Guide
Stair Tread Grating Types and How to Specify Them
By DONGFU GRATING Engineering Team · Published 2026-06-24 · Updated 2026-07-17
A grating stair tread is a grating panel prepared for stairs: an anti-slip nosing along the front edge for grip and step definition, plus carrier end plates or angles for fixing to stringers. Industry catalogs group the common combinations into four types: T1 welded fixing without nosing, T2 bolted fixing without nosing, T3 welded fixing with checkered-plate nosing, and T4 bolted fixing with checkered-plate nosing — welded types for permanent stairs, bolted types where treads must be removable. Nosing choice follows the environment: checkered plate is the economical standard, while abrasive or serrated nosing adds grip outdoors and in oily plants. The grating itself is plain or serrated, with bar size matched to tread length and load. To order, provide tread width (walking depth), tread length between stringers, end-plate hole centers matched to the stringer holes, surface, finish and quantity per flight — or simply send the stair drawing, which removes ambiguity and speeds up quotation.
Anatomy of a grating stair tread
Every tread combines four elements: the grating panel itself, a nosing welded along the front edge, end plates (carrier plates) or carrier angles at both sides, and the fixing — welds or bolts through pre-punched holes. Each element has options, and the type codes below describe the most common combinations.
- Grating panel: welded bar grating, plain or serrated surface
- Nosing: checkered plate, abrasive or serrated bar nosing on the leading edge
- End plates / carrier angles: connect the tread to the stringer
- Fixing: welded (permanent) or bolted (removable), round or slotted holes
The four common types
Type codes T1–T4 are common industry shorthand; conventions can vary by supplier, so drawings always take precedence over type numbers.
| Type | Fixing | Nosing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | Welded to stringers | None | Permanent industrial stairs, lowest cost |
| T2 | Bolted end plates | None | Removable treads where nosing is not required |
| T3 | Welded to stringers | Checkered plate nosing | Permanent stairs with a defined, anti-slip step edge |
| T4 | Bolted end plates | Checkered plate nosing | Removable treads with nosing — the most common project choice |
Nosing options in detail
- Checkered plate nosing: the economical standard — a visible step edge with good grip
- Abrasive nosing: maximum grip for outdoor, marine and oily environments
- Serrated bar nosing: teeth across the leading edge, often paired with serrated grating
- No nosing (T1 / T2): acceptable where project rules do not require a step-edge feature — confirm against your safety specification
Dimensions to provide
Treads fail on dimensions, not on steel. These fields make treads fit first time:
| Field | How to measure or state it |
|---|---|
| Tread width (walking depth) | Front of nosing to back edge — 215 to 305 mm is common |
| Tread length | Clear distance between stringers — this is the grating span direction |
| End-plate hole centers | Hole spacing and edge distances, or the stringer drawing |
| Hole type | Round or slotted — slotted absorbs site tolerance |
| Grating specification | Bar size and spacing, or the load requirement for us to match |
| Surface and finish | Plain or serrated; hot-dip galvanized, painted, or stainless grade |
| Quantity | Pieces per flight and number of flights |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Measuring tread length over the stringers instead of the clear distance between them
- Forgetting hole centers, so bolted treads arrive not matching the stringer holes
- Choosing plain-surface treads without nosing for outdoor stairs
- Assuming type codes are universal — T1–T4 conventions vary by supplier; confirm with drawings
- Ordering treads without stating the grating surface and finish