Aluminium Stair Nosing 56x33mm Rake Back, Anti-Slip Insert

If you are re-edging a flight where the risers are not truly vertical, a square-legged nosing will never sit flat — it bridges at the top and leaves a gap at the bottom that fills with dirt and works loose. This 56mm x 33mm aluminium stair nosing solves that: the 33mm leg is raked back, leaning in under the step so it beds down against a sloping riser face instead of fighting it. It is a commercial-grade profile in 3mm gauge aluminium with a slip-resistant PVC insert across the tread, and it comes in four lengths — 1m, 1.5m, 2m and 2.77m — so you can buy close to your step width instead of paying for offcuts.

Why it works

The raked leg does the job a square nosing cannot. On concrete stairs cast with a slight batter, on older timber flights that have settled, and on open-tread or tapered steps, the riser leans back a few degrees. A 90-degree nosing fixed to that face is only in contact along one edge, so the fixings carry the whole load and the free edge becomes a trip hazard in its own right. The raked leg here follows that lean, giving continuous bearing down the riser and a joint that stays closed.

The insert sits proud, not buried. The manufacturer describes the retention mechanism on this range as securing the insert in position while giving heightened exposure to the leading edge — in plain terms, more of the anti-slip material is where your foot actually lands rather than being shrouded by a metal lip. The manufacturer states the profile is designed to meet the guidance in Approved Document M and BS 8300-2:2018.

3mm aluminium, not a token skin. The carrier is extruded from 6063 aluminium (the manufacturer's datasheet cites AA 6063 T6 / UNS A96063, anodised to DIN 17611, extruded to EN 755, temper T5). At 3mm on the tread plate it takes trolley wheels, ladders and heeled traffic without dishing, and it is the same alloy family used for architectural glazing — it will not corrode indoors and it does not need painting.

• 56mm tread x 33mm riser, 3mm gauge extruded aluminium
• Raked back leg for risers that slope rather than sit square
• Anti-slip PVC insert running the width of the tread
• Black, ice grey or yellow insert; mill finish carrier as standard
• Four lengths: 1m, 1.5m, 2m and 2.77m
• Supplied pre-drilled through the insert, with colour-matched pips to hide the screw heads

Where it's used

This is a commercial slimline profile, specified for stairwells in offices, schools and colleges, healthcare corridors, retail back-of-house, apartment blocks and communal entrances — anywhere a stair takes steady daily traffic and has to read clearly underfoot. At 33mm the leg covers the top of the riser without dominating it, which suits refurbishment work where the original step profile is being kept. The manufacturer lists it as suitable for use with carpet, laminate, LVT and tile.

Specifications

Choosing the right option

Rake back or straight? Check the riser before you order. Hold a spirit level against the riser face: if it sits flat top to bottom, you want the straight-legged version of this profile. If the level rocks and the bottom of the riser sits back from the top, this raked one is the correct choice. Getting this wrong is the single most common reason a nosing will not pull down tight.

Which insert colour? BS 8300-2:2018 asks for at least a 30-point difference in light reflectance value between the nosing and the surfaces around it, so the sensible method is to take the LRV of your own tread finish and pick the insert that clears 30 points against it. Against pale vinyl, concrete or light carpet, black (LRV 4.5) gives the widest margin. Against dark carpet or dark LVT, yellow (55.7) or ice grey (42.1) will do the work instead. Yellow is also the usual choice where a stair has to be conspicuous regardless of the floor — schools, sports halls and public entrances.

Which length? Measure the widest step and buy the next length up, leaving a few millimetres for the saw cut. A typical 900mm domestic staircase takes the 1m; most commercial flights run 1.2m to 1.4m and take the 1.5m; the 2m and 2.77m suit wide public stairs, or let you cut two narrow steps from a single piece with less waste.

Installation, use and care

The manufacturer's sequence is: make sure the steps are dry, clean, level and free of debris; use the pre-drilled holes to mark the drilling positions; drill and plug the step; apply a suitable adhesive to the underside of the nosing; screw down with the appropriate size screws; then fit the insert or push in the colour-matched pips to cover the screw heads. Cut to length with a fine-tooth blade suitable for aluminium and de-burr the cut ends.

For cleaning, the manufacturer specifies a neutral detergent on the insert, thoroughly rinsed with clean water. The aluminium can be brought back with steel wool or a cloth. Do not use solvent cleaners on the aluminium. The insert material is not suitable for contact with aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons, ketones, nitro-compounds or esters, which cause it to swell.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know whether my stairs need a raked nosing?

Put a spirit level or a straight edge vertically against the riser. If it touches top and bottom, the riser is square and you need the straight-legged profile. If it only touches at the top and there is a gap at the bottom, the riser slopes and this raked version is the one that will sit flush.

Are fixings supplied?

No. The profile comes pre-drilled through the insert with colour-matched pips to conceal the screw heads once fitted, but screws and plugs are not included — they need to suit your own substrate, whether that is concrete, screed or timber.

Can it be used outdoors?

The manufacturer lists this profile for carpet, laminate, LVT and tile, and does not publish an external rating for it, so we would not specify it for an exposed external stair. For outdoor steps, choose a profile the maker rates for external use.

What slip rating does the insert have?

No pendulum (PTV) or DIN ramp (R-value) figure is published for this range, so we do not quote one. The manufacturer states the design is intended to meet the guidance in Approved Document M and BS 8300-2:2018 by increasing foot contact with the slip-resistant insert. If a tested figure is required for your specification, contact us and we will request it from the manufacturer.

Can I get it in a finish other than mill?

Mill finish is the standard stock item. Anodised and powder-coated finishes can be made to order — note the manufacturer restricts anodised lengths to a maximum of 2.4m. Get in touch for a lead time.

Ordering and delivery

Each piece is supplied as a single uncut length in your chosen insert colour. Stock items are picked and despatched on a next-working-day service to most UK mainland postcodes; the 2m and 2.77m lengths travel on a long-parcel or pallet service, so allow an extra day for Highlands, islands and offshore addresses. If you need a made-to-measure length, a non-standard finish, or a quantity for a full flight, call or message us with your step sizes and we will price it.

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