Square Aluminium Stair Nosing 85 x 32mm

An 85 x 32mm square edge aluminium stair nosing with two textured High Grip inserts side by side. The extra-deep 85mm tread puts grip under most of the forefoot, which is why it is specified for the busiest internal stairs: transport and leisure buildings, schools at changeover, hospital and shopping centre stairs. The 3.5mm gauge suits vinyl, lino and lightweight carpet.

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

Why this nosing works

Two inserts, a wider band of grip

People do not all land in the same place on a step. Going down, the foot comes forward of the nose; going up, it lands further back. With two High Grip strips across an 85mm tread, both footfalls land on textured insert rather than bare floorcovering, and the wide band reads clearly as the step edge.

Tested grip, wet and dry

A smooth PVC insert is fine on a dry, quiet stair. Once a step gets wet, grip comes from texture. This insert has a textured PVC face, and its pendulum results are 95 dry and 60 wet, measured by an independent laboratory. Under UK Slip Resistance Group guidance, 36 or more means low slip potential. Two strips across the 85mm tread put that grip under both the descending and the ascending foot.

An edge people can see

The insert colour does the safety work. Solar, a golden yellow at LRV 55.10, stands out on grey, blue and dark floors. Obsidian, a near-black at LRV 1.80, stands out on beige, white and light grey. Your floorcovering's LRV is on its data sheet.

Square on square steps

The right-angled nose suits concrete, screed and square-cut timber steps. If the treads are shallow or the stair is lightly used, the single-insert 56 x 32mm square profile does the same job for less.

Nine finishes

Nine finishes. Mill Finish for plant rooms and service stairs; Bright Polished, Satin Silver and Mirrorflect Silver for a silver line from soft to mirror-bright; Satin Gold and Mirrorflect Gold for warm interiors; and Satin Bronze, Dark Bronze and Satin Black to sit quietly on wood, stone-effect and dark floors.

• Square edge aluminium profile, 85mm tread x 32mm riser, 3.5mm gauge
• Twin textured High Grip inserts: 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

High-traffic internal stairs with deep treads: stations and transport hubs, leisure centres, school and college main stairs, hospital corridors, shopping centres and office cores, finished in vinyl, safety flooring, lino or light contract carpet.

Specifications

Choosing the right option

Insert colour. Solar for dark, mid-grey, blue and green floors; Obsidian for white, cream, beige and light grey floors. There is no price difference between them.

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. List your step widths, then work out which of the three lengths cuts them with the smallest offcuts. Allow one spare length on a long flight.

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 channels, peel the backing from the self-adhesive inserts and press them firmly into place over the fixings. Lay the floorcovering tight to the back of the profile. Keep the textured face clean: dirt and polish build-up fill the texture and lower the grip figures. A damp mop with a neutral cleaner is enough. Do not use abrasive pads on the metal finishes.

Frequently asked questions

What are the slip test results for this insert?

Independent pendulum testing gave 95 in the dry and 60 in the wet. UK Slip Resistance Group guidance classes 36 and above as low slip potential, so even a wet insert has a large safety margin. Those results assume a clean insert: dirt or floor polish in the texture will lower them.

Why choose twin inserts instead of one?

Two strips put textured grip across 85mm of the tread instead of a single band, so both ascending and descending feet land on the insert. It also gives a deeper, more visible contrast band at the step edge. On shallow treads or quiet stairs, a single-insert profile is usually enough.

Is the High Grip insert suitable for external steps?

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.

Are both inserts supplied?

Yes. Each variant is one length of nosing with both High Grip inserts supplied in your chosen colour, so the two channels match.

Which insert colour gives the best contrast?

The one furthest from your floor in light reflectance value. Solar is 55.10 and Obsidian 1.80. Approved Document M treats a difference of more than 30 LRV points as adequate visual contrast, so check the LRV on your floorcovering data sheet and pick the insert on the other side of the scale.

Ordering & delivery

You order by the length: each variant is one length of nosing in your chosen finish, insert colour and stock length, with the two inserts 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.