How do I specify the right Stair Tread Nosing?

There are many features of Stair Tread Nosings that will influence the specific product for your site. Latham Australia has the widest range and variety and while our expert team of engineers are happy to answer any query you have, here is some good background information to get you started. 

Latham Stair Tread Nosings can be selected to match the design criteria for your building, as well as to meet a variety of safety standards – indoors or outdoors, illuminated or not, wide, narrow, and the industry’s most  extensive range of colours and profiles. 

Probably the most important question is whether there is a requirement to comply with Australian Standard AS1428.1.2021 for Design for Access and Mobility. This may reduce some of your choices, but it will also mean that your building work will comply if you specify the right product.

One major element of  compliance is the Luminance Contrast that will be required in the installation. Latham's in-house engineering team can help test a sample of your flooring and offer advice as to which nosing and colour combination will achieve the required contrast, but all architects and engineers know that the Standards are the framework of their design criteria. 

Next, you'll need to consider various questions to help determine your needs: 

• Will they be installed in areas that get wet (normally external)?
• Will they be installed on fire stairs?
• Do you want to specify coloured inserts?
• Will the Stair Tread Nosings be recessed and cast-in to the stairs during the build, or surface mounted once the stairs are fully formed?
• What degree of slip resistance will be needed for the application?
• What sizes of potentially suitable nosings are available?

Another set of factors that you may need to consider when specifying Stair Tread Nosings relate to the practical issues around their installation. Here are some important points, which may vary according to the phase in the life of the building that you are dealing with – from new build, to refurbishment, to long term maintenance: 

• Should the installer glue and screw the Stair Tread Nosings in place? Latham always suggests this approach for our surface mounted range as it ensures a firm and permanent bond to give an added layer of protection so that the treads can never let go suddenly underfoot. 
• What surface preparation will be required? This will depend on the site. 
• Should the builder buy the product cut to length or can I plan for the product to be cut on site? While this is a matter for the final specifier to determine, but given the Latham products robust engineering we always recommend that the treads be factory cut to your required lengths.  
• What degree of protection will the product need, during installation? 
• Is there a curing time to consider for adhesive fixed nosings, or anything else related to waiting for the installation to be useable?

Latham’s many years of experience allow us to give confident answers to all these choices if you need assistance in making the specification. 

Even the simplest questions can become difficult matters if they have not been considered, such as “what is the volume and weight of the packed product?” It is surprising how many people forget that they may need a forklift to unload and move the product around the site, prior to installing it. As full-length Stair Tread Nosings can be over 4m long, they sometimes need specialised delivery services and careful handling. 

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