Stair Tile Nosing Compliance

When do you need to consider compliance?

The Australian Standard Design for Access and Mobility Part 1: General requirements for access - new building work AS1428.1 will apply under the following circumstances:

• When there are two (2) or more continuous steps; and
• when constructing commercial or high density residential spaces accessible by the public

The Australian Standards set minimum design requirements to provide access for most people with disabilities and addresses a wide range of building design elements. AS1428.1 focuses on stairways and stair nosings while targeting and promoting luminescence contrast in conjunction with the avoidance of overhang at the front of the stair treads. 

What are the compliance requirements?

AS 1428.1:2009 Design for access and mobility Part 1: General requirements for access—New building work
11.1 Stair Construction

• Stair nosings shall not project beyond the face of the riser and the riser may be vertical or have a splay backwards up to a maximum 25 mm, as shown in Figures 27(A) and 27(B).
• Stair nosing profiles shall--
  • have a sharp intersection;
  • be rounded up to 5 mm radius; or
  • be chamfered up to 5 mm × 5 mm.
• At the nosing, each tread shall have a strip not less than 50 mm and not more than 75 mm deep across the full width of the path of travel. The strip may be set back a maximum of 15 mm from the front of the nosing. The strip shall have a minimum luminance contrast of 30% to the background. Where the luminous contrasting strip is affixed to the surface of the tread, any change in level shall comply with Clause 7.2 and Clause 7.3.
• Where the luminance contrasting strip is not set back from the front of the nosing then any area of luminance contrast shall not extend down the riser more than 10 mm.

What do the compliance requirements mean?

AS 1428.1 basically described the requirements for the size and colour of strips on the edge of stairways to improve visibility.

The requirements  provide that a stairway must include a:

• Strip of contrasting colour
• Inlaid strip of contrasting colour
• At the nosing, each tread shall have a strip not less than 50 mm and not more than 75 mm deep across the full width of the path of travel.

This means that only one colour can be used as a contrasting colour to the rest of the stairway. This colour must also be one continuous strip along the entire stairway.

Contrasting strips are required between 50mm and 75mm in depth, extending across the full width of each stair nosing with a minimum luminance contrast of 30% to the background in accordance with AS1428.1, Clauses 11.1(f) & 11.1(g).

What slip rating is required for stairs?

The Building Code of Australia requires stairways to have an anti slip rating of Class P4 slip resistance for the general access stair or fire isolated stair nosing strip or stair tread where there is potential for the stairway to be wet. In areas that are not exposed to wet weather and unlikely to be wet then only a P3 anti slip resistance is required. 

Emerald Lakes Stairway Case Study

Below are images of completed stairways at the Emerald Lakes Golf Club Club House completed in 2018. The stairways use contrasting colour aluminium stair nosing from DTA to meet compliance obligations and improve safety for the visually impaired.

To further improve safety and the reduce the risk of slips and falls, the Nerang Tiles team specified 20mm thick fully vitrified porcelain pavers with an anti slip rating of R11.

The above information and case study was accurate and correct as of December 2018. Any updated or changes to compliance requirements have not been considered. You must seek professional advice for your individual application.