Stairs nosing
Approved Document K - Protection from falling, collision and impact defines the ‘nosing’ of stairs as ‘the leading edge of a stair tread’.
The pitch of stairs is the angle of inclination between the horizontal and a line connecting the nosings.
[Image: The elements of stairs]
For buildings other than dwellings, step nosings should be made visually apparent by using a contrasting material on both the tread and the riser a minimum of 55 mm wide. If possible, step nosings that protrude over the tread below should be avoided. If the nosing does protrude, it should be by no more than 25 mm
[Image: Examples of suitable tread profiles]
For common access areas in buildings that contain flats step nosings should be visually apparent, using a material that contrasts visually, 50 - 65 mm wide on the tread and 30 - 55 mm on the riser. A suitable tread nosing profile, should be used.
Approved document M, Volume 1: Dwellings (2015 edition incorporating 2016 amendments), defines a ‘suitable tread nosing’as; ‘Nosings that conform with one of the options shown in diagram 1.2 of approved document K’
On an alternating tread stairs alternating steps should be uniform with parallel nosings.
A pitch line is a line that connects the nosing of the treads of a stair.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
The new towns and strategic environmental assessments
12 locations of the New Towns Taskforce reduced to 7 within the new towns draft programme and open consultation.
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.