Stair nosings are vital in reducing the risk of slips and falls on stairs. Their job is to make staircases safer, and you should use them on any busy steps inside and out – especially in public places such as hospitals, schools and leisure centres.

If you run a business, there’s specific legislation that you should be aware of when it comes to stair nosings. Let’s take a look at the factors you need to consider to make sure you’re complying fully with stair nosing regulations.

Correct dimensions for stair nosings

The recommended dimensions for stair nosings state that the tread should measure between 50-65mm and the riser 30-55mm to ensure there’s enough band on the nose of a step.

These measurements are for guidance as other factors including step size and type need to be taken into account when fitting stair nosing.

The tread surface of stair nosings

The tread material used for stair nosing impacts on the safety of a stairway. Two recommended tests – the pendulum test (PTV) and a surface micro roughness measurement (Rz) can be used to give an indication of the slip resistance of a material.

The tread is the surface of the stair nosing that receives ascending and descending footfall. Stair nosing tread material should extend to the front edge to where it meets the vertical face to reduce the risk of a slip.

Colour requirements of stair nosing

Recommendations say that all stair nosings should be distinguishable through contrasting brightness. This statutory requirement refers to ‘reasonable provisions’ and is intended to apply in normal conditions where the stair is illuminated by natural or artificial light and not in emergency situations such as a fire.

The colour of your stair nosing should be different from your floor covering. You should use nosings in different colours, shades or with reflective properties.

Each colour has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of between 0 (black) and 100 (white). The recommendation is that there should be at least 30 LRV points difference between your stair nosing and your floor covering. By doing this, you help to produce a ladder effect.

To test whether your stair nosings are suitably distinguishable, you should position someone with normal eyesight at the head or foot of the stairs. They should be able to see the line of each nosing in the flight – whether in full daylight or artificial light.

Need to know how your business can meet stair nosing regulations?

FineLine Flooring specialises in the supply and installation of safety flooring and non-slip flooring to commercial and industrial sectors covering Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire.

We offer a comprehensive range of carpet tiles, commercial vinyl, safety flooring, non-slip flooring, contract carpets, linoleum, rubber and Amtico/Karndean flooring.

Our experienced specialist installers have worked in many sectors including the NHS, private and public schools, hospitals, office buildings, the MOD and retail flooring.

All our flooring installers are CSCS registered and monitored to the highest standards. We meet all health and safety guidelines and are fully covered for commercial and employer’s liability insurance.

For any questions, or to receive a quote, please contact us on 01256 701569 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.