When a certifier rejects a stair nosing spec, it is rarely the wrong product. It is almost always a failure on strip width, luminance contrast, or riser extension. These are exact, measurable requirements. There is no wiggle room. Get them wrong on an accessible path of travel and you face both a failed certification and exposure under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.
Most builders assume compliance is a product decision. It is not. It is a specification decision made before the product is ever ordered, and the details that trip up even experienced site managers are buried in clauses most people only read after something has already been rejected.
This guide covers what AS 1428.1 requires for stair nosings, when it applies, and how to specify compliantly first time.
What AS 1428.1 Is and When It Applies
AS 1428.1 is the Australian Standard for Design for Access and Mobility. The current version is AS 1428.1:2021. It became the NCC-referenced standard nationally on 29 July 2025 via NCC 2022 Amendment 2.
It applies to:
- All new building work that requires a building approval application
- New parts of existing buildings being extended or refurbished under a building approval
- All building classes that must provide an accessible path of travel under the NCC and the Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standards 2010
It does not apply to:
- Single residential dwellings
- Existing buildings where no building approval is being triggered
- Retrospective works not covered by a building approval application
For any commercial, institutional, public, or multi-residential building where stairs form part of an accessible path of travel, AS 1428.1 applies. Compliance is a legal requirement, not a recommendation.
The Stairway Requirements Under AS 1428.1
Stairway requirements sit in Section 8.1 of AS 1428.1:2021. The stair nosing is the most precisely specified element. There are four requirement areas: contrast strip dimensions, riser extension, luminance contrast, and slip resistance.
Contrast Strip Dimensions
|
Requirement |
Specification |
|
Strip width on tread |
Not less than 50mm and not more than 75mm |
|
Strip position from front edge |
Set back no more than 15mm from the nosing front edge |
|
Strip continuity |
Single continuous strip across the full path of travel width |
|
Multiple strips |
Not permitted. One solid contrasting band only. |
|
Riser extension |
Maximum 10mm of contrast visible on the riser face |
A few things builders regularly get wrong:
- A strip narrower than 50mm is non-compliant
- A strip wider than 75mm is non-compliant
- Alternating bands or banded colour inserts are non-compliant
- A strip set back more than 15mm from the front edge is non-compliant
Where the riser turndown exceeds 10mm, the contrast strip must achieve 30% luminance contrast against both the riser face and the tread background. Many aluminium nosings with deep front faces fail on this point. Check the riser extension dimension before you order.
Need AS1428-compliant stair nosing for your build? Browse GripFactory’s PolyGrip stair nosing range.
Slip Resistance
The nosing surface must be slip resistant and tested to AS 4586. The NCC assigns minimum P-ratings based on surface conditions, not location. An internal stair that gets wet at the entry needs the wet-condition rating. An external stair under a roof that stays dry may only need the dry-condition rating. Always confirm the applicable surface condition with your certifier.
|
Surface Condition |
Nosing Minimum P-Rating (AS 4586) |
|
Dry conditions (tread or nosing strip) |
P3 |
|
Wet conditions (tread or nosing strip) |
P4 |
|
Ramp steeper than 1:14, wet conditions |
P5 |
The stairs safety hub covers slip resistance in full detail. For the legal side of non-compliant stair surfaces, read the guide on understanding legal risks.
Luminance Contrast: The Most Misunderstood Requirement
Luminance contrast is not about colour. It is about light reflectance. A yellow nosing on a cream substrate can fail. A black nosing on dark grey concrete can fail. Colour alone tells you nothing.
The requirement under AS 1428.1 is a minimum of 30% luminance contrast, measured using the Bowman-Sapolinski equation. This compares the Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of the nosing against the LRV of the tread surface. The result is a calculated ratio. You cannot estimate it by eye.
To specify correctly:
- Get the LRV data sheet for your chosen nosing from the manufacturer
- Get the LRV of the actual installed tread surface. Do not use a catalogue estimate.
- Run the Bowman-Sapolinski calculation or use a supplier luminance contrast calculator
- Confirm the result hits 30% minimum before you order
Both light nosing on dark tread and dark nosing on light tread can pass. The direction does not matter. The calculated number does.
For product data sheets and LRV test reports, see the GripFactory stair nosings range and stair treads range.
Where Tape-Applied Nosings Fit
Tape is a fully compliant option where the substrate is sound. It is not an easier path. The same AS 1428.1 rules apply.
For tape to be compliant as a stair nosing, it must meet all of the following:
- Strip width between 50mm and 75mm
- Set back no more than 15mm from the front edge of the step
- Single continuous band, not multiple strips
- Minimum 30% luminance contrast verified by LRV calculation against the installed tread
- AS 4586 P-rating matching the surface condition requirement
The standard anti-slip tape range suits indoor commercial stair applications. The coarse grade tape is the right choice for outdoor and industrial environments. Document the specification for your certifier in the same way you would for an extruded nosing.
