Installing the right stair treads protect workers and pedestrians from injury due to a trip, slip or fall. We’ve developed a simple guide on the different types of stair treads and how to choose the right style to meet your project’s specific needs.
Types of Industrial Stair Treads
Stair treads are the most economical way to create safe stairway spaces in industrial and commercial applications.
There are four main types of metal stair treads, with each having its unique highlights, making it easier for you to choose one according to your needs.
Mild Steel Stair Treads
Mild steel treads are strong and highly durable with excellent resistance to rusting and corrosion when hot-tip galvanised. They can endure adverse weather, such as hot or freezing temperatures, wet, humid, or dry conditions and strong winds.
Aluminium Stair Treads
Aluminium treads are lightweight and highly durable as they offer superior corrosion and rust resistance properties. They are also non-magnetic and non-sparking. They make ideal outdoor tread solutions for industrial applications.
Fibreglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) Stair Treads
Fibreglass reinforced plastic treads are strong and slip-resistant treads made by interweaving fibre with resin. FRPs stair treads are ideal for industrial settings that need specific chemical resistance. They are also non-magnetic, never conduct electricity and have good flame resistance, meaning they likely do not create a spark when heavy objects are dropped on them.
Do You Need Nosings?
Once you have chosen the type of stair tread you need for your space, the next thing to consider is whether you need a nosing or not. Nosings are crucial stairway components that help reinforce step edges and improve slip protection to prevent injuries. They are usually given a different colour or design pattern as a measure to provide greater visibility. Hence, they are highly recommended for industrial settings. There are three stair tread finishes to choose from:
- Abrasive nosing – available on FRP, steel and aluminium
- Floor plate – available on steel and aluminium
- No nosing
Abrasive nosing: Abrasive nosings are excellent choices for industrial applications. They provide increased visibility and are slip-resistant. Hence, they can be used both indoors and outdoors, no matter the weather condition, whether it’s rain or ice. At Weldlok, we provide stair treads with a yellow abrasive nosing.
Floor plate: Floor plates, also called diamond floor plates, offer excellent traction, and finish the stairs neatly. They Floor plate nosing is best suited for indoor settings, away from wet areas to avoid getting slippery which have high visibility at all times.
At Weldlok, we provide stair treads with or without nosings as per your specifications.
Need High-Quality Industrial and Commercial Stair Treads?
At Weldlok, we typically manufacture mild steel treads from forgebar grating with a thickness between 25mm to 40mm, as standard, in various recommended depths and standard lengths in compliance with AS1657:2018. We can also custom manufacture stainless steel treads, FRP treads, and aluminium stair treads to your specifications in conformance with Australian standards.
If you need help choosing the right stair treads for your needs, we can help you. Our professionals will discuss with you and come up with the best solution that does not compromise Australian standards and building codes. Contact Weldlok for any queries on stair treads or to request a quote.