Aluminium Stair Nosing 72x55mm Wide Tread Anti Slip Glow Edge

This is the largest profile in the standard range: 72mm across the tread and 55mm down the riser. That combination is specified where a step edge has to be unmistakable from both directions — a wide band of colour underfoot for anyone descending, and a deep band on the riser face for anyone climbing. It is built on a heavy duty 5mm gauge for contract carpet, and a green photoluminescent strip runs the leading edge, charging from the building's own lighting and glowing on its own once that light is gone.

Why it works

Big enough to be unambiguous

Contrast works on area as well as tone. A narrow strip of bright colour on a busy patterned carpet can disappear; 72mm of it does not. Pair that with a 55mm riser leg and the step edge is defined on both planes, which is the arrangement accessibility guidance is really asking for. The manufacturer lists this profile as DDA Compliant and the supplier describes it as Equality Act 2010 compatible — both are their statements, carried here as published. Whether an installation satisfies the requirement still depends on the contrast achieved against your own finishes.

The glow strip is chemistry, not electronics

The manufacturer identifies the photoluminescent element as europium-doped strontium aluminate, emitting green at 520nm, with afterglow brightness of 455 mcd/m² ten minutes after excitation, a highly visible afterglow lasting more than 600 minutes and measurable afterglow continuing beyond 3,000 minutes. It recharges whenever the stair is lit and cannot fail in a power cut. For the insert, they state a DIN 51130:2010 classification of R11 at 22.9° corrected and BS 7976-2:2002 pendulum values of PTV 66 dry and PTV 54 wet, both well clear of the 36 PTV low-slip-potential mark, and describe the standard insert as a REACH compliant flexible PVC extrusion grade made specifically for non-scuff stair nosing applications. The carrier is 6063 aluminium to BS EN 573-3:2003.

Where it is used

Main circulation stairs in public buildings where the accessibility brief is explicit: schools and colleges, hospitals and health centres, civic and council buildings, transport premises, and large offices. Also worth specifying on any deep-tread flight where a narrower nosing would look mean against the step.

Specifications

Choosing the right option

Length first. All six lengths are cut from the same extrusion and priced at a flat rate per metre, so there is nothing to be saved by buying a long bar and cutting it down — order the length closest to what you need. Measure the full tread width, take the next length up and trim back on site.

Then colour, which is what carries the contrast argument. The manufacturer publishes a Light Reflectance Value for all eleven inserts — they are in the table above. Against a dark floor, White at 79.9 or Yellow at 55.7 give the widest separation; against a pale floor, Black at 4.5 or Brown at 9.1 do the same in reverse. Because this profile shows on both the tread and the riser, check the figure against both finishes rather than just the one underfoot.

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 onto the step, then screw down and fit the insert or insert pip over the screw heads. A 72mm plate wants fixings at closer centres than a narrow profile, and the 55mm leg should sit flat to the riser before you fix.

Clean the insert with a neutral detergent and rinse with clean water, drying before traffic returns. The aluminium can be brought back with steel wool or a cloth. Do not use solvent cleaners on either part.

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 describes it as Equality Act 2010 compatible. We carry those as published. Whether the finished installation meets the requirement also depends on the contrast achieved against your own floor and riser.

Is 72mm too wide for a domestic stair?

Usually, yes. On a typical house stair it will dominate the tread. This profile is aimed at commercial and public flights with deep steps; for a home, a 57mm or 63mm profile sits better.

Will it fit a sloping riser?

Not flush. This is a straight-edge profile with a vertical leg, 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 eleven 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.