Square Aluminium Stair Nosing 56 x 32mm

A 56 x 32mm square edge aluminium stair nosing with a textured High Grip insert, made for internal stairs that get wet feet and heavy use: office and school stairwells, shop floors, surgeries and communal entrances. The 3.5mm gauge suits vinyl, lino and lightweight carpet, and the crisp right-angled nose sits tight on concrete, screed and square-cut timber steps.

Choose Obsidian or Solar insert in any of nine aluminium finishes, in 2.44m, 2.75m or 3.22m stock lengths for cutting on site.

Why this nosing works

A clean right angle on square steps

The 56mm top leg covers the part of the tread where the ball of the foot lands on the way down, and the 32mm front leg gives the riser a straight, protected edge. On a square step there is no gap behind the metal, so the nosing beds down firmly and does not rock.

Grip that is measured, not claimed

The High Grip insert has a textured PVC face on a PET base. In pendulum testing at an independent laboratory it scored 95 dry and 60 wet. UK Slip Resistance Group guidance treats 36 and above as low slip potential, so the wet figure clears that line by a wide margin. One full-width strip sits on the step edge, exactly where feet land as people come down the stair.

Pick the insert by LRV

Partially sighted people find a stair by the edge that stands out from the floor. Obsidian (LRV 1.80) suits pale floors and Solar (LRV 55.10) suits mid and dark floors. Aim for a difference of more than 30 LRV points.

The all-round profile

If you are unsure which shape to buy, this is the one most commercial stairs take. Choose the 85mm twin-insert version for deep treads and very busy stairs, or the 56 x 56mm DDA profile where the riser face itself must carry a 55mm contrast band.

Nine finishes

Mill Finish is plain aluminium for service and back-of-house stairs. Bright Polished and Satin Silver give a bright or soft silver line. Satin Gold, Satin Bronze, Dark Bronze and Satin Black suit timber-effect, stone-effect and dark floors. Mirrorflect Silver and Mirrorflect Gold are mirror-bright for reception and front-of-house stairs.

• Square edge aluminium profile, 56mm tread x 32mm riser, 3.5mm gauge
• Textured High Grip insert: pendulum 95 dry, 60 wet
• Obsidian (LRV 1.80) or Solar (LRV 55.10)
• 9 finishes, 3 stock lengths, for vinyl, lino and lightweight carpet

Where it's used

Office stairwells, school and college stairs, shops, cafes, GP surgeries, hotels and the communal stairs of flats: internal square-edged steps finished in vinyl, safety flooring, lino or light contract carpet. For outside steps, use the exterior-insert version of this square profile.

Specifications

Choosing the right option

Insert colour. Pick for contrast. Solar on mid-grey, blue, green and dark floors; Obsidian on pale floors such as light grey, beige or white. Both colours are the same price.

Finish. Mill Finish is the lowest price, then Bright Polished, then Satin Gold. Dark Bronze, Satin Black, Satin Silver and Satin Bronze share the middle price. Mirrorflect Silver comes next. Mirrorflect Gold costs the most. Satin finishes hide scuffs best on busy stairs.

Length. Measure every step, then choose the stock length that cuts into those widths with the least waste. Order a spare where widths vary.

Installation, use & care

Cut each length to the step width with a fine-toothed blade for aluminium and de-burr the ends. The step must be clean, dry and sound. Screw-fix through the channel with fixings to suit the substrate, or bed the profile on a stair nosing adhesive. Clean and dry the channel, peel the backing from the self-adhesive insert and press it firmly into place over the fixings. Lay the floorcovering tight to the back of the profile. Sweep and damp-mop the insert regularly, because trodden-in dirt fills the texture and reduces grip. Avoid abrasive pads on polished and coloured finishes.

Frequently asked questions

How slip-resistant is the High Grip insert?

The pendulum test results for this insert are 95 dry and 60 wet, measured at an independent friction-testing laboratory. Under UK Slip Resistance Group guidance, a pendulum value of 36 or more indicates low slip potential, so the insert stays well above that line when wet. The figures apply to a clean insert, so keep the textured face free of dirt and polish build-up.

Will this fit a step that already has a square edge?

Yes, that is what it is designed for. The 90-degree corner sits flat on the tread and flush down the riser of concrete, screed, plywood or square-cut timber steps. If your step edge is rounded, a bullnose profile will sit tighter.

Can I use this nosing outside?

No. The High Grip insert is rated for internal use, with a service temperature range of -10°C to 80°C. For external steps, choose a profile with an exterior-grade insert, which is listed separately.

How many steps will one length cover?

Divide the length by your step width and allow a few millimetres per saw cut. A 2.44m length gives two 1.2m steps, a 2.75m length gives two 1.35m steps and a 3.22m length gives three 1.05m steps. Pick the length that leaves the least offcut across the flight.

Obsidian or Solar: which insert colour should I choose?

Choose by contrast with the floor, not by matching it. Obsidian has an LRV of 1.80 and Solar 55.10. Aim for a difference of more than 30 LRV points between the insert and the surrounding floor: Solar for mid and dark floors, Obsidian for pale ones. Your floorcovering manufacturer publishes its LRV on the product data sheet.

Ordering & delivery

Each variant is one length of nosing in your chosen finish, insert colour and stock length, with the insert supplied. Screws and adhesive are not included. We deliver to UK mainland addresses; carriage and lead time are shown at checkout. Need a quantity price for a whole building? Contact us with your step count and widths.

See our full range of anti-slip stair nosings: aluminium, rubber and PVC profiles for every type of stair.