Whether it’s a straight, floating, or spiral design, staircases often serve as a statement feature for many interiors.
Combining both form and function, commercial stair nosings can significantly influence the appearance of the stairs, effortlessly complementing your interior design.
In this blog, we’ll explore design-friendly stair nosing options that balance aesthetics, durability, and compliance with Australian standards.
The Role of Stair Nosings in Commercial Building & Design
Stair nosings, also commonly referred to as stair treads, stair trims, and stair edgings, are installed on the ‘nose’ of each step where most people place their feet and weight.
By enhancing grip and visibility, stair nosings help minimise the risk of slips, trips, and falls, providing a visible, sturdy, and anti-slip edge that improves both safety and longevity.
A legal requirement for developments providing public access, commercial stair nosings are designed to:
- Provide visual contrast and tactile cues for people with low vision and disabilities
- Improve safety by reducing the risk of accidents and injuries by providing a non-slip surface
- Extend the lifespan of stairs by protecting stair edges from wear and tear
- Withstand heavy foot traffic, ideal for commercial buildings, educational, healthcare, and other public facilities
- Add a professional finish that complements surrounding materials and interior design features
Selecting the right stair nosing is essential for achieving a seamless, cohesive aesthetic while prioritising accessibility, durability, and compliance.
Achieving Stair Nosing Compliance in Australia
In Australia, there are building codes and standards applicable to the specification and installation of stair nosings, designed to ensure safety, accessibility, and durability across all environments with public access. This includes, but is not limited to, all commercial developments, residential apartment buildings, and rental properties.
To ensure stair nosing compliance, the following Australian Standards apply:
- AS1428.1:2021 – Stair nosing requirements for visibility, luminance contrast, profile dimensions, slip resistance, and durability to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities.
- AS4586:2013 – Outlines slip resistance ratings and testing methods to ensure safe and secure footing, particularly in wet or slippery conditions.
- AS1657:2018 – Details the design, construction, and installation requirements for stairways, including treads and risers, which affect stair nosing selection.
Additionally, the National Construction Code (NCC) and the Building Code of Australia (BCA) require all building materials, including stair nosings, to undergo fire resistance testing.
While the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) does not specify stair nosing requirements, it mandates that public buildings and facilities provide reasonable, safe access for people with disabilities.
For a detailed overview of all relevant Australian Standards and building codes, please download Classic’s Stair Nosing Compliance Guide.
Stair Nosings From a Design Perspective
Beyond safety and accessibility, stair nosings can play a crucial role in achieving your overall architectural and interior design goals.
From a design perspective, consider the following three key factors when selecting stair nosings:
- Choosing the best stair nosing material
- Solid brass stair nosings: A beautifully timeless and elegant option for luxury, heritage, and architecturally refined projects.
- Aluminium stair nosings: Offers a clean, modern appeal, making them a versatile choice for most applications.
- Fibreglass stair nosings: Engineered for heavy-duty durability, perfect for extreme and high-traffic environments.
- Selecting the right profile
- Surface-mount nosings: Suitable for both new builds and retrofit projects.
- Nosings for carpet, vinyl, and rubber: Provide a seamless finish for softer flooring materials, ensuring a smooth transition.
- Rebated nosings for timber and tile: Sit flush with stair surfaces, ideal for achieving a minimalist, contemporary look.
- Complementary finishes and inserts
- Available in matte, polished, textured, and coloured finishes to complement your stair material and preferred insert.
- Stair nosings can be designed to blend seamlessly or stand out as a statement architectural feature.
Explore our complete range of commercial stair nosings and anti-slip tapes to find the ideal solution for your next project.
How to Choose the Right Stair Nosing Profiles & Finishes for Your Next Project
Here are some consideration factors to help you choose:
- Project aesthetics: The style of the space, such as heritage building, commercial office tower, residential apartment, educational facility, or industrial space.
- Location and environment of the stairwell: Indoor vs outdoor, lighting conditions, and whether the area is prone to moisture or slippery conditions.
- Predicted level of pedestrian traffic: High, medium, or low-traffic area.
- Type of pedestrian traffic expected: Adults, children, people with visual impairments or disabilities, etc.
- Stair and flooring material: Ensure the nosing complements surrounding surfaces such as timber, tile, carpet, vinyl, or concrete.
- Finish choices: Decide between bold, high-visibility inserts for public spaces and subtle tones for residential or minimalist interiors.
- Compliance: Confirm the design meets all compliance requirements
Classic’s extensive range of commercial anti-slip stair nosings is designed to suit a wide variety of substrates and environments, with custom solutions available to meet your project’s design and compliance goals.
Please contact us for more information or a tailored consultation.
Alleviating the Common Challenges Designers Face
With so many products and finishes available on the market, it can be challenging to navigate the options, especially if you’re after luxury access safety features for a modern architectural project.
Many architects and specifiers turn to Classic Architectural Group for compliant, design-friendly stair nosing options that don’t compromise aesthetics, or for bespoke designs to meet specific project needs.
To make product selection more straightforward, we created our ‘Visualise It’ 3D and Augmented Reality tool, allowing building professionals to visualise their chosen Classic floor and stair safety products within their physical space. This tool is currently available across our commercial stair nosing, tactile indicator, and entrance matting ranges.
Classic also provides comprehensive, ready-to-use resources—including helpful stair nosing specification guides, compliance guides, BIM files, and installation guides—all in one place, helping designers make confident, informed decisions.
Commercial Projects Proudly Featuring Classic Tredfx Stair Nosing
Educational Facility: Toorak College
Toorak College’s new Community and Arts Precinct at Mt. Eliza features an 800-seat auditorium and creative spaces designed for collaboration and connection.
Classic supplied and installed Tredfx Stair Nosings, Tactile Indicators, and Skate Deterrents to ensure the precinct is safe, compliant, and built to inspire for generations.
Heritage Government Building: Parliament Chambers Refurbishment
During the NSW Government’s restoration of NSW Parliament House, to address 40 years of wear and deterioration, Classic supplied and installed solid brass nosings to enhance safety and accessibility.
The material was carefully chosen to preserve the building’s historic character.
Modern Corporate Office: AGL Adelaide
For a high-gloss blue staircase that serves as both a sculptural statement and a functional centrepiece of the workspace, Classic provided aluminium stair nosings and stainless steel tactile indicators, perfectly aligning with the office’s contemporary aesthetic.
Performing Arts Venue: Whitehorse Performing Arts Centre
As part of a $78m redevelopment, the Whitehorse Performing Arts Centre now offers contemporary facilities, improved accessibility, and sustainable design features.
Classic supplied and installed solid brass stair nosings and tactile indicators to complement the interior and exterior finishes while ensuring accessibility and compliance.
Stepping Up to the Challenge: Design First, Safety Always
At Classic Architectural Group, we don’t just supply design-friendly stair nosings—our experienced team works with you to curate, customise, and install the most suitable products for your project, ensuring both visual appeal and safety.
To make specification even simpler, we also provide helpful resources, including stair nosing specification guides, BIM files, product data sheets, and fire and slip reports, to help you design spaces that are stylish, inclusive, and compliant. You can find all the specifications and downloads directly on each product page.
We’re always ready to step up to the challenge. Contact Classic Architectural Group today on 1300 244 377 or complete our online enquiry form for tailored advice on your next project.
