Solid Brass Stair Nosing 89mm Ribbed Tread Bull Nose Edge

When a staircase in a hotel, pub or commercial office starts to show wear, the step edge is almost always where it begins. The BN90 is a solid brass nosing built for that job: an 89mm serrated tread and a 43mm bullnose riser in 5.0mm gauge brass, cut to your length and fixed down over the vulnerable edge. It is designed to abut carpet and carpet tiles, finishing the nose cleanly, and it can be rebated into timber or stone where you want the profile sitting flush with the tread. You are buying a heavy section of solid brass rather than a plated trim, so sustained foot traffic wears the metal rather than wearing through it.

Why it works

The section does the work. At 5.0mm gauge this is a structural edge, not a cover strip. Grade H/H CZ108 brass to BS EN 12164:2016 has the hardness to resist the chipping and denting that ruins a bare timber or stone nose. Because the metal is solid through its thickness, wear simply exposes more of the same material instead of reaching a substrate underneath — the difference between a nosing that patinates and one that fails.

Grip you can specify. The serrated tread is tested at SRV 45 wet and SRV 73 dry. Those are measured figures you can put in front of a building control officer or a client's risk assessor, rather than a general assurance about slip resistance. The 43mm bullnose gives the step a defined, rounded leading edge, which helps with step definition as much as it protects what sits beneath it.

• 5.0mm gauge solid brass, grade H/H CZ108 to BS EN 12164:2016
• 89mm serrated tread, 43mm bullnose riser
• Slip resistance SRV 45 wet, SRV 73 dry
• Cut to size up to 2700mm, drilled or undrilled at the same price

Where it's used

This profile is specified for heavy foot traffic: hotels, pubs, clubs and cafes, shops, schools, commercial offices and apartment buildings. It works equally well on a domestic staircase in a period property, where the antique finishes suit an older interior. It is an internal profile, intended for stairs inside the building envelope — abutting carpet or carpet tile, or rebated into timber or stone treads.

Specifications

Choosing the right option

Finish. Polished brass is the brightest and the least expensive of the four. Satin brass is the same tone with the shine knocked back. Antique brass is a warm, aged gold. Antique bronze is much darker — its light reflectance value is 9.15, so it reads almost black against a pale tread and gives you strong visual contrast where step definition matters.

Both antique finishes are produced by a chemically applied, hand-finished process, and they vary from batch to batch by design — that variation is what creates the aged, unpolished effect. If you are running a job in phases and need every length to match, order the full quantity in one go rather than topping up later.

Drilling. Choose drilled if you want countersunk holes for size 8 screws already in place. Choose undrilled if you are setting out on site, working around an existing substrate, or bedding the profile in adhesive. Both options cost the same.

Installation, use and care

Fix to a sound, level substrate. Drilled lengths take size 8 countersunk screws; into concrete or stone, plug and screw rather than relying on adhesive alone. Where you want the tread flush, rebate the timber to the depth of the section before fixing. Allow for the ±5mm manufacturing tolerance when you set out.

Brass is a living finish. Polished and satin brass will darken over time unless they are cleaned, and a non-abrasive metal polish brings them back. Leave the antique finishes alone — polishing strips the applied patina and cannot be reversed on site.

Frequently asked questions

Is this suitable for heavy-traffic public areas?

Yes. It is specified for heavy foot traffic situations such as hotels, pubs, clubs, cafes, shops, schools, commercial offices and apartment buildings. The 5.0mm solid brass section and the tested SRV figures are what make it suitable for those settings.

Can I use it outside?

It is supplied as an internal profile and the published application is interior stairs. Brass left outdoors will weather and darken unevenly, and no external performance data is published for this line, so we would not recommend it for exposed steps.

Can it be fitted to existing timber stairs?

Yes, provided the substrate is sound and level. Fix with size 8 countersunk screws. If you want the tread sitting flush rather than proud, rebate the timber to the depth of the section before you fix it down.

What length do I get for the price?

One length, cut to the size you specify, up to a maximum of 2700mm. The price is the same whatever length you order within that range, so there is no saving in ordering short — order the length the job needs.

Ordering and delivery

Enter the length you need in millimetres and choose your finish and drilling option. Each length is cut to order, so please check your measurements before ordering — cut-to-size lengths are made to your specification. Estimated delivery is 2 to 7 working days from order. If you would like to see a finish in person before committing to a full staircase, order a sample first.