Bullnose Double Channel Stair Nosing 98x40mm Aluminium, 1m & 2m

Stairs in a school corridor, a hospital wing or a stadium concourse take a beating at one place above all others: the front edge of every step. This 98mm bullnose double-channel aluminium stair nosing is built for that duty. The 5mm gauge extruded body wraps the tread and the top of the riser in one piece, and two 37.25mm anti-slip insert bands sit proud of the metal across most of the tread, so the foot meets grip rather than bare metal. At 98mm it is one of the widest nosings available, which makes it the profile to reach for when a specification asks for a generous grip zone, or when a worn stair edge needs real coverage rather than a token strip.

Why it works

Two insert bands, not one. A single-channel nosing puts one narrow band of grip at the very edge; this profile carries two, separated by a slim aluminium rib, across roughly 75mm of the 98mm tread. That matters where people descend quickly and land mid-tread, and it doubles the wearing surface before inserts need replacing.

The bullnose front. The rounded edge is more forgiving than a square profile: it will not snag a trolley wheel and it sheds dirt from the joint between nosing and riser. The riser leg drops 35mm behind the curve, giving 40mm of cover down the face of the step — usually enough to hide a chipped or patched concrete arris.

5mm gauge aluminium. The extrusion stays flat under heavy footfall and can be walked on directly while an insert is being replaced. Aluminium will not rust, needs no maintenance beyond sweeping and washing, and can be lifted and refitted if the flooring around it is renewed.

An interlocking back edge. The rear is formed to accept a matching ramp extension, tread extender or carpet nap detail, so one nosing finishes against vinyl, stone, ceramic or broadloom.

Where it's used

Education and healthcare stairwells, back-of-house stairs in offices and retail, transport and leisure buildings, plant rooms, and refurbishment of concrete stairs with worn edges. The grit insert suits covered external steps, loading bays and entrance flights that stay wet in winter.

Specifications

Choosing the right option

Start with the insert, because that is what people walk on. Castellated PVC is ribbed and softer-footed, the usual choice inside and the widest colour range. Smooth textured PVC is flatter and easier to mop, which suits healthcare and food-handling routes. The aluminium insert is chosen where the nosing should read as one metal component. The black grit insert is the coarse, carborundum-type surface for wet or external steps — the most slip-resistant and the least comfortable underfoot.

Then pick the body finish: mill is the plain extrusion and the most economical, satin hides scuffing best, polished is the brightest. For visual contrast under Approved Document M you are comparing the insert colour against the floor covering, not the metal — and note this profile has a 40mm riser, so where a deep riser highlight is specified the 55mm riser profiles are the ones to look at.

Installation, use and care

Fix to a clean, sound, level substrate. The profile is drilled for size 8 countersunk screws: plug and screw into concrete, or screw direct into timber. Bed on flexible adhesive as well where the substrate is uneven. Cut with a fine-tooth blade and deburr the ends. Inserts slide in from the end and can be drawn out and replaced without lifting the nosing. Clean with warm water and neutral detergent; avoid abrasive pads on anodised and polished finishes.

Questions

How much of my tread will this cover? The 98mm is measured back from the front face of the step, so on a typical 250mm going it covers roughly the front 40 per cent.

Castellated or smooth textured PVC? Castellated is ribbed along its length and grips better underfoot; smooth textured has a fine matt surface that cleans more easily.

Can I order a length between 1m and 2m? The bars listed here are 1.0m and 2.0m; the extrusion runs to 3.2m and can be cut to an exact size on request.

Will it work on outside steps? Yes — aluminium is unaffected by weather. Choose the black grit insert for wet conditions and make sure the step falls away from the building so water does not stand behind the nosing.

Ordering and delivery

Choose your body finish, insert colour and bar length above. Screws and plugs are not included, as fixings are chosen to suit your substrate. Orders are dispatched on a tracked service, with longer bars sent on a dedicated length service. For a cut-to-size schedule, a matching ramp extension or a stringer trim, send the details over and we will quote them together.