Aluminium Stair Nosing 60x55mm Heavy Duty Square Back PVC Insert

The square-back 60 x 55mm nosing, for risers that stand plumb

Most stairs built in the last few decades have a riser face that stands vertical rather than leaning back, and a raked nosing will not sit flat against one. This 60mm x 55mm aluminium stair nosing has a straight, square rear leg that beds hard against a plumb riser with no void behind it. It carries a 5mm gauge channel sized for heavy contract carpet, carpet tile and thicker LVT, and a wide coloured PVC anti-slip insert running the full length of the tread. Flooring contractors, facilities teams and specifiers use it on offices, schools, hospitals and retail stairwells where the flight takes constant traffic and has to stay legible underfoot.

Why it works

The square rear leg is the whole point

The 55mm leg drops straight down the riser face. On a plumb riser that means continuous contact along its full height, so the nosing is supported rather than bridging a gap, the fixings pull it tight instead of levering it, and the covering is finished neatly at the tread-to-riser junction. If your risers slope backwards, which is common on cast concrete flights and older timber stairs, choose the rakeback version of this profile instead — same dimensions, same insert range, angled rear leg.

The 5mm gauge takes a thick floor covering

Gauge is the depth of the rebate that receives your floor finish. At 5mm this profile accepts heavy contract carpet, carpet tile and thicker vinyl without the covering standing proud of the aluminium, so there is no lip for a heel to catch and no exposed edge for a cleaning machine to lift. The manufacturer describes the range as designed for fixing with heavy duty carpets or similar floor coverings, which is what separates it from the thinner nosings sold for domestic laminate.

Slip resistance and contrast, as the manufacturer publishes them

For the standard PVC insert the manufacturer states an inclined platform result of 22.9° under DIN 51130:2010, classified as category R11, and pendulum values under BS 7976-2:2002 of PTV 66 average dry and PTV 54 average wet. The UK Slip Resistance Group's published guidance treats a PTV of 36 or above as low slip potential. The manufacturer also states that this profile complies with BS 8300:2009+A1:2010 guidance and gives clear visual contrast at the leading edge to assist building users, including those with impaired vision.

Where it's used

Office and shared stairwells re-carpeted on a refurbishment cycle; school, college and university flights that have to read clearly to every user; hospital, clinic and care-home stairs; retail and leisure stairs carrying heavy footfall; apartment block common stairs. This is an internal profile. For external steps or a permanently wet stairwell, ask us for the version supplied with the wet-and-dry insert instead.

Specifications

Choosing the right option

Assuming the square back is right for your riser, two decisions remain: insert colour and length.

Colour is a contrast decision, not a decorative one. Approved Document M and BS 8300 both work from light reflectance value, and the manufacturer publishes an LRV for every insert in this range: White 79.9, Yellow 55.7, Canvas 53.2, Ice Grey 42.1, Beige 41.1, Dolphin Grey 27.6, Midnight Grey 12.8, Red 10.6, Cobalt Blue 9.2, Brown 9.1, Black 4.5. The mill aluminium channel itself is 78.9. Compare the insert you are considering against the LRV of your tread covering and choose the pairing with the widest gap.

Length. Six lengths are offered. 2460mm, 2770mm and 3220mm are the manufacturer's stock lengths; 1000mm, 1500mm and 2000mm are cut to length from those same bars, which is the economical way to buy for a short flight or a single landing step. Measure the full width of the flight, order the next length up and cut on site — joining two bars mid-tread leaves a weak point exactly where the traffic is. Anything else between 900mm and 3220mm can be cut to order; contact us for a price.

Installation, use and care

The manufacturer's sequence is: check the steps are dry, clean, level and free of debris; mark and drill the step; plug the holes; apply a suitable adhesive to the underside of the nosing and bed it down onto the step; screw down with appropriately sized screws; then fit the insert, or the insert pip, to cover the screw heads. Profiles are supplied undrilled as standard, so tell us if you want them drilled. Clean the inserts with a neutral detergent, rinse thoroughly with clean water and let them dry before foot traffic returns. The manufacturer is explicit that solvent cleaners must not be used on the aluminium.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know whether I need the square back or the rakeback?

Look at the riser face from the side. If it stands vertical, you want this square-back profile. If it leans back so the tread above overhangs it, you want the rakeback version. Send us a photograph of the step edge if you are unsure and we will tell you which one to order.

How thick a floor covering will it take?

The 5mm gauge is sized for heavy duty contract carpet, carpet tile and similar coverings. Thinner finishes such as domestic laminate will sit low in the channel and are better served by a shallower gauge profile.

Can I use it on external steps?

No. This is an internal profile with the standard PVC insert. The manufacturer offers a separate version with a wet-and-dry insert for external and wet areas; ask us and we will quote it.

Does it arrive pre-drilled?

No, it is supplied undrilled as standard. Drilling is available as an option on request, either standard drilling or a hidden-fix pattern, so tell us at the point of order.

Ordering and delivery

Every colour and length combination is held as its own line, so the price shown is the price for the bar you select. Choose your insert colour and length above and add to basket. If you need a cut length we do not list, a quantity for a whole building, or the wet-and-dry insert version, contact us and we will quote it.