Commercial stairs carry far higher foot traffic than residential ones, and the consequences of a slip or fall are more serious, both for the person involved and for the duty holder responsible for the space. Selecting the right anti-slip tread for a commercial stair is a compliance decision as much as a product decision.
This guide covers the anti-slip tread options available for commercial stairs, how to match the right product to your setting, the compliance obligations that apply under Australian standards, and how to build a selection process that accounts for traffic, surface type, and ongoing maintenance.
What Commercial Stair Treads Are and Why They Matter
Commercial stair treads are anti-slip products designed to provide sustained grip on stair surfaces in high-traffic settings. Unlike residential applications where a light-duty product may suffice, commercial settings demand products that hold up under repeated heavy use, maintain their fixing integrity under vibration and dynamic load, and support compliance with applicable workplace health and safety obligations.
The term “stair tread” in a commercial context covers several distinct product types, each suited to different stair configurations and hazard profiles. Understanding the difference between tread panels, nosings, strips, and plates is the starting point for making a sound selection.
Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and its state and territory equivalents, duty holders in commercial settings are required to eliminate or minimise slip hazards on stairways so far as is reasonably practicable. Selecting and maintaining appropriate anti-slip treads is a primary control measure for meeting that obligation. Reviewing your responsibilities under the WHS framework is a useful starting point, and GripFactory’s guide on WHS obligations and anti-slip responsibilities covers the key duty holder requirements.
Tread Options for Commercial Stairs
GripFactory supplies four mechanically fixed using PU glue and screws anti-slip products suited to commercial stair applications. Each addresses a different hazard profile and stair configuration.
PolyGrip Stair Treads
PolyGrip stair treads are the primary tread solution for high-traffic warehouse and commercial stairways. They cover the full tread width, providing a consistent grip surface across the entire step landing area. This makes them the appropriate choice where the tread body, not just the leading edge, is the primary hazard.
Stair treads are fixed using PU glue and screws and designed for sustained use under the kind of foot traffic, load, and vibration typical of commercial and industrial environments.
PolyGrip Stair Nosings
PolyGrip stair nosings address the leading edge of the step specifically. The L-shaped profile covers both the tread edge and the riser face, and is available in yellow to meet the colour contrast requirements that apply under AS 1428.1 in public buildings and areas requiring accessibility compliance.
Nosings are the required solution for public-access commercial stairs where contrast obligations apply. They are also commonly used alongside tread panels on high-traffic stairways where both the edge and the tread surface need protection.
PolyGrip Strips and Plates
PolyGrip strips are suited to high-wear industrial and commercial zones where targeted tread grip is needed. PolyGrip plates are the preferred solution on platforms, landings, and areas with forklift or loading dock traffic, where a broader, more rigid coverage panel is appropriate.
Both products are mechanically fixed and sit within the broader anti-slip treads range that covers the full spectrum of commercial and industrial stair and platform applications.
Specifying treads for a commercial site? Browse GripFactory’s PolyGrip stair treads.
Comparing Commercial Tread Products
The table below compares the four PolyGrip tread products across the factors most relevant to commercial stair selection.
Product | Coverage Area | Primary Setting | AS 1428.1 Role | Fixing Method |
PolyGrip Stair Treads | Full tread width | High-traffic commercial, warehouse stairs | Tread surface grip | Mechanical |
PolyGrip Stair Nosings | Leading edge and riser face | Public access, external commercial stairs | Contrast and edge protection | PU glue and screws |
PolyGrip Strips | Defined tread zone | Industrial and commercial high-wear zones | Supplementary grip | Mechanical |
PolyGrip Plates | Platform and landing areas | Warehouse, loading dock, forklift traffic areas | Supplementary grip | Mechanical |
All four products can be used in combination on the same stair run where the hazard profile calls for it. Nosings at the leading edge paired with tread panels across the full tread width is the most complete solution for high-traffic commercial stairways.
Matching Treads to Your Commercial Setting
Commercial settings vary significantly in traffic volume, surface type, and compliance obligations. The table below maps the most common commercial stair scenarios to the recommended product approach.
Commercial Setting | Primary Hazard | Recommended Product | Notes |
Office building, public access stair | Leading edge, visibility | PolyGrip stair nosings (yellow) | AS 1428.1 contrast applies |
Retail premises, high foot traffic | Tread surface wear | PolyGrip stair treads | Full tread coverage needed |
Warehouse, stair to mezzanine level | Tread wear, vibration, load | PolyGrip stair treads | High dynamic load setting |
Loading dock stair and landing | Landing and tread grip | PolyGrip plates on landing, treads on stairs | Plates preferred in forklift zones |
Hospitality, customer-facing stair | Leading edge, aesthetics | PolyGrip stair nosings (black or yellow) | Colour selected to suit fit-out |
External commercial stair, weathered concrete | Leading edge, wet conditions | PolyGrip stair nosings | Weather exposure, leading-edge hazard |
Where a stair serves both public access and operational traffic, both nosings and tread panels are appropriate. The nosing satisfies the contrast and leading-edge requirements; the tread panel covers the body of the step.
For stair surface applications where the substrate condition varies, surface preparation before fitting follows the same principles regardless of which tread product is selected.
Selection Checklist
A structured selection process reduces the risk of choosing a product that does not suit the setting or fails to meet applicable compliance obligations. Work through the following steps before specifying a tread product for a commercial stair.
- Identify the primary hazard. Is the leading edge the main risk, the tread surface, or both? This determines whether you need nosing, tread panels, or a combination.
- Confirm whether AS 1428.1 applies. Public buildings and areas requiring accessibility compliance need yellow nosing at the leading edge. If in doubt, confirm with your building certifier or WHS adviser.