The Legal Consequence of Non-Compliance
A nosing that fails AS 1428.1 on an accessible path of travel is not just a certification problem. It is a potential breach of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 via the Premises Standards 2010. Under the DDA, it is unlawful to contravene the Premises Standards. That applies to:
- Architects and specifiers
- Nosing suppliers
- Building certifiers
- Installers and builders
The Victorian Supreme Court judgment Toomey v Scolaro’s Concrete Constructions [2001] VSC 279 is the most-cited case in Australian building compliance literature. The court found the architect, builder, building surveyor, and inspector all liable in negligence. The non-compliance was a balustrade height issue.
Every party who failed to detect or correct it was held accountable. The compliance industry applies this directly to stair nosings: if a dimensional non-compliance contributes to an injury, the entire design and construction chain is exposed.
Knowing your responsibilities under Australian access law is not optional for anyone in that chain. Investing in compliant anti-slip treatments from the start will always cost less than responding to a claim.
For more on how proper specification protects your facility and bottom line, the case is straightforward.
Specifying for Certification
Follow these steps in order before finalising your stair nosing specification:
- Confirm whether the stairway sits on an accessible path of travel triggering AS 1428.1.
- Obtain the LRV data for your selected nosing from the manufacturer’s test report.
- Measure the LRV of the installed tread. Concrete, timber, tile, and coatings all return different values.
- Calculate luminance contrast using the Bowman-Sapolinski equation or a supplier calculator.
- Verify strip width is 50-75mm, single continuous band, set back no more than 15mm from the front edge.
- Check riser extension: no more than 10mm of contrast visible on the riser face.
- Confirm the AS 4586 P-rating from the product test report matches the surface condition.
- Document the LRV test report, luminance contrast calculation, and AS 4586 data for your certifier.
Keep this documentation on file for every stair nosing on an accessible path of travel:
Document | What It Proves | Who Provides It |
LRV test report for nosing | Nosing Light Reflectance Value | Nosing manufacturer |
LRV of installed tread surface | Tread Light Reflectance Value | On-site measurement or supplier |
Luminance contrast calculation | 30% minimum contrast is met | Specifier or supplier calculator |
AS 4586 slip resistance report | P-rating meets surface condition | Nosing manufacturer |
For LRV data sheets, AS 4586 test reports, and specification support, contact the GripFactory team. For more on compliant stair nosings and safety outcomes, read the stair safety blog.
AS 1428.1 Stair Nosing FAQs for Building Projects
It applies to new building work and new parts of existing buildings where a building approval application is required, for building classes that must provide an accessible path of travel under the NCC. It does not apply to single residential dwellings. It does not apply retrospectively to existing buildings where no approval is being triggered. If you are unsure whether your stairway sits on an accessible path of travel, ask your building certifier at the design stage. Do not leave it until after construction starts.
The contrast strip must be a single, continuous band between 50mm and 75mm wide across the full width of the path of travel. It must be set back no more than 15mm from the front edge of the nosing. Multiple thin strips and banded colour inserts do not meet the single-strip requirement. Certifiers applying a strict reading of the standard will reject them.
It is calculated using the Bowman-Sapolinski equation. This compares the Light Reflectance Values of the nosing and the tread surface. The result is a ratio, not a simple difference between LRV values. You cannot estimate it visually. Both LRV values must come from manufacturer test reports or on-site measurement. The minimum result required is 30%.
Yes, if it meets all the same requirements as an extruded nosing. The tape must be 50-75mm wide, applied as a single continuous strip, set back no more than 15mm from the front edge, and verified at 30% minimum luminance contrast by LRV calculation. It must also meet the AS 4586 P-rating for the surface condition. The specification must be documented for the certifier in the same way as any other nosing product.
It is a potential breach of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 via the Premises Standards 2010. Liability applies to specifiers, suppliers, certifiers, and installers. The Toomey v Scolaro’s Concrete Constructions [2001] VSC 279 judgment established that every party in the design and construction chain can be found liable in negligence for a dimensional non-compliance that contributes to an injury. Legal exposure begins at non-compliance, not at the point of incident.
AS 1428.1 is prescriptive. It sets exact dimensions for strip width, riser extension, and luminance contrast for accessible paths of travel in public and commercial buildings. AS 1657 applies to industrial fixed platforms, walkways, and stairways.
It requires slip-resistant treads and clearly visible nosings but gives more flexibility on geometry, with no strict dimensional rules for the contrast strip. Both reference AS 4586 for slip resistance. Where a stairway falls under both standards, AS 1428.1 dimensional requirements take precedence on accessible paths of travel.
