How did stair nosings become a standard feature on stairways?

The origins of the product known as a stair nosing (a protective safety edge on the nose of steps) is not important enough to be officially recorded. However, a clue to its known history is in one of its key functions namely safety. In particular slip resistance, since it was from the company of Ferodo that specialised in the manufacture of friction materials that stair nosings first appeared during the 1950’s – and we cannot be more precise than that!

Based in Chapel en-le-Frith in Derbyshire, as friction product specialists, Ferodo was the world’s most renowned producer of braking materials for anything that moved; cars, trucks, trains, planes (when on the ground!) industrial equipment etc. Initially all the friction materials produced were made of woven asbestos impregnated with resins; well proven to dissipate the heat generated by braking. Asbestos continued to be the base material for brake linings and pads until Health and Safety caught up with the serious risk posed by this material.

An early product development programme came up with another use for the woven asbestos cloth. Strips cut to step widths and put around the nose of steps considerably reduced the risk of slips on stairs…...and to stop fraying at the edges an aluminium ‘carrier’ soon followed. The stair nosing as we know it was born.

Asbestos has long since been removed from the treads used in stair nosings; pvc or rubber based materials now provide the slip resistant surface needed for products to perform their safety function. Durability is another performance function of these products since their installation also protects floor coverings used on step treads from unnecessary wear. Aluminium is still a favoured carrier material, although PVCu is an alternative that is becoming more and more acceptable.

Despite the shortcomings of the original treads, Ferodo nevertheless introduced a product that has been proven to enhance the safety of stairways around the world, where British trained specifiers become involved in construction projects, for over 50 years. The brand of Ferodo stair nosings is no more – other companies have taken over the baton, and through product design have developed profiles that accommodate all modern step shapes, sizes and floor coverings.

The features that stair nosings offer to the finish of stairways have now become embodied as guidelines in current Building Regulations, British Standards and BR papers.

Calls: 0161 627 4222
Visit: www.quantumflooring.co.uk
email: info@quantumflooring.co.uk

The Q Range of Stair Nosings (Stair Edgings) Continues to Develop

Over the past 12 months Quantum Flooring has added a number of new profiles to its pioneering Q Range, a cutting edge Stair Nosing solution designed to reduce slips and falls on staircases in all types of commercial buildings including offices, schools and hospitals.

 

The Q range offers the ultimate in safety-focused performance, including a number of ground breaking features geared around a unique, patent-pending edge to edge tread which provides a slip resistant surface for the entire width of the Stair Nosing tread.

Quantum Flooring has added two new PVCu profiles and three chevron profiles to the Q Range. There has also been an additional three colours introduced sky, lime and sun. The Q Range offers a great value solution for those looking to fit a unique, compliant and safe Stair Nose. The additional new profiles further enhance the range of options available to contractors looking to meet the new building regulations. More details on the building regulations can be found on Quantum’s website in the Contractor Information section.

Green, safe and clean, the unique features provided offer a complete Stair Nosing solution for architects, specifiers and contractors alike. The Q Range is already helping to create extremely safe and easily maintained staircases for end users which will continue to meet the demanding requirements of everyday foot traffic for many years to come. For more information visit www.q-range.co.uk.

Call: 0161 628 4222
Email: info@quantumflooring.co.uk
Visit: http://www.quantumflooring.co.uk

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