the finished surfaces sit flush.

Can it be used outside?

External use is not published for this profile, so we do not claim it. If the steps are exposed, ask us about the external ranges instead.

Which insert colour should I pick for a public stairway?

Work from the LRV figures above and the finish either side of the nosing. A dark insert against a pale tile, or a pale insert against a dark tile, gives the strongest tread-edge definition.

Ordering and delivery

Select your tile thickness, length and insert colour, and the price updates for that exact combination. All eighty-eight combinations are stocked options. Orders placed before the daily cut-off are despatched the same working day on a UK mainland courier service. If you need a length we do not list, or a quantity for a full flight, contact us before ordering and we will quote it.

View our complete range of stair nosing profiles — aluminium, rubber and PVC options for every application.