Aluminium Stair Nosing 57x32mm Slimline PVC Insert

A 57 x 32mm slimline nosing is what you fit when a stair edge needs defining and protecting without a heavy profile standing proud of the tread. This profile is a 3mm gauge extruded aluminium carrier with a single coloured PVC insert, raked back so the front face follows a sloping riser instead of sitting off it. It is the plain-insert profile in our 57x32mm range — no photoluminescent strip, no lighting channel — which is what keeps it the least expensive of the three. Eleven insert colours let you set the contrast against the floor covering, and lengths run from 1m up to the full 3.22m mill length.

Why it works

A 3mm carrier sized for thin floor coverings

This profile is a 3mm gauge, designed for use with vinyl, linoleum and medium carpets or similar floor coverings. The gauge is the height the covering has to come up to, so over 2mm vinyl or a medium-pile carpet tile the nosing finishes close to flush rather than leaving a lip to catch a toe. The extrusion is aluminium alloy 6063 T6, with the chemical composition given in accordance with BS EN 573-3:2003 and manufacturing tolerances to BS EN 755; anodised finishes are produced to DIN 17611.

Slip resistance you can put in a specification

The standard insert is a REACH compliant flexible PVC extrusion grade. It achieves an inclined platform result of R11 to DIN 51130:2010 (22.9 degrees corrected) and pendulum values of PTV 66 dry and PTV 54 wet to BS 7976-2:2002. Both are figures for the insert material rather than for a finished staircase. For reference, the UK Slip Resistance Group treats a PTV of 36 and above as low slip potential.

Contrast is a colour decision, not a profile decision

Each insert colour has a published light reflectance value, running from white at 79.9 down to black at 4.5, with the mill aluminium channel at 78.9. Guidance on step-edge visibility is expressed as a difference in LRV between the nosing and the surface around it, so the colour you choose does the work — a pale insert on a dark floor, or a dark insert on a pale one.

Where it is used

School and college stairwells, office and communal access stairs, healthcare corridors, libraries and civic buildings, retail and hospitality stairs, and shared staircases in flats and housing association blocks. It suits both new stairs and refurbishment work, where the raked back sits against an existing sloping riser without packing. The range is intended for commercial and industrial applications; no external exposure rating is published for this line.

Specifications

Choosing the right option

Start with the riser. The raked back is cut for a stair whose riser slopes backwards; on a square riser the rear leg will stand off and a straight-edge profile is the better buy. Then choose the colour by the floor covering rather than by taste — the LRV figures above are there so you can work out the contrast instead of guessing at it, and yellow, white and canvas are the usual choices on dark vinyl or carpet, with midnight grey, brown and black used on pale stone and terrazzo. Finally, take the length from the widest tread in the flight and cut down on site; the three mill lengths (2.46m, 2.77m and 3.22m) are the cheapest way to buy per metre. If you need the step edge to stay visible in a power cut, the photoluminescent version of this same 57x32mm profile carries a green glow strip, and there is an outdoor-grade Tredsafe version of that as well.

Installation, use and care

The fitting sequence is: make sure the steps are dry, clean, level and free of debris; mark the drilling positions from the pre-drilled holes if the profile is supplied drilled; drill and plug the step; apply a suitable adhesive to the underside of the nosing; screw it down with the appropriate screws; then fit the insert, or the insert pip, to cover the screw head. Clean the inserts with a neutral detergent, rinse with clean water and let them dry before foot traffic returns. The aluminium can be brought back with steel wool or a cloth; solvent cleaners should not be used on the aluminium.

Frequently asked questions

Does this nosing glow in the dark?

No. This is the plain PVC insert profile, with no photoluminescent strip and no channel for LED strip. If you need an edge that stays visible when the lights go out, the photoluminescent version of this profile has a green photoluminescent strip along the leading edge.

Is it DDA compliant?

The profile is designed with DDA and Building Regulations compliance in mind and meets BS 8300:2009+A1:2010 guidance. In any case a nosing cannot meet a contrast requirement on its own, because contrast is a relationship between the nosing and the floor around it, so the insert colour you specify is what decides it.

Will it work over my floor covering?

The 3mm gauge is intended for vinyl, linoleum, laminate, LVT, tile and medium carpet. Thicker coverings, such as a deep-pile carpet with underlay, want a heavier gauge profile instead.

Can I have an exact length?

The profile is supplied cut to size up to a maximum of 3220mm, and it can also be cut on site with a mitre saw and a metal-cutting blade or a hacksaw. Contact us before ordering if you need a length that is not listed here.

Ordering and delivery

All eleven insert colours are available in every length shown, and the price you see is for a single length in the colour and size selected. Order the number of lengths you need for the flight, allowing for the cut on the widest tread. If you are matching an existing installation or specifying against a drawing, send us the details and we will confirm the profile before the order goes through.

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