Anti Slip Stair Nosing 56x32.5mm Black PVC

This is the nosing you specify when a busy internal stair needs a hard-wearing, high-contrast step edge and an aluminium profile is either too deep or too expensive. It is a one-piece black PVC extrusion, 56mm across the tread and 32.5mm down the riser, with a wide anti-slip insert channelled into the tread face. The insert is the part you choose a colour for — the body of the nosing is black in every option, and the infill supplies the contrast. The back of the tread tapers to 3mm, so it beds onto an existing floor covering without forming a lip of its own. Stock length is 3.22m, with 1.0m, 1.5m and 2.0m cut lengths held for smaller flights and stair repairs.

Why it works

The insert does the safety work

The infill is a REACH compliant flexible PVC extrusion grade developed for non-scuff nosing duty. The manufacturer publishes an inclined platform result of R11 (DIN 51130:2010, 22.9°) and pendulum figures of PTV 66 dry and PTV 54 wet (BS 7976-2:2002). On the UK Slip Resistance Group scale a PTV of 36 or above is low slip potential, so both values sit well inside that band. Those figures belong to the insert rather than the black body — which is why the infill runs almost the full width of the tread.

Contrast is a specification decision, not a styling one

Guidance on step-edge visibility is written around luminance contrast between the nosing and the tread surface, so the useful question is not which colour looks right but how far the insert sits from the floor covering. The manufacturer publishes a Light Reflectance Value for every insert colour, listed below. White at 79.9 against a dark floor, or Black at 4.5 against a pale one, give the widest separation; Beige and Ice Grey sit mid-scale and only read as contrast against a genuinely dark or light tread.

A hard nose that keeps its edge

Rigid PVC holds a square arris under traffic where a flexible section rolls over and rounds off. The 32.5mm riser leg covers a chipped or made-good step face, and the 3mm rear taper lets the tread plate finish flush into vinyl, carpet or levelling compound rather than standing proud.

Where it is used

Office and retail staircases, shared stairwells in flats and housing association blocks, community buildings, surgeries and clinics, and refurbishment work where step edges are worn but the structure is sound. The 1.0m and 1.5m lengths also cover a standard domestic flight with little waste. Internal use only.

Specifications

Light Reflectance Value by insert colour

Manufacturer-published figures. Use the difference between the insert LRV and the LRV of your tread covering when assessing step-edge contrast.

Choosing the right option

Insert colour. Choose on LRV separation from the tread covering, not appearance alone. The body stays black whichever insert you pick, so black body with a white insert is the standard high-contrast combination on a dark floor.

Length. Measure the finished step width and order the next length up; the profile cuts cleanly with a fine-tooth saw. A 1.0m length covers most domestic flights, and the 3.22m stock length is the economic choice when you can take two treads from one piece.

Internal or external. This listing is the standard PVC insert, which the manufacturer specifies for internal applications. For covered external steps or entrances, use the Tredsafe insert version of the same 56 x 32.5mm profile — its silica quartz insert is rated for external use.

Heavier traffic. This is the slimline section. Where a stair carries sustained heavy footfall, a heavy-duty double-channel profile is the better specification.

Installation, use and care

The manufacturer's sequence: check the steps are dry, clean, level and free of debris; drill and plug the step, using the pre-drilled holes to mark positions where fitted; apply a suitable adhesive to the underside and press the nosing down; screw down with appropriately sized screws; then fit the insert, or press in the insert pip to cover the screw head. Adhesive alone is acceptable on sound, level substrates, but a mechanically fixed nosing is the safer specification on a public stair. For maintenance, clean inserts with a neutral detergent, rinse with clean water and allow them to dry before the stair takes traffic. Avoid solvent cleaners.

Frequently asked questions

If I choose Red, is the whole nosing red?

No. The body is black PVC in every option; the colour you select is the wide anti-slip insert set into the tread. The contrast between a black body and a coloured infill is what makes the step edge read clearly.

Can I use this on outside steps?

No. The manufacturer specifies the standard PVC insert for internal applications and rates only its Tredsafe insert range for external use. The same profile is available with a Tredsafe insert if you need an external-rated nosing.

What is the rear taper for?

The back of the tread plate thins to 3mm so the nosing finishes into an existing floor covering without leaving a trip lip, and it gives more latitude where the tread is not perfectly flat.

Does it have to be screwed down, or can I bond it?

Both are catered for. The manufacturer's instructions cover adhesive and mechanical fixing together, with an insert pip to hide the screw head. On a commercial stair, fix mechanically as well as bonding.

Can I get a length that is not listed?

The profile cuts easily on site, so most buyers order the next length up and trim. Contact us for a made-to-measure run or pre-drilling and we will quote it.

Ordering and delivery

All eleven insert colours are held in the four lengths shown, and the price is the same for every colour at a given length. Orders placed before the daily cut-off are despatched the same working day where stock allows, on a tracked UK service. The 3.22m length travels on an extended-length carrier service, so allow an extra day to outlying postcodes. Ask if you need an insert sample before committing to a full flight.

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