Slips are likely when steps get wet from rain or snow. Non-slip treads are used to reduce the risk and comply with safety standards. This guide walks you through the basics as a starting point.
A Look at Non-Slip Step Treads
Non-slip step treads are pre-formed strips made to improve grip on stairs, steps, and walkways. You’ll see them in places where the footing needs to be safer to walk on. This includes construction sites, scaffold stairs, fire escapes, and public access areas.
GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) is the most common used material. Also known as fibreglass, it has traction properties as well as resistance to corrosion, abrasive materials, and weather. Aluminium treads are another type, often with a gritty finish, while rubber-backed designs are used for indoor areas and temporary setups.
This anti-slip step tread is made from GRP and designed for outdoor and indoor use on timber, concrete, or metal surfaces. It covers the entire step area, overlapping the edge onto the riser. You can either bond or screw the tread. Each also has a contrasting coloured edge for visibility and DDA compliance.
Who Needs Them (and Why)
Stairs don’t stay safe on their own. On building sites, scaffold towers and temporary steps can become slippery with mud, dust, or rain. Add steel or timber surfaces into the mix, and it’s easy to lose footing.
In refurbishment jobs, steps might be stripped down, uneven, or part of a half-finished structure. In offices and public buildings, they’re often used at emergency exits, external fire stairs, or any route exposed to the weather. Even at home, they’re practical for old concrete steps, decking, or surfaces that get slick when it rains.
Anti-slip step treads aren’t just about grip, either. Over time, the edge of a step can fade or wear away, especially if it has been painted layer after layer. When that happens, it’s easier to slip. Treads with bright edges show where the step ends in dim light or bad weather.
Tip: Self-adhesive is fine indoors, but they tend to wear out faster under heavy foot traffic. It’s better to go for treads that can be bolted or screwed down for busy or outdoor areas.
Safety Compliance and Construction Use
Falls on stairs and access routes remain a frequent cause of injury. Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, employers and site managers have a duty to maintain worksite safety “so far as is reasonably practicable.”
Guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) also points to the use of non-slip surfaces or coverings on temporary stairs, scaffold towers, and raised access points. Anti-slip treads, especially GRP types, are a recognised way to meet these expectations.
Treads with high- visibility nosings, including some with alternating black and yellow sections, can also support the DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) and the Equality Act. This covers access for people with visual impairments.
If you’re managing a site, doing a refurb, or maintaining stair access in offices or public spaces, anti-slip step treads can make a big difference.
We supply anti-slip treads, along with other slip protection products. If you have any questions or would like a quote, contact us at customercare@s-pgroup.com or call +44 (028) 9442 8611. SP Group is a scaffolding supplier based in the UK and Ireland.