Aluminium Stair Nosing 85x32mm Rake Back, Twin Anti-Slip PVC Inserts

If you are edging concrete or precast stairs where the riser slopes back rather than dropping square, this is the profile that actually fits. It is a surface-mounted aluminium stair nosing measuring 85mm across the tread and 32mm down the riser, with the riser leg raked back at approximately 83° so it follows the pitch of the step instead of standing proud of it. Two full-length anti-slip PVC insert channels sit side by side on the tread, divided by a bare mill aluminium rib, which gives close to twice the gripped contact area of a single-channel nosing. It is a profile for stairwells, entrances, schools, offices and transport buildings — anywhere a step edge takes continuous footfall and has to stay visible year after year.

Why it works

Two insert channels, not one

Most stair nosings carry a single anti-slip band set back from the front edge. This one carries two, running unbroken along the whole length. The practical difference is where the foot lands: on a busy flight people rarely place a foot in the same place twice, and a single narrow band leaves bare metal either side of it. Two bands spread the grip across most of the 85mm tread, so a short stride and a long stride both meet insert rather than aluminium. It also wears more evenly, because the load is not concentrated on one strip.

The rake back solves a fitting problem

On a stair with a sloping riser, a nosing with a vertical front face cannot sit flush — it either stands off the riser or leaves a wedge-shaped void behind it that collects dirt and eventually works loose. The raked leg here closes against the riser face along its full depth. It also removes the square lip that a vertical front face leaves proud of the step, which is the edge a toe catches on the way up.

Slip resistance and contrast are both published

The manufacturer publishes test data for the standard PVC insert used in this profile. It states a DIN 51130:2010 inclined platform result of R11 (22.9° corrected, average of six shod results), and BS 7976-2:2002 pendulum values of PTV 66 dry and PTV 54 wet. For context, the UK Slip Resistance Group treats any PTV of 36 or above as low slip potential. The insert is described by the manufacturer as a REACH compliant flexible PVC extrusion grade developed for non-scuff stair nosing use.

Where it is used

Concrete and precast stairs are the natural home for this section — the raked leg was designed around them. It is equally at home on refurbishment work, because it top-fixes over a finished floor rather than being bedded underneath one. Typical settings are office and apartment block stairwells, school and college circulation stairs, hospital and care home flights, retail back-of-house steps, and station and car park stairs where the covering is vinyl, linoleum or a medium-weight contract carpet.

Specification

Choosing the right option

Length. Measure the step and take the next size up, then cut to fit on site with a hacksaw or a metal-cutting blade. Where a flight is wider than 3.22m, two lengths butt together neatly. Remember the three shortest rungs are cut from stock lengths, so check the measurement before ordering.

Colour. Choose for contrast against the tread, not to match it — the point of the insert is that the step edge reads as a distinct line. The manufacturer publishes a light reflectance value for each insert colour, which is the number a specifier will ask for: 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 channel itself is quoted at 78.9. Put a high-LRV insert on a dark floor and a low-LRV insert on a pale one; the wider the gap between the two figures, the more clearly the edge reads. Yellow remains the usual choice where maximum conspicuity matters.

Installation, use and care

This is a top-mounted profile, fixed down onto the completed step over the floor covering rather than under it — which is what makes it as suitable for refurbishment as for new work, since existing stairs can be upgraded without lifting the covering. Each length arrives pre-drilled through the insert, and colour-matched pips push in over the screw heads once it is down. Choose fixings to suit the substrate; they are not included. For cleaning, the manufacturer asks that inserts be washed with a neutral detergent, rinsed thoroughly with clean water and left dry before use. Avoid organic solvents.

Questions we are asked

Can I use this outside?

We would not specify it for an external flight. The manufacturer publishes no external rating for the standard PVC insert, and its external route is a separate textured insert range built for wet and dry conditions. If the stairs are exposed, ask us for the external build of this same 85 x 32mm section instead.

Will it fit a stair with a square, vertical riser?

It will sit on the step, but you will be left with a small wedge-shaped gap behind the raked leg. On a square riser, choose a straight-back nosing of the same tread width instead; we stock one.

Does it meet DDA or Approved Document requirements?

The manufacturer flags certain profiles in this range as DDA Compliant and this section is not one of them, so we do not make that claim for it. What it does give you is a published LRV for every insert colour, which is what you need to demonstrate visual contrast at the step edge. If your specification calls for a DDA-flagged profile, tell us the tread size and we will point you at one.

What floor coverings does it suit?

The manufacturer states the 3mm gauge is intended for vinyl, linoleum and medium-weight carpets or similar. It fixes over the covering, so the covering is laid and finished first.

Are fixings included?

No. The profile is supplied pre-drilled with colour-matched pips, but screws and any plugs are chosen to suit your substrate and bought separately.

Ordering and delivery

Every colour and length shown is priced individually — pick the combination you need and the price updates. Orders placed before the daily cut-off ship on a tracked UK service. If you need a length, a quantity or an insert colour that is not shown, or you want the external-grade insert in this section, email us and we will quote it.

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