When a commercial staircase starts showing wear at the step edges, the nose is almost always where it begins. This 71 x 55mm aluminium stair nosing is the heavy-duty answer to that: a 5mm gauge extruded aluminium profile with a bullnose leading edge and a wide anti-slip PVC insert running the full length of the tread. The 55mm front face wraps well down the riser, so it takes the impact that would otherwise chip a concrete or timber step, and the 71mm tread plate gives a generous, clearly defined landing zone underfoot. It is specified by contractors refurbishing office stair cores, school circulation stairs and housing association common parts, where the stair has to stay serviceable for years and stay legible to everyone using it.
Why it works
The gauge is doing the work. The manufacturer states a 5mm gauge aluminium channel, which is what separates a heavy-duty profile from the thin architectural trims sold for domestic stairs. That depth is why the profile survives trolleys, wheeled bins and constant footfall without deforming at the edge, and it is also why the channel is sized to sit alongside carpet or a similar floor covering rather than perching on top of a hard finish.
The insert is a full-width band, not a token strip. The PVC infill fills the majority of the 71mm tread plate, so the anti-slip surface is where the foot actually lands on the way down a flight — the point at which stair falls happen. Because it is a separate infill rather than a coating, it wears at its own rate and the aluminium carrier underneath is unaffected.
The grip is measured, not asserted. For its standard PVC insert the manufacturer publishes an inclined platform result of R11 to DIN 51130:2010 (22.9°, corrected, averaged over six shod results) and a pendulum test to BS 7976-2:2002 of PTV 66 dry and PTV 54 wet. The UK Slip Resistance Group treats PTV 36 and above as low slip potential. The material is described as a REACH-compliant flexible PVC extrusion grade developed specifically for non-scuff stair nosing use.
Contrast is a specification, not a styling choice. The manufacturer publishes a light reflectance value for every insert colour in this range and states that the profile has been developed to comply with the guidance of BS 8300:2009+A1:2010 for accessible stair design. That gives you the numbers to check the nosing against your own tread finish, rather than guessing whether the step edge will read clearly to someone with reduced vision.
Aluminium alloy 6063. The manufacturer states the profile is extruded from high grade 6063 alloy to (DIN) EN 755, with composition to BS EN 573-3:2003 — the standard architectural extrusion alloy, chosen for a clean surface finish and dimensional stability over long lengths.
Where it is used
Office stair cores and shared circulation routes; schools, colleges and university buildings; retail units and shopping centre back-of-house stairs; hospitality venues; healthcare and community buildings; and the common stairs of apartment blocks and housing association stock. It suits any internal stair where the tread is finished in carpet, LVT, vinyl, laminate or tile and the step edge needs both physical protection and visual definition.
Specifications
| Specification |
Detail |
| Profile size |
71mm tread x 55mm riser |
| Edge shape |
Bullnose (rounded leading edge) |
| Material |
Aluminium, alloy 6063 — manufacturer stated |
| Gauge |
5mm — manufacturer stated |
| Insert |
Anti-slip PVC infill, single channel, full tread width |
| Insert colours |
11 — see the LRV table below |
| Stock lengths |
2.46m, 2.77m and 3.22m; 1m, 1.5m and 2m cut from stock |
| Fixing |
Screw fixing; the manufacturer also lists adhesive or tape fixing depending on substrate. Fixings not supplied. |
| Suitable floor finishes |
Carpet, LVT, vinyl, laminate, tile |
| Location |
Internal only — see below for the external alternative |
| Accessibility |
Developed to comply with the guidance of BS 8300:2009+A1:2010 — manufacturer stated |
| Slip resistance |
R11 (DIN 51130:2010, 22.9° corrected) — manufacturer stated |
| Pendulum test |
PTV 66 dry / PTV 54 wet (BS 7976-2:2002) — manufacturer stated |
| Insert material |
REACH-compliant flexible PVC extrusion grade — manufacturer stated |
Insert colours and light reflectance values
The figures below are the manufacturer's published light reflectance values for each infill colour. Compare the figure for your chosen insert against the LRV of the tread covering either side of it — the larger the difference, the more clearly the step edge reads.
| Insert colour |
LRV (manufacturer stated) |
| 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 finish aluminium channel is quoted at LRV 78.9.
Choosing the right option
Colour. Work from the LRV table above and the finish on your treads. Against a pale carpet or a light vinyl, the dark end of the range — Black at 4.5, Brown at 9.1, Cobalt Blue at 9.2 — gives the strongest separation. Against a dark or mid-tone floor, White at 79.9, Yellow at 55.7 or Canvas at 53.2 do the same job in reverse. Yellow is the usual choice where the stair also needs to read as a hazard rather than simply as a step.
Length. Measure the full width of the tread and order the next length up; the profile is cut on site. The 2.46m, 2.77m and 3.22m options are the manufacturer's stock lengths and are the most economical per metre. The 1m, 1.5m and 2m options are cut from those lengths and suit narrow domestic-width or single-flight jobs where a full bar would be wasted.
Internal or external. This is the internal specification. The manufacturer offers a separate profile with a Tredsafe exterior-grade insert for external and wet environments — use that one for entrance steps, fire escapes and anything exposed to weather, and this one for stairs inside the building envelope.
Installation, use and care
Cut to length with a fine-tooth blade suitable for aluminium and deburr the cut end. The substrate must be sound, clean, dry and flat — fill any hollow behind the nose before fixing, because a profile bridging a void will drum underfoot and eventually work loose. Screw fixing through the tread plate at regular centres is the normal method on concrete and timber; the manufacturer also lists adhesive or tape fixing depending on substrate. Screws and plugs are not supplied, so specify them to suit the substrate. In service, sweep and damp-mop as you would the surrounding floor; avoid solvent cleaners on the aluminium and abrasive pads on the PVC infill, which will dull the surface texture that provides the grip.
Frequently asked questions
Can this nosing be used outside?
No. This is the internal specification. The manufacturer offers a separate version of this profile with a Tredsafe exterior-grade insert for external and wet environments, and that is the one to specify for entrance steps or anything exposed to weather.
Will it work with carpet?
Yes. The 5mm gauge channel is specifically described by the manufacturer as suited to installation with carpet or similar floor coverings. It also works with LVT, vinyl, laminate and tile.
What slip rating does the insert carry?
For its standard PVC insert the manufacturer publishes R11 to DIN 51130:2010 (22.9°, corrected, averaged over six shod results) and a pendulum test to BS 7976-2:2002 of PTV 66 dry and PTV 54 wet. Those are the manufacturer's published figures for the insert material, not a test on an installed stair. If you see a lower pair of figures quoted against this range, they belong to the separate exterior-grade Tredsafe insert rather than to this one.
Are fixings included?
No. Screws and plugs are not supplied, because the correct fixing depends on whether you are going into concrete, screed or timber.
Can I order a length that is not listed?
Yes. Tell us the length you need when you order and we will cut from stock lengths. Get in touch before ordering so we can confirm the price.
Ordering and delivery
All 11 insert colours are held across the six listed lengths, and every combination is priced individually — select your colour and length above to see the price for that exact bar. If you are pricing a full stair and need a quantity break, or you want a sample of an insert colour to hold against your floor finish before committing, contact us and we will sort it.
View our complete range of stair nosing profiles — aluminium, rubber and PVC options for every application.
