Aluminium Stair Nosing 60 x 39mm Bullnose with Anti-Slip PVC Insert

Bullnose aluminium stair nosing, 60mm tread x 39mm riser

Refurbishing a commercial staircase usually means solving two problems at once: step edges that wear through long before the rest of the floor does, and a nosing line that has to be visible enough to survive an access audit. This profile deals with both. It is a 60mm tread plate with a 39mm rounded front that wraps the step edge, and a single channel running the length of the plate carrying a coloured anti-slip PVC insert. At a 3mm gauge it is sized for vinyl, linoleum and medium-weight contract carpet, so it sits down onto the substrate rather than standing proud of the covering. Eleven insert colours mean you can choose genuine contrast against the tread instead of settling for whatever the wholesaler has in stock.

Why it works

A rounded nose takes the traffic a flat plate cannot

The front edge of a step is where trolleys are dragged, heels land short and cleaning machines make contact. A square edge concentrates all of that on one line. The bullnose spreads it around a curve, which is why this shape keeps its finish on stairs that see constant footfall. The manufacturer states the profile is extruded from AA 6063 T6 aluminium and anodised to DIN 17611, so the surface is an integral oxide layer rather than a coating that can chip back to bare metal.

Slip resistance you can put on a specification

The manufacturer states the standard PVC insert is tested to DIN 51130:2010 and achieves R11, and that under BS 7976-2:2002 pendulum testing it returns a PTV of 66 dry and 54 wet. The manufacturer further states that the profile complies with DDA and building regulations and adheres to BS 8300:2009+A1:2010 guidance. Those are the manufacturer's figures, carried across here so you can hand them to a specifier. We resell this profile and have not tested it ourselves.

Three millimetres, deliberately

Gauge decides whether a nosing reads as part of the floor or as something bolted on top of it. At 3mm this profile is thin enough to finish flush against sheet vinyl and medium carpet, while still carrying the section a commercial stair needs. It is an internal profile. For external steps and permanently wet areas the manufacturer supplies a different, externally rated insert specification, and you should ask us for that instead.

Where it is used

Offices, schools and colleges, retail units, hotels, healthcare corridors, apartment communal stairs and transport buildings. Anywhere a stair is resurfaced in sheet vinyl or contract carpet and has to meet an access standard afterwards. It suits refurbishment, where the nosing goes down over a newly laid covering, as readily as new-build fit-out.

Specifications

Choosing the right option

Start with the insert colour, because that is the decision an access consultant will look at. The point of the coloured band is to differentiate the step edge from the tread, so choose against your floor rather than to match it: yellow, white or canvas on dark vinyl and charcoal carpet; black, brown, midnight grey or cobalt blue on pale oak, limestone and light sheet vinyl. Dolphin grey and ice grey are the quieter options where a scheme will not tolerate a high-contrast band, and red reads as a warning line in industrial and school settings.

Then pick the length. The three longer sizes, 2.46m, 2.77m and 3.22m, are the manufacturer's stock lengths and are the economical way to cover a full-width commercial stair in one piece. The 1m, 1.5m and 2m options are cut lengths, useful for domestic flights, landings and short runs where a stock length would mostly become offcut. Measure the full tread width and order the next size up; the profile cuts cleanly on site.

Installation, use and care

Lay the floor covering first and let adhesives cure. Cut the nosing to the tread width with a fine-tooth blade in a mitre saw and de-burr the cut end. Fix by screwing through the tread plate into plugged holes, by bonding with a suitable construction adhesive, or by a combination of the two. Screw fixing is the more durable option on stairs carrying heavy or wheeled traffic. Keep fixings evenly spaced and set countersunk heads flush so nothing stands proud of the insert. In service, sweep and damp-mop as you would the surrounding floor. Avoid abrasive pads and solvent cleaners on the anodised surface, and replace an insert once its texture has worn smooth.

Frequently asked questions

Can this nosing be used outdoors?

No. The manufacturer specifies this profile with a standard PVC insert for internal stairs in commercial, public and residential buildings. For external steps and permanently wet areas the manufacturer produces a different, externally rated insert specification. Contact us and we will quote that version instead.

Will it fit over carpet?

Yes, within reason. The 3mm gauge is specified by the manufacturer for vinyl, linoleum and medium-weight carpet. Heavy contract carpet over a thick underlay will sit too proud for a 3mm profile to finish neatly, and a deeper gauge is the better choice there.

Does the insert colour affect the slip rating?

No. All eleven colours use the same standard PVC insert material, so the R11 and pendulum figures the manufacturer publishes apply across the range. Colour affects visual contrast, not grip.

Can I order a length that is not listed?

Yes. The profile can be supplied cut to size up to a maximum of 3220mm. Tell us the length you need when you order and we will confirm price and lead time.

Are fixings included?

No. Screws and plugs are not supplied, because the right fixing depends on whether you are going into timber, concrete or screed. Order them alongside the nosing, or bond the profile down if the substrate suits adhesive.

Ordering and delivery

Every colour and length combination is listed above with its own price, so what you see is what you pay and there is no surcharge for a colour choice. Orders placed before mid-afternoon on a working day are normally despatched the same day. Longer lengths travel on a pallet or a long-goods service; if you are ordering several 3.22m pieces, get in touch and we will confirm carriage before you commit.