Aluminium Stair Nosing 54x30mm Rubber Insert Anodised Silver

This is the aluminium stair nosing to reach for when the stairs are already finished and you need grip and edge protection without lifting the floor covering. The profile sits on top of vinyl, LVT, laminate or tile, wraps the front of the step with a curved anodised face, and carries a 25mm black grooved rubber insert where feet land. It is a refurbishment profile first and foremost, fitted by contractors upgrading communal stairs, office stairwells and school corridors where the treads are sound but the edges are worn, chipped or slippery and a full re-cover is not on the table.

Why it works

The section is designed to be added, not built in. The back of the tread plate feathers down to a thin ramped edge rather than stopping at a square shoulder, so it rides over the existing floor covering and absorbs small differences in height instead of forming a lip. The front face curves down over the nose and tapers to a fine edge against the riser, keeping the assembly tight to the step and giving a mop head nothing to catch on.

Grip comes from the insert, and the numbers are worth reading. The 25mm rubber strip is deeply grooved along its length and rated R9 under the DIN 51130 ramp test. Pendulum testing to BS 7976-2 returns an average PTV of 79 dry and 28 wet. That wet figure sits below the 36 PTV normally taken as the threshold for low slip potential, so treat this as an internal, dry-shod profile.

The carrier is a proper commercial extrusion. Aluminium AA 6063 T6, anodised to DIN 17611 in matt silver, with fine longitudinal ribbing on the exposed metal so the aluminium itself is not a skating surface. A matt anodised film runs to around 20 microns against roughly 0.2 microns of natural oxide on mill-finish aluminium, which is what keeps the face looking even under years of shoe traffic.

Where it's used

Refurbishment work, almost always: communal stairs in apartment blocks and student accommodation, office and back-of-house stairwells, school and college corridors, retail and hospitality entrance steps, and domestic staircases laid in LVT or laminate. It suits internal flights with hard, thin coverings. It is not a carpet profile, and not one for external steps.

Specifications

Choosing the right option

One specification is stocked: anodised matt silver with the black rubber insert, in 2.7m lengths. Bespoke powder-coated finishes are a factory order on this extrusion and are not held here, so allow lead time if a colour match is specified.

Two checks before you commit. First, measure the nose: a 33mm front face will not cover a deeper or badly broken step edge, and the profile needs something square and sound to sit on. Second, check what the specification asks of the contrast band. Approved Document K asks for a visually contrasting band at least 55mm wide on tread and riser in buildings other than dwellings, and 50 to 65mm on the tread in the common areas of blocks of flats; Approved Document M puts the contrast itself at more than 30 points of light reflectance value. A 25mm insert meets neither tread figure on its own. If the job is signed off against Part K or Part M, specify a wider contrasting insert or a riser-highlight profile and have Building Control or the access consultant confirm it against the finished floor.

Installation, use and care

Offer the nosing up and check it sits firmly against the riser. Drill and plug the substrate through the pre-drilled holes, apply a contact-grade adhesive to the underside and to the tread, fix mechanically, then press the rubber insert into its channel, where it covers the screw heads and leaves an unbroken surface. Cut to length with a fine-tooth blade and de-burr the ends. In service the aluminium needs no special maintenance: clean with a pH-neutral detergent on a soft cloth, never an acidic cleaner, and wipe off adhesive, grout or cement residue straight away, because cement-based materials turn alkaline when damp and corrode aluminium.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to lift the existing floor covering to fit it?

No. This is a surface-mounted retro-fit profile: it sits on top of vinyl, LVT, laminate or tile and the ramped back edge feathers down onto the covering. The covering does need to be soundly bonded at the step edge before you fix over it.

Are the fixings included?

Yes. Each bar comes pre-drilled and countersunk at 180mm centres, with wall plugs and M3.5 x 25mm screws. You will also want a contact-grade adhesive for the underside, which is not included.

Can I use it on external steps or anywhere that gets wet?

We would not recommend it. The wet PTV of 28 is below the level normally accepted as low slip potential, and the profile is specified for internal use. For external or wet areas, choose a carborundum-insert nosing.

Will it work over carpet?

No. There is no gripper channel and the feathered back edge is too shallow to hold a carpet pile. Use a carpet-specific nosing with a clamping channel instead.

Ordering and delivery

Sold as a single 2.7m bar with its insert, enough for one wide flight step or two narrower domestic treads. Order one bar per tread, plus a spare for waste on angled or winder steps. Long lengths travel on a dedicated service; options and timescales are shown at checkout.

View our complete range of stair nosing profiles — aluminium, rubber and PVC options for every application.