- Assess the stair surface type and condition. Concrete, timber, steel, and painted surfaces have different preparation requirements. Confirm the substrate is sound before specifying a fixing method.
- Check traffic volume and load type. High foot traffic, loaded trolleys, and vibration from nearby machinery all affect which product is appropriate and how often fixings should be inspected.
- Consider whether forklift or loading dock traffic is nearby. If so, PolyGrip plates are preferred over strips on landings and platforms adjacent to those areas.
- Confirm colour requirements. Yellow is required where AS 1428.1 applies. Black suits settings where a lower visual profile is preferred and contrast obligations do not apply.
- Determine whether professional installation is needed. Compliance settings and high-traffic commercial environments benefit from a documented installation record.
Selection Factor | What to Confirm | Why It Matters |
Hazard location | Leading edge, tread surface, or both | Determines product type |
AS 1428.1 applicability | Public access or accessibility compliance required | Dictates nosing and colour requirement |
Substrate condition | Sound, clean, dry, and free of contamination | Affects fixing integrity and longevity |
Traffic and load | Volume, foot traffic type, dynamic load | Determines tread panel vs nosing vs strip |
Colour requirement | Yellow or black | Compliance and aesthetic fit |
Installation documentation | Compliance setting or not | Determines whether professional install is needed |
Compliance and Safety Obligations
Two standards are directly relevant to commercial stair tread selection and installation.
AS 1657:2018 covers fixed platforms, walkways, stairways, and ladders. It sets out slip resistance requirements for stair tread surfaces in commercial and industrial settings and defines the role of leading-edge treatment. Compliance with AS 1657:2018 is the baseline obligation for most commercial stair installations.
AS 1428.1 applies to stairs in public buildings and areas requiring accessibility compliance. It specifies nosing dimensions, the minimum colour contrast between the nosing and the tread surface, and the visual band width at the leading edge. Yellow PolyGrip nosings are the standard choice where this standard applies. The stair nosing and AS 1428.1 compliance guide covers the relevant requirements in detail.
For slip resistance classification of tread surfaces, AS 4586:2013 provides the relevant framework. The anti-slip stair treads guide for high-traffic areas covers how tread products perform under the conditions typical of commercial and industrial use.
Compliance is not automatic. Products must be correctly selected for the surface and setting, properly installed on a prepared substrate, and maintained over time. The duty holder’s obligation under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and its state and territory equivalents is ongoing, not satisfied by installation alone. Regular inspection of fixings and tread condition is part of meeting that obligation so far as is reasonably practicable.
Conclusion
Commercial stair tread selection comes down to three questions: where is the hazard, what compliance obligations apply, and what traffic and load conditions does the stair handle. PolyGrip stair treads cover the tread body in high-traffic settings, nosings address the leading edge and meet contrast requirements, strips handle high-wear commercial zones, and plates are the preferred solution on platforms and landings adjacent to forklift traffic.
Getting the selection right from the start avoids the cost and disruption of retrofitting a product that does not meet the setting’s requirements. The non-slip stair treads and traction guide and the nosing profile selection guide provide further detail on matching the right product to specific stair types and conditions.
Specify the Right Tread for Your Commercial Stair
GripFactory supplies the full range of PolyGrip tread products for commercial stair applications, available in black and yellow from the anti-slip shop. All products are mechanically fixed and suited to the traffic volumes, load conditions, and compliance requirements of commercial and industrial settings.
For settings where professional installation, site assessment, or compliance documentation is required, the GripFactory team can advise on the right product combination and manage installation from start to finish. Contact the GripFactory team to discuss your commercial stair requirements.
FAQs
The required tread type depends on the setting and applicable standards. For public buildings and areas requiring accessibility compliance, AS 1428.1 requires a colour-contrasting nosing at the leading edge of each step.
For commercial and industrial stairways more broadly, AS 1657:2018 sets out slip resistance requirements for tread surfaces. PolyGrip stair treads and nosings are suited to meeting these obligations when correctly selected and installed.
AS 1428.1 applies specifically to stairs in public buildings and areas requiring accessibility compliance. Not all commercial stairs fall under this standard, but those in public-facing spaces typically do.
Where AS 1428.1 applies, a yellow colour-contrasting nosing is required at the leading edge of each step. If you are unsure whether your stair is subject to AS 1428.1, confirm with your building certifier or WHS adviser before specifying a product.
Stair treads cover the full tread width and address grip across the body of the step. Stair nosing covers the leading edge and the riser face, provides visual contrast between the tread and riser, and is the required solution where AS 1428.1 applies. In high-traffic commercial settings, both are commonly used together: nosing at the leading edge and tread panels across the remaining tread surface.
Inspection frequency depends on traffic volume, load conditions, and the environment. High-traffic and industrial stairs should be inspected more frequently than low-traffic office stairs. At a minimum, fixings and tread condition should be checked periodically, with any loosening or surface damage addressed promptly.
The duty holder’s obligation under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and its state and territory equivalents requires ongoing management of slip hazards, not just initial installation.
PolyGrip stair treads are suited to a range of commercial stair surfaces including concrete, timber, and steel. The substrate must be clean, dry, sound, and free of contamination before fitting. Painted or coated surfaces require fixings that penetrate into the substrate rather than stopping at the coating layer.
Where a surface is damaged or spalling, it must be repaired before treads are fitted. Refer to GripFactory’s application service for settings where a site assessment is needed before product selection.
The duty holder is responsible, which in most commercial settings means the person or organisation that manages or controls the workplace. Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and its state and territory equivalents, duty holders must eliminate or minimise slip hazards so far as is reasonably practicable.
This includes selecting appropriate tread products, ensuring correct installation, and maintaining tread condition and fixings over time. Coarse tape and supplementary grip products can also form part of a broader stair safety programme where lighter-duty applications are involved.
