Stair nosings and concrete

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Author Message Robin E. Snyder Senior Member Username: robin Post Number: 791 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 - 09:26 pm:    I had an interesting question arise today about aluminum stair nosings and concrete stairs. The structural engineer has some concerns about the aluminum being embedded in concrete. Obviously, these nosings are used frequently, and are manufactured for this purpose. Any concerns? Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: nwoods Post Number: 779 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 - 09:42 pm:    Well, the sulfates in concrete can “attack” the aluminum, but it’s typically just a minor etching. Aluminum is still preferred over steel because it won’t swell as rust and cause spalling. That’s all a total guess, but it’s sounds good :-) Brian Payne Senior Member Username: brian_payne Post Number: 194 Registered: 01-2014 Posted on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 - 09:50 pm:    Nope. We do it all the time, especially for photoilluminescent strips for high rises. Jerome J. Lazar, CCS, CDT, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 2062 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 - 09:50 pm:    separate aluminum from concrete by coating with bituminous or epoxy paint will prolong aluminum integrity. I never allows aluminum, even if painted to touch concrete, aluminum will corrode. Jerome J. Lazar, CCS, CDT, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 2063 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 - 09:58 pm:    Perhaps off subject, Brian who on your team specifies photoilluminescent strips? Which spec section? Marc Chavez Senior Member Username: mchavez Post Number: 526 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 - 10:12 pm:    for internal back of house stairs....no issues because ...no moisture. no moisture=no pH therefore no etching. For exterior stairs separation is good. better yet no metal nosings. all of the metals expand and contract more than the concrete, all will corrode (you could use gold but ...) and gold will expand too. If you must use metal on exterior. I agree cast aluminum, a coat of epoxy, set it and forget it. Ed Storer Senior Member Username: ed_storer Post Number: 36 Registered: 05-2009 Posted on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 - 10:55 pm:    Exterior stairs: Cast iron abrasive nosings have stood the test of time. To some, they may not look "right", but I think they're great. I could show you a stair that's 60 years old and the cast iron nosings are brown, but no more intrusive than a manhole cover. Interior stairs: Aluminum is the choice with a protective coating on the underside. Jeffrey Wilson CSI CCS SCIP Senior Member Username: wilsonconsulting Post Number: 305 Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 - 11:01 am:    I agree: Avoid metal nosings, but if necessary use cast iron on exterior and separated extruded aluminum at interior. To answer Jerome's question, I specify luminous strips & other egress accessories for stairways in high-rise buildings using MasterSpec's Section 104513 "Photoluminescent Egress Path Markings." You can get the Product MasterSpec version on Balco's website: https://www.balcousa.com/technical-documents/ Jeffrey Wilson CCS CSI SCIP Wilson Consulting Inc Ardmore PA Dave Metzger Senior Member Username: davemetzger Post Number: 755 Registered: 07-2001 Posted on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 - 11:38 am:    The New York City subway system mostly has used cast iron nosings on stairs, both exterior and interior, for many decades. I've also seen what appears to be cast nickel silver nosings on some stairs. I expect that cast aluminum would not hold up to the volume of traffic on their stairs.