Aluminium Stair Nosing 56x55mm Outdoor Deep Riser Glow Edge

This is the profile to reach for when a stair has to satisfy an accessibility brief and sits outdoors. The 55mm riser leg puts a deep band of colour in front of anyone climbing the flight, the 56mm tread carries the anti-slip insert underfoot, and the insert itself is the harder quartz-loaded grade the manufacturer rates for indoor and outdoor use. A green photoluminescent strip runs the leading edge, charging from daylight or building lighting and glowing on its own when that light goes — no wiring, no driver, no LED.

Why it works

Accreditation and a deep leg

The manufacturer's datasheet lists this profile as DDA Compliant, and the supplier sells it under the same description. We carry that as their statement rather than ours. The physical reason it earns the label is the 55mm leg: a person climbing a stair sees risers, not treads, so a deep band of insert colour facing that view is what makes the flight read as a series of defined edges. Whether a finished installation satisfies the requirement still depends on the contrast achieved against your own surfaces.

The insert and the glow strip

The manufacturer describes the insert as a blend of PVC, silica quartz and polymeric plasticiser, meeting BS 3261:1973 for sheet vinyl and vinyl tiles, with a pyramid surface and a polyurethane coating that reduces dirt retention. Published slip figures are R11 at 24.7° corrected (DIN 51130:2010) and pendulum values of PTV 57 dry and PTV 47 wet (BS 7976-2:2002), both above the 36 PTV low-slip-potential mark. The photoluminescent element is europium-doped strontium aluminate, green at 520nm, 455 mcd/m² ten minutes after excitation, highly visible beyond 600 minutes. The carrier is 6063 aluminium to BS EN 573-3:2003.

Where it is used

External entrance steps to public buildings, school and college approaches, health centre and civic entrances, sheltered housing, and any exposed flight where an accessibility specification applies. Also suitable internally where an escape route needs a marker that survives a power cut.

Specifications

Choosing the right option

Length first: 2.46m, 2.77m and 3.22m are the manufacturer's stock extrusion lengths; 1.0m, 1.5m and 2.0m are cut from the same profile. Measure the full tread width, order the next length up and cut back on site.

Colour is what carries the contrast argument, and the manufacturer publishes an LRV for each of the four external-grade inserts. Against dark tarmac or concrete, White at 49.9 or Yellow at 48.1 give the widest separation; against pale stone, Black at 4.6 or Dolphin Grey at 11.5 do the same in reverse. With a 55mm leg, check the figure against the riser finish as well as the tread — and note these are the external insert's values, which differ from the standard range.

Installation, use and care

Check the step is dry, clean, level and free of debris. Mark and drill your fixing positions and plug the step. Bed the nosing on a suitable adhesive, set it down, then screw down and fit the insert or insert pip over the screw heads. Check the deep leg sits flat to the riser before fixing; outdoors, use mechanical fixings rather than adhesive or tape alone.

Clean with a bristle brush and warm soapy water. The aluminium can be brought back with steel wool or a cloth. Do not use solvent cleaners; organic solvents soften the insert.

Frequently asked questions

Does this take an LED strip?

No. There is no lighting channel and no electrical component. The glowing edge is a photoluminescent strip that charges from ambient light and re-emits it in the dark.

Is it DDA compliant?

The manufacturer's datasheet lists this profile as DDA Compliant and the supplier sells it as such. We carry that as published. Whether your finished installation meets the requirement also depends on the contrast achieved against your own floor and riser, which is why the LRV figures are in the table.

Can it really go outside?

The supplier lists this insert as suitable for indoor and outdoor environments. Use mechanical fixings outdoors and expect to brush it clean rather than wipe it.

Will it fit a sloping riser?

Not flush. The leg drops vertically and 55mm of it exaggerates any mismatch. On a raked riser, use a raked-back profile.

Ordering and delivery

Each length is supplied as a single cut piece — order one per step and allow a little extra on the width for trimming. All four insert colours are available in all six lengths, and UK delivery is one flat rate whatever the order size.