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If you are specifying a stair edge for a building that has to stay usable when the lights go out, this is the 69 x 40mm profile to look at. It is an aluminium bullnose nosing with two things running along the tread: a slip-resistant PVC insert, and ahead of it a photoluminescent strip that charges from ordinary room light and glows once the room goes dark. There is no wiring, no driver and no battery, so it keeps working in exactly the situation a mains-powered fitting does not. Specifiers use it on escape routes in offices, hotels, cinemas and student accommodation, where the stair has to be legible during a power failure but a wired lighting run is impractical or too expensive to maintain.
The photoluminescent band sits at the front of the tread, ahead of the coloured insert, and it is extruded into every colour option — it is not an insert choice you can accidentally leave off. The manufacturer specifies a europium-doped strontium aluminate pigment emitting at 520nm, measured at 455 mcd/m² ten minutes after the light source is removed, with high-visibility afterglow stated beyond 600 minutes and total glow beyond 3000 minutes. It charges from daylight, fluorescent or filament lighting, so normal room lighting during the working day is enough.
The manufacturer states R11 for the standard PVC insert under DIN 51130:2010, measured on a 22.9° ramp, and a BS 7976-2:2002 pendulum value of PTV 66 dry and PTV 54 wet. For the glow strip itself the manufacturer refers slip performance to its textured insert figures: R11 at 24.7°, PTV 57 dry and PTV 47 wet. Both elements are therefore rated across the wet and dry range a stair sees, rather than the tread relying on bare aluminium.
The nose is a deep rounded bullnose that wraps the step arris and carries down a 40mm riser leg. The back of the 69mm tread plate tapers away to a thin feather edge, so it beds down onto the covering instead of standing proud as a trip lip. Between them sits a single insert channel — one continuous band of colour, not a double-channel commercial section.
Office and hotel stair cores, cinema and theatre steps, lecture theatres, student accommodation, apartment communal stairs, and any internal escape route where the stair must stay readable in an unlit evacuation. It is a slimline single-channel section, so treat it as standard duty. The manufacturer's own selection guidance is that heavy-traffic stairs — railway stations, supermarkets, department stores, schools and hospitals — should use a heavier gauge with double channels.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tread width | 69mm |
| Riser height | 40mm |
| Nose profile | Bullnose front, tapered (ramped) back edge |
| Channels | Single insert channel, plus a photoluminescent strip at the front of the tread |
| Carrier material | Aluminium alloy 6063 T5/T6 extruded to DIN EN 755, composition to BS EN 573-3:2003 |
| Finish | Mill aluminium as standard; anodising to DIN 17611 available on request |
| Insert | Flexible PVC, 2mm section, REACH compliant, non-scuff |
| Slip resistance — insert | R11 (DIN 51130:2010, 22.9°); PTV 66 dry / 54 wet (BS 7976-2:2002) — manufacturer stated |
| Slip resistance — glow strip | R11 (DIN 51130:2010, 24.7°); PTV 57 dry / 47 wet — manufacturer stated |
| Photoluminescent element | Europium-doped strontium aluminate, 520nm, 455 mcd/m² at 10 minutes; afterglow stated >600 minutes high visibility, >3000 minutes total — manufacturer stated |
| Gauge | Our supplier's data table states 5mm; the manufacturer's datasheet describes this slimline profile as a 3mm gauge. Ask us to confirm before ordering if gauge is critical to your specification. |
| Suitable floor coverings | Carpet, LVT and vinyl, laminate, tile. The manufacturer names vinyl, linoleum and medium carpets. |
| Location | Interior use. The standard PVC insert is not rated for external use by the manufacturer. |
| Insert colours | White, Yellow, Canvas, Ice Grey, Beige, Dolphin Grey, Midnight Grey, Red, Cobalt Blue, Brown, Black |
| Lengths | 2.46m, 2.77m and 3.22m stock lengths; 1.0m, 1.5m and 2.0m supplied as cut lengths. Tolerance ±5mm. |
| Fixing | Mechanical fixing, or bonded with adhesive, to suit the substrate |
Two decisions: insert colour and length.
Colour is a contrast decision before it is a decorative one. BS 8300 and Approved Document M ask for a visually contrasting step edge, and contrast is judged on light reflectance value rather than on hue. The manufacturer publishes an LRV for every insert colour: 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. The mill aluminium carrier reads 78.9. Take the LRV of your tread covering and pick an insert far enough away from it — pale coverings want Black, Brown or Midnight Grey; dark coverings want White, Yellow or Canvas.
