Application -- Stairs
Cork flooring on stairs -- a specifier guide.
Cork plank, fully adhered to stair treads. R9 (DIN 51130) standard slip rating; PTV 36+ pendulum on request with additional finish. IIC 71 acoustic. Bfl-s1 fire. Specified at Taylor Maxwell HQ.
PTV 36+ on cork stairs
Standard cork plank ships R9 (DIN 51130). For stair installations, PTV 36+, the HSE-defined low slip-potential threshold (BS 7976 pendulum), is available via an additional coating procedure applied on site at install. This must be specified at order, the coating cannot be applied retrofit on site.
Featured project
Taylor Maxwell HQ -- cork on the workplace stair.
The building-products distributor used by architects across UK construction specified Classic Cork on the staircase of their HQ. The brief: a workplace floor that signalled the company's sustainability story to every visitor coming through the front door, while delivering R9 slip and IIC 71 acoustic absorption.
Cork on stairs delivered all three in a single material -- with BREEAM Mat 03 Exemplary, Class B fire and a 10-year commercial warranty.
See the project
Project anchors
Cork on stairs -- the supporting story.
"A staircase is the most-watched floor surface in any building. Cork on stairs reads as both quietly confident and a clear sustainability statement, walked daily."
Specification
The cork stair detail.
Tread carcass
Cork plank fully adhered (glue-down) to each tread substrate. Levelling compound applied first if tread surface variance exceeds 3mm over 2m.
R9 standard
R9 (DIN 51130) shod ramp test as standard. PTV 36+ pendulum (BS 7976, HSE low-slip-risk threshold) available with additional surface finish, on request -- specified per project.
Matched or contrast
Matching cork (cork edge bonded over substrate, sanded to a soft radius), hardwood contrast (oak/walnut nosing), or aluminium / brass insert with optional grip strip. See the full stair nosing collection.
Class B Bfl-s1
Class B fire rating standard per EN 13501-1 across the cork range. No additional fire treatment required for typical commercial stairs.
-101
kg CO&sub2;e/m² net
Carbon negative once balanced with carbon sequestration. The cork tree absorbs more CO&sub2; across its 9-year regenerative growth cycle than is emitted in cradle-to-gate manufacture.
Class B
fire rating standard
Bfl-s1 per EN 13501-1 across the range. Specified into commercial floors without additional fire treatment.
Zero
PVC in construction
No PVC. Cork plank + cork core + cork backing + UV-cured polyurethane. Specified into WELL, healthcare and SKA fit-outs that exclude vinyl.
Order specifier samples
Cork stair specification. Samples + nosing detail.
Order 100mm cork samples + a nosing-detail drawing for your stair project. London, Manchester, Edinburgh -- 30-min product presentation at your studio.
Order samples Book product presentationTechnical Data Sheets
Cork flooring on stairs, specifier FAQ
Can cork flooring be used on stairs?
Yes. Cork can be specified on treads and risers with an appropriate slip-rated finish. Classic Cork achieves PTV 36+ (R9) for slip and Bfl-s1 for fire, and its warmth and grip underfoot suit stairs in homes, workplaces and hospitality interiors.
Is cork slip-resistant enough for stairs?
Cork has a naturally textured surface that gives dependable underfoot grip. Specified with the correct finish it meets PTV 36+ (low slip potential) under BS 7976 pendulum testing, the figure specifiers evidence for stair safety and Approved Document K.
Is cork comfortable and quiet on stairs?
Yes. Cork is warmer and softer underfoot than timber or stone, and its resilient cellular structure dampens footfall noise on stairs, a genuine benefit in flats, offices and multi-storey homes where stair acoustics carry.