Stair Nosing & Accessibility Compliance – DDA, BS 8300 & Equality Act Explained
1st Jul 2025
Stair Nosing Accessibility & DDA Compliance: UK Regulations Explained
Accessible stair design is a legal requirement in many UK buildings. Stair nosings play a critical role in helping visually impaired and mobility-impaired users navigate staircases safely. This guide explains how stair nosings support accessibility, outlines the relevant UK regulations, and highlights best-practice requirements for compliant stair design.
This guidance should be read alongside our main UK stair nosing regulations guide, which provides a complete overview of legal obligations.
Why Stair Nosing Accessibility Matters
Poor stair visibility is a major cause of slips, trips, and falls, particularly for people with visual impairments. Accessible stair nosings help to:
- Clearly define the edge of each step
- Improve safety for visually impaired users
- Support inclusive building design
- Reduce the risk of accidents and legal claims
In public, commercial, and shared residential buildings, failure to address stair accessibility may constitute a breach of statutory duties.
UK Accessibility Regulations Affecting Stair Nosings
Equality Act 2010
- Requires reasonable adjustments to avoid disadvantaging disabled users
- Applies to service providers, employers, and public authorities
- Inadequate stair visibility or missing nosings may be considered discriminatory
Providing visually contrasted, slip-resistant stair nosings is a common and proportionate adjustment in buildings open to the public.
Approved Document M – Access to and Use of Buildings
- Applies to new buildings and material alterations
- Requires step edges to be clearly visible
- Recommends a 30–55mm wide contrasting strip on stair nosings
This visual contrast helps users distinguish individual steps and safely judge changes in level.
BS 8300-2:2018 – Inclusive Design
- Provides best-practice guidance for accessible environments
- Recommends:
- Consistent stair dimensions
- Slip-resistant nosing surfaces
- Strong visual contrast at step edges
- Avoidance of open risers
BS 8300 is widely used by architects, access consultants, and building control officers when assessing accessibility compliance.
Light Reflectance Value (LRV) & Visual Contrast
Light Reflectance Value (LRV) measures how much visible light a surface reflects. Adequate LRV contrast is essential for accessible stair design.
- Stair nosings should contrast with the stair tread by at least 30 LRV points
- This contrast allows visually impaired users to clearly identify step edges
Best practice: Use light-coloured nosings on dark stairs, or dark nosings on light stairs, to achieve sufficient contrast.
For a detailed explanation, see our guide to stair nosing LRV requirements.
Slip Resistance & Stair Safety
In addition to visual contrast, stair nosings should provide effective slip resistance, particularly in:
- Wet or external staircases
- Entrance areas
- Public buildings with high footfall
Slip-resistant inserts and profiles help reduce accident risk and support compliance with inclusive design standards.
Installation & Consistency Requirements
Even compliant products can fail accessibility requirements if installed incorrectly. Key installation principles include:
- Consistent nosing size and positioning across all steps
- Secure fixing to prevent movement or wear
- Alignment with the step edge to avoid trip hazards
Our guide on how to install stair nosings correctly explains best practice in line with BS 8300.
Accessibility Compliance Checklist
- Are stair nosings clearly visible against the tread?
- Do nosings provide at least 30 LRV contrast?
- Are all nosings consistent in size and placement?
- Do nosings provide slip resistance?
- Have reasonable adjustments been made for disabled users?
This guidance is based on the Equality Act 2010, Approved Document M, and BS 8300-2:2018. Always seek project-specific advice from an access consultant or building control professional.
Accessibility-Compliant Stair Nosing Solutions
If you are specifying products designed to support accessibility compliance, view our range of DDA compliant stair nosings suitable for public and commercial environments.