Stair Nosings: What You Need To Consider When Choosing Stair Edging?

The law on non-slip stair treads and nosing is confusing to say the least, it is difficult to know where to look and understand the legislation but we are here to help.

Did you know? – 20% of occupational slip, trips and falls accidents occur on stairs at a shocking rate of one every 25 minutes!

There is a wealth of legislation that dictates safety measures to be taken to ensure optimum safety on stairs and one of these relates to the stair nosing. With so many accidents occurring on stairs daily, it is imperative to ensure that your workplace follows all the necessary guidance.

BR Approved Document K (2013) states “make stair nosing’s apparent; use a material that will contrast visually, a minimum of 55mm wide on both the tread and the riser”

In basic terms, the stair nosing’s need to define and protect the nose of the stairs. The colour is required to be contrasting to that of the floor covering , so if you have black or grey  stairs, go for a yellow stair nosing.

Step 1 : What is the right stair edging for my step?

Shape

This very much depends on the shape of the step. The edging must be a tight fit to the step so that it does not create a trip hazard.

Check whether what shape your step is:

• Square
• Rake Back
• Kinked Face
• Bullnose

Thickness

The edging should be a flush fit with your current floor covering to avoid additional trip hazards.  You need to check the thickness of your floor covering/stair to ensure that there will be a flush fit. These can range from 2-3mm for certain floor coverings upto 15mm for ceramic floors.

Tread

The depth of the stair tread also has an effect on the type of stair nosing you choose. The is the depth of the top part of the step. Current regulation stipulate that it should be a minimum of 280mm. Our range of stair treads and nosings vary in depth, so contact one of our flooring specialists if you need more information.

Step 2: What slip resistance do I need on my stair edging?

The environment plays a big part in what is required for this step. Our GRP stair nosing work great on outside steps as they have additional slip resistance to prevent slips, trips and fall in wet conditions.

 

Step 3: What colour stair nosing do I need?

There needs to be at least a 30 point difference between the Light Reflectance Value of the stair nosing and edging and the flooring itself. This is so that the users can easily see the difference in the step from further back and creates what is known as the ‘ladder effect’

Step 4: Temporary vs permanent solutions

Whilst there are a range of temporary solutions for highlighting step edges, these are not always the most suitable. Albeit the cheaper alternative, often they do not adhere to the standards. They can become trip hazards and the saving that you made at the beginning could cost you more in the long run.

 

For more information on how to fix, maintain and clean your stair nosing – check our our handy guide here

 

 

Still not sure what stair edging is suitable for your needs, then contact one of our UK based flooring specialists . Here at safe industrial we can help you find your perfect stair safety solution.