On length, 2.46m, 2.77m and 3.22m are the stock extrusions. The 1.0m, 1.5m and 2.0m options are cut down from stock, so they are non-returnable unless faulty — measure before you order. Buying a stock length and cutting on site usually works out cheaper per step than ordering short lengths.
The substrate must be clean, dry and level; a nosing bedded over a hollow or a dusty arris will drum underfoot. Fit mechanically with countersunk screws into plugs appropriate to the substrate, or bond with a solvent-free construction adhesive, and set the profile so the feathered back edge sits down onto the covering. Cut with a fine-tooth blade and de-burr the ends. Clean with a neutral detergent and a bristle brush. Do not use solvents, abrasive pads or steel wool on the insert or the glow strip — abrading the photoluminescent band reduces how brightly it charges.
No. There is no lighting channel and no electrical component of any kind. The strip is photoluminescent: it absorbs ordinary daylight or artificial light during the day and re-emits it as a green glow in darkness. Nothing to power, nothing to fail, and no maintenance beyond keeping it clean.
The manufacturer states 455 mcd/m² ten minutes after charging, with high-visibility afterglow beyond 600 minutes and total glow beyond 3000 minutes. In practice a stairwell lit during occupied hours will be fully charged, and the strip stays clearly visible for far longer than a typical evacuation takes.
No — this build carries the standard interior PVC insert, and the manufacturer does not rate that insert for external use. For outdoor steps you need the version of this same 69 x 40mm profile fitted with the exterior-grade textured insert, which the manufacturer does rate for external environments. Ask us and we will point you at it.
Compare light reflectance values rather than colours. The LRV of every insert is listed in the specification table above. Choose an insert whose LRV is well separated from the LRV of your tread covering — that is what BS 8300 and Approved Document M are asking for.
Probably not. This is a slimline single-channel section, and the manufacturer's guidance puts railway stations, supermarkets, department stores, schools and hospitals in the heavier-gauge, double-channel bracket. Tell us the traffic level and we will recommend the right weight of profile.
Choose your insert colour and length above; every combination is priced individually. Stock lengths ship from our UK supply chain and cut lengths are prepared to order. If you need a quantity for a whole flight, or a bespoke powder-coated carrier finish, contact us before ordering and we will confirm lead time and price.
View our complete range of stair nosing profiles — aluminium, rubber and PVC options for every application.
| Service | Timeframe | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Standard UK Delivery | 2 working days from dispatch | £9.99 |
Orders placed by 2pm (UK time) on a working day are dispatched the same day. Orders placed after 2pm or on non-working days are dispatched the next working day. Delivery takes 2 working days from dispatch. Working days are Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays. UK delivery costs £9.99. Contact us for international enquiries.
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Overall rating: 5.0 / 5 from 7 reviews.
Had to sort out the entrance of our family-run hotel to ensure it was both stylish and safe for guests, even during outages. This versatile bullnose really fit the bill—not just functional, but also integrated brilliantly with the marble flooring. The photoluminescent feature has been a godsend in darker evenings too, adding a practical flair without breaking the bank.
Does exactly whats needed. This railing edge delivers great value for money; we installed it in our home and werent disappointed. It not only looks high-quality when you take it out of the box, but its also hard to beat compared with pricier options weve tried before. The aluminium anti slip stair nosing offers safety and longevity as my kids frequently charge up and down the stairs without a stumble.
Landed on my doorstep right in time for our factory overhaul. Fitting these along the metal flooring of our busy work environment was straightforward, with no faffing about. Gotta say, its been brilliant holding up underfoot – even when those surprise spills happen! The PVC bit stops any slips so no more ginger walking.
Wasnt sure at first about how it would be packed, but the nosing arrived in tip-top shape with sturdy wrapping that kept everything protected. Set it up outside our uni library where students bustle about constantly, and its held its own against the daily foot traffic—and looks neat doing so. Quite simply put, this aluminium stair nosing not only delivered what I needed but did so right out of a well-padded box.
Installed it in the office staircase area a few months back. Up close, the aluminium nosing blends in nicely with our wood steps and has become almost invisible unless youre searching for it. After months of daily use in high foot traffic, it still looks as good as new and provides steadfast grip whether the lights are on or off.
Got this for a historic museum entrance to give the stone steps both elegance and purpose. The glowing strip of this aluminium anti slip stair nosing not only offers great safety when it’s dark, but its sleek design complements the grandeur of the entryway beautifully. Well worth every penny for those dual benefits!
Simple design. Installing the stair edging was a breeze; easy to trim down with a hacksaw and it fit snugly onto the carpeted edge. The glow strip is a smart touch for safety in low light.
