Stair Nosings & Luminance Contrast

Quick answer: Line Marking Australia applies contrasting stair nosing strips and edge markings to stairs and ramps. Under AS 1428.1:2021, each nosing strip must be 50 to 75 mm deep and give at least 30% luminance contrast with the surrounding surface, so people can see every step edge, even in poor light or with low vision.

Stair falls are one of the most common causes of serious injury in buildings. Many falls happen because people misjudge step edges, particularly in poor lighting or when vision is impaired.

AS 1428.1 requires luminance contrast strips on stair nosings to make edges clearly visible. The contrast must be at least 30% difference from the surrounding surface.

A factory in Dandenong had three lost-time injuries from stair falls in one year. Their concrete stairs were all one colour with no edge marking. Workers couldn't distinguish step edges in the morning shadows.

We applied high-contrast yellow nosing strips to all stairs. No stair injuries in the two years since. The cost of marking was less than one workers' compensation claim.

We made an error on a Ringwood office building in 2019. We used a nosing strip with insufficient contrast, about 20% instead of the required 30%. It looked fine to us but failed the luminance contrast test during building inspection. We replaced all nosings at our cost, around $2,200.

For stairs that are also slippery, see our anti-slip stair nosings and slip resistance ratings pages. For walkways at ground level, see tactile ground surface indicators.