Custom LED Stair Nosing for Canberra Hospital

A custom stair nosing solution, responsive local support and an expedited manufacturing programme helped Canberra-based Capital Bond Electrical complete an auditorium upgrade at Canberra Hospital.

When Capital Bond Electrical secured an electrical upgrade project for the Canberra Hospital auditorium, the project presented a challenge familiar to many contractors working in operational public facilities. The shutdown window was limited, multiple trades depended on one another, and a specialist architectural product needed to arrive on site at precisely the right time.

The project wasn't the largest, requiring only around 34 metres of custom aluminium stair nosing incorporating recessed LED lighting. Latham Australia had been nominated in the architectural specification, but the required configuration was not an off-the-shelf product.

For Capital Bond Electrical director Mitch Bruce, the critical requirement was to source the right product supplier and ensure the customised stair nosings could be manufactured and delivered quickly enough to protect the construction programme and timelines.

What you need to know

• Capital Bond Electrical was engaged to upgrade illuminated stair nosings in the Canberra Hospital auditorium.

• Approximately 34 one-metre stair nosings were required.
• The product incorporated an aluminium nosing, slip-resistant infill and recessed LED lighting.
• The required configuration involved a customised solution based on an existing Latham product.
• A short shutdown period meant product lead times were critical.
• Latham expedited the project and delivered when promised, enabling Capital Bond Electrical and following trades to maintain their programme.

Why were illuminated stair nosings important in the Canberra Hospital auditorium?

Auditoriums present a particular challenge for stair safety because lighting levels are intentionally reduced during presentations.

The stair nosing system used at Canberra Hospital incorporated an LED strip within the aluminium profile, with illumination visible along the front of the stair nosing. This combined an architectural aesthetic with the practical requirement of helping people identify stair edges when the auditorium was darkened.

As Mitch explained:

“The auditorium was dark. So, when the lights go off, people still need to walk freely. So those LED stair nosing lights are on and they’re able to see.”

Stair nosings are designed to provide grip and visual definition at stair edges, making the right product selection particularly important in public and commercial environments.

What made the Canberra Hospital stair nosing project challenging?

Capital Bond Electrical commenced operations in Canberra in early 2023. Although a relatively young business, Capital Bond Electrical had already completed several projects at Canberra Hospital.

The company works across commercial, industrial and residential electrical contracting, with specialist experience in sports lighting, street lighting, external lighting, construction and maintenance.

For this project, timing became the central issue.

Mitch estimates the overall timeframe was approximately three to four weeks, although Capital Bond Electrical completed its portion of the works earlier within the programme. More importantly, Capital Bond Electrical’s work was the beginning of a sequence involving other trades.

“If we fail at the start, then everyone else fails and everyone else falls behind,” Mitch said. That placed considerable importance on Latham’s manufacturing and delivery programme.

How did Latham respond to a customised product and short lead time?

Latham was originally specified through the architectural documentation. Capital Bond Electrical approached Latham during tendering, initially communicating by email with members of the Latham team.

Once Capital Bond Electrical was awarded the project and the required site dates became clear, discussions progressed with Latham regarding the custom configuration and the delivery programme.

According to Mitch, the specified solution was effectively a combination of characteristics from two existing Latham products, including a continuously finished slip-resistant section rather than a conventional grooved configuration.

“It was obviously a custom product that was in between two products,” he explained.

Faced with a tight project window, Capital Bond Electrical explained the commercial importance of meeting the programme and the knock-on effect that any delay would have on subsequent trades.

Latham responded by expediting the order.

“Latham came on board, they expedited it. I think they worked around the clock,” Mitch said.

“And they delivered it at the time that they said they would, allowing us to just rip in and get it all done and everything worked pitch perfect.”

Why is responsive manufacturing so important on deadline-driven projects?

Product performance is only one component of successful specification and construction.

For architects, builders and contractors, lead times, documentation, manufacturing capability and supplier support are equally important when a project reaches construction.

Latham Australia has more than 70 years of experience designing and manufacturing architectural products including stair nosings, tactile indicators, expansion joint systems, access covers, grates and entry matting.

Latham’s Australian manufacturing capability is particularly relevant where projects require non-standard detailing or greater certainty around supply.

For Capital Bond Electrical, the Canberra Hospital project was the company’s first experience working with Latham.

“I’ve never worked with Latham before, and they’ve never worked with us. There was no expectation that they would get it done for me,” Mitch said.

“But they did. They took on board what I said to them, that I’m a new company and I’m trying to put my best foot forward and get this done for the hospital and for my builder, who I highly respect.”

Did Latham deliver what Capital Bond Electrical needed?

For Mitch, the outcome was straightforward.

“They delivered. They did exactly what they said they would and everything was really good. I couldn’t be happier.”

The finished stair nosings allowed Capital Bond Electrical to complete its work and hand the project forward without disrupting the tightly coordinated programme.

It also demonstrated the value of maintaining the nominated specification rather than pursuing an unfamiliar alternative simply to solve an immediate procurement challenge.

As Mitch observed, particularly on a hospital project, “it’s better to stick with what they’ve specified rather than go around, because otherwise it’ll cause issues.”

Frequently Asked Questions

• What product was supplied for the Canberra Hospital auditorium?

  A customised aluminium stair nosing incorporating a slip-resistant surface and recessed LED lighting.

• How much stair nosing was required?

  The required configuration incorporated elements that Mitch understood to be a hybrid of two existing Latham product configurations, including a continuous finish and LED arrangement.

• Why was the product customised? 
  The required configuration incorporated elements that Mitch understood to be a hybrid of two existing Latham product configurations, including a continuous finish and LED arrangement.
• Why was delivery timing important?
  The auditorium had a limited shutdown window and Capital Bond Electrical's work preceded other trades. A delay at the stair-nosing stage could therefore have affected the broader completion programme.

For architects and contractors specifying products into Australian hospitals, commercial buildings and public infrastructure, project certainty extends beyond selecting a product from a catalogue.

Manufacturing capability, technical support, tested performance, clear documentation and warranty protection all contribute to reducing specification and construction risk. Latham supports this through Australian manufacturing, more than seven decades of engineering experience and genuine warranty support across its architectural product range.

The Canberra Hospital auditorium project provides a practical example of what that support can mean when the programme becomes difficult: understand the contractor’s problem, respond quickly, manufacture the required solution and deliver when promised.

For Capital Bond Electrical, that reliability helped a young Canberra business deliver an important project for both its builder and Canberra Hospital.

Need Technical Guidance?

Planning a project involving stair nosings, tactile indicators, entry systems or other architectural safety products? Latham Australia can provide technical guidance and product recommendations suited to the application, project requirements and construction programme.

Latham Australia 

Latham has been manufacturing premium quality flooring products in Sydney, Australia for more than 70 years. End-to-end control and oversight of procurement, manufacturing, and quality control results in the industry’s most reliable and high-performing products.

The name Latham is synonymous with quality and Latham have been the recipient of over 30 awards including numerous Australian Design Awards. Latham products can be found in prestigious buildings around the world including the Sydney Opera House, The Australian War Memorial in London, Singapore’s Changi Airport Terminals and the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur.  

To find out more about Latham products, visit latham-australia.com. To talk to a Latham product expert, call 1300 LATHAM (528 426) or email info@latham-australia.com