Aluminium Stair Nosing 57x32mm Outdoor Grade Anti Slip Glow Edge

Outdoor steps are where stair nosings usually fail: the insert goes brittle, the contrast fades, and the edge that was supposed to be obvious stops being obvious. This 57mm x 32mm aluminium nosing is the version of the profile built for that job. The anti-slip insert is a harder quartz-loaded grade that the manufacturer rates for indoor and outdoor use, and a green photoluminescent strip runs along the leading edge, charging from ordinary daylight or building lighting and glowing on its own once that light is gone. There is no wiring and no LED. The riser leg is raked back, which suits stairs with a sloping riser.

Why it works

The insert is the difference

The manufacturer describes this insert as a blend of PVC, silica quartz and polymeric plasticiser, stating that it meets BS 3261:1973 for sheet vinyl and vinyl tiles. It carries a three-dimensional pyramid surface and a polyurethane coating that reduces dirt retention, and is stated to resist UV, oil, grease, petrol, salt, dilute acids and alkalis. Their published slip figures are a DIN 51130:2010 classification of R11 at 24.7° corrected, and BS 7976-2:2002 pendulum values of PTV 57 dry and PTV 47 wet — both above the 36 PTV mark the UK Slip Resistance Group associates with low slip potential. The manufacturer lists it for substrates including concrete, timber, tile, vinyl, steel and checker plate.

The glow strip is chemistry, not electronics

The manufacturer identifies the photoluminescent element as europium-doped strontium aluminate, emitting green at a peak wavelength of 520nm, with afterglow brightness of 455 mcd/m² ten minutes after excitation and a highly visible afterglow lasting more than 600 minutes. It recharges whenever there is light on the stair and cannot fail in a power cut. The channel is extruded from 6063 aluminium to BS EN 573-3:2003, so the nose takes the wear instead of the step.

Where it is used

External entrance steps, fire escapes and access stairs, plant and yard steps, car park and service stairs, and any internal stairwell where a mains-independent escape marker is wanted. It suits both commercial and domestic work. If your steps are fully internal and you want a wider choice of insert colour, the standard-insert version of this same profile offers eleven colours at a lower price.

Specifications

Choosing the right option

Four insert colours and six lengths. The 2.46m, 2.77m and 3.22m options are the manufacturer's stock extrusion lengths; 1.0m, 1.5m and 2.0m are cut from the same profile and usually suit a domestic or single-flight stair. Measure the full tread width, order the next length up and cut back on site.

Colour is a contrast decision rather than a decorative one. Contrast guidance is expressed as a difference in Light Reflectance Value between the step edge and the floor around it, and the manufacturer publishes an LRV for each insert — all four are in the table above. Against dark tarmac, concrete or a dark entrance mat, White at 49.9 or Yellow at 48.1 open the widest gap; against pale stone or light vinyl, Black at 4.6 or Dolphin Grey at 11.5 do the same in reverse. Work the difference out against your own surface before ordering.

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. On external steps use mechanical fixings rather than relying on adhesive or tape alone.

Clean the insert with a neutral detergent and rinse with clean water, letting it dry before traffic returns. The pyramid surface holds more dirt than a smooth floor, so the manufacturer suggests a bristle brush and warm soapy water, or a commercial scrubber. The aluminium can be brought back with steel wool or a cloth. Do not use solvent cleaners on either part — organic solvents soften the insert.

Frequently asked questions

Does this take an LED strip?

No. There is no lighting channel and no electrical component of any kind. The glowing edge is a photoluminescent strip that stores ambient light and re-emits it, so there is nothing to wire, no driver and no battery.

What makes this the outdoor version?

The insert. It is a harder quartz-loaded grade that the supplier lists as suitable for indoor and outdoor environments, where the standard insert used on the rest of this profile range carries no published external rating. The aluminium body is the same on both.

How long does the glow last after dark?

The manufacturer quotes 455 mcd/m² ten minutes after excitation and a highly visible afterglow of more than 600 minutes. Output is brightest immediately after the light goes, which is when it matters. It recharges each time the stair is lit.

Why only four colours?

The external-grade insert is produced in a shorter range than the standard one. If you need beige, canvas, red, brown, ice grey, midnight grey or cobalt blue, those come in the standard-insert version of this profile, which is for internal use only.

Will it fit a stair with a sloping riser?

Yes. The riser leg rakes back under the tread rather than dropping vertically, so it sits flush against a sloping riser. On a fully vertical riser the bottom of the leg will stand slightly proud.

Ordering and delivery

Each length is supplied as a single cut piece, so order one per step and allow a little extra on width for trimming. All four insert colours are available in all six lengths, and UK delivery is one flat rate whatever the order size. If you need a length we do not list, or an anodised finish, get in touch before ordering — the manufacturer can produce both to order.