Aluminium Stair Nosing 57x55mm External Rake Back

This is the wet-weather build of the 57x55mm rake back nosing. The extrusion and the 55mm raked leg are the same as the standard profile, but the insert is a TredSafe grit band rather than the smooth PVC one, and it is suitable for indoor and outdoor environments. In front of the insert sits a photoluminescent strip that charges from ordinary light and keeps the step edge readable when the lighting fails. It is the profile to specify for external entrance steps, fire escapes, car park cores and any stair that gets rained on, where the existing riser slopes back rather than dropping vertically.

Why it works

The grit insert is the wet-service part

TredSafe is a coarse quartz-loaded band with a three-dimensional pyramid surface, and it is chosen for service conditions rather than for headline numbers. The insert is rated category R11 under the DIN 51130 inclined platform test at a ramp angle of 24.7 degrees, with pendulum values under BS 7976-2 of PTV 57 dry and PTV 47 wet. Both sit clear of the PTV 36 that the UK Slip Resistance Group treats as low slip potential. Note that these figures are lower than the smooth PVC insert on the interior version of this profile, which is rated PTV 66 dry and PTV 54 wet. TredSafe earns its place on abrasion instead: it records 0.6g weight loss under Taber abrasion, and the material is specified for external and heavy-wear use where the softer insert would polish.

The glow strip needs no wiring

The strip at the leading edge is photoluminescent, not powered. It is a europium-doped strontium aluminate emitting green at a 520nm peak, charging from daylight, fluorescent or tungsten light, with 455 mcd/m² measured ten minutes after excitation, a highly visible afterglow of more than 600 minutes and a total afterglow duration exceeding 3,000 minutes. There is no driver, no battery and no connection, so nothing about it depends on the supply that has just failed.

The raked leg suits a sloping riser

On a stair with a raked riser a square-legged nosing touches only at its top edge, leaving a wedge of shadow that collects dirt and catches a mop. This profile's 55mm leg is angled to match, so it beds down the full depth of the riser face. Outdoors that matters twice over: a gap behind the leg holds water.

Where it's used

External entrance steps and ramp landings, fire escape stairs, car park and service cores, loading bays, school and hospital external routes, and coastal or exposed sites where salt and grit are in play. Indoors it suits wet-prone areas — pool surrounds, kitchens, plant rooms — and any stair where the traffic is heavy enough to wear a standard insert.

Specifications

Choosing the right option

Pick the insert colour on contrast against the surface running up to the step, not on decor. Every TredSafe colour has a published light reflectance value, and accessible design guidance is written around a measurable difference in LRV between the step edge and the tread either side.

Yellow is the usual choice on external and industrial steps where the tread is grey concrete; white and dolphin grey read better on paved or stone landings. On length, 2.46m, 2.77m and 3.22m are the stock lengths and 1.0m, 1.5m and 2.0m are cut from stock. Measure the finished going and order the next size up rather than butting two pieces on one step. If your riser is vertical rather than raked, this is the wrong profile — ask us for the square-legged equivalent. If the stair is internal and dry, the smooth-insert version of this profile scores higher on the pendulum and costs less.

Installation, use & care

Steps must be dry, clean, level and free of debris before fixing. Bed the nosing on a suitable adhesive so the raked leg sits flat against the riser face with no void behind it, then screw down with appropriate fixings and plugs; tape fixing is also an option for light-duty work. Outdoors, seal the back edge so water cannot track under the plate. Clean the grit insert with a stiff brush and a neutral detergent, rinse and let it drain. Keep the photoluminescent strip clear of paint, sealant and floor polish — anything that covers it stops it charging.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same as the standard 57x55mm nosing?

Same extrusion, same 55mm raked leg, different insert. This one takes the coarse TredSafe grit band and is suitable for indoor and outdoor use; the standard version takes a smooth PVC insert in eleven colours and is the internal specification.

Does it glow, and does that need power?

Yes, and no. The strip at the nose is photoluminescent — it charges from whatever light the stair already has and re-emits it in the dark, with no wiring, driver or battery. Its highly visible afterglow lasts more than 600 minutes.

Why are the pendulum figures lower than the smooth-insert version?

Because TredSafe is specified for wet service and abrasion resistance rather than for the highest dry pendulum number. Both inserts are rated R11; TredSafe holds up to grit, salt and heavy traffic where the softer insert polishes. We publish both sets of figures so you can choose on the right basis.

Can I use it outdoors in a coastal or salted environment?

The profile is suitable for indoor and outdoor environments. As with any aluminium profile in a marine or heavily salted setting, rinse it periodically and check the fixings.

Can it be cut to length on site?

Yes, with a fine-tooth non-ferrous blade in a mitre saw. Trim the insert with a sharp knife and deburr the cut end. The 1.0m, 1.5m and 2.0m options arrive already cut from stock and are non-returnable unless faulty, so check your measurement before ordering.

Ordering & delivery

All four TredSafe colours are available in every length and each length is priced individually. Stock lengths are 2.46m, 2.77m and 3.22m; 1.0m, 1.5m and 2.0m are cut to order. For a full external stair core, or a length not listed here, contact us before ordering and we will confirm availability and lead time.

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