nora® Stairtread System
Installation Guide
nora® Stairtread System Installation Guide
Site Conditions
The following shall be achieved prior to installing nora® flooring.
1. Service temperature and relative humidity or 68° F ± 5° F and 50% RH ± 10% for 48 hours before, during
and 72 hours after the installation. Flooring, adhesives, and accessories must also be acclimated for a
minimum 48 hours in advance of the installation. Note: Do not use gas fueled blowers.
2. Areas of the flooring subjected to direct sunlight (example: through doors or windows) must be covered
using blinds, curtains, cardboard or similar throughout the installation and for a period of 72 hours after the
installation to allow the adhesive to cure.
Moisture Testing
1. nora systems, Inc. recommends the following test methods for all concrete subfloors regardless of age:
ASTM F2170 Standard Test Method for Determining Relative Humidity in Concrete Floor Slabs Using in situ
Probes when tested using Wagner Rapid RH meters, or ASTM F2420 Standard Test Method for Determining
Relative Humidity on the Surface of Concrete Floor Slabs Using Relative Humidity Probe Measurement and
Insulated Hood.
Please visit www.astm.org for copies of the standards.
2. The maximum allowable results shall be as follows:
ASTM F2170 = 80 % RH (with Wagner Rapid RH), when using 410, 414, PU 310 and PU 316.
ASTM F2170 = 75 % RH (with Wagner Rapid RH), when using PS adhesive and nora® dryfix.
ASTM F2420 = 70 % RH
3. For all on or below grade concrete subfloors, a permanent effective vapor retarder with a low permeance
(less than 0.1) having a minimum thickness of 10 mils, or meeting the requirements of the latest edition of
ASTM E1745 (Standard Specification for Water Vapor Retarders Used in Contact with Soil or Granular Fill
under Concrete Slabs) shall be placed directly underneath the concrete, above the granular fill.
4. All on or below grade concrete slabs that
do not have a permanent effective vapor
retarder underneath will require a Surface
Moisture Suppression System. Please contact
the manufacturer of the system prior to use to
confirm that the permeance is less than 0.1,
and for required coverage (sq. ft. per gallon)
and any other specific usage instructions that
shall be followed.
Concrete Slab
Vapor Retarder
Dry Granular Material
5. For above grade concrete slabs with moisture
readings above the maximum allowed, or
slabs that have a permanent effective vapor
retarder placed directly underneath with
readings above the maximum allowed, use
a Surface Moisture Suppression System that
is fully warranted to avoid any moisture/pH
related failures with the given conditions/test
results. Please contact the manufacturer of
the system prior to use for confirmation and
specific usage and preparation instructions
including the required coverage (sq. ft. per
gallon) and any other specific instructions that
shall be followed.
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Preparation of Concrete Stairs
1. All concrete subfloors shall be dry, clean, smooth, structurally sound and prepared per ASTM F710 Standard
Practice for Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring. They should be free of dust, solvents,
paint, wax, varnish, oil, grease, asphalt, curing compounds, old adhesives, and other extraneous materials. If
required, 4 use only water based sweeping compounds; do not use wax or oil based sweeping compounds.
Note: all local, state and federal regulations shall be followed.
2. If the concrete stair is damaged, uneven or out of level, then it shall be properly leveled by an experienced
underlayment contractor, fully warranted, and following the instructions of the leveling compound
manufacturer.
3. Any leveling materials shall be Portland Cement based and shall provide a minimum 3,000 PSI
comprehensive strength and sufficient bond to the existing substrate.
4. Broken off or non-right angle edges can be straightened with an
appropriate Portland Cement based repair compound, nora® repair
angles are also available. The front edge of the step shall be straight
and match the shape of the norament® stairtread profile. This area is
subject to the most stress once the stairtread is placed into service and an
unprepared step edge can compromise adhesion and result in damage to
the stairtread nosing.
Preparation of Wooden Stairs
1. All stairs shall be dry, clean, smooth, level and structurally sound. They should be free of dust, solvents, paint,
wax, varnish, oil, grease, asphalt, old adhesives, and other extraneous materials. If required, use only water
based sweeping compounds, do not use wax or oil based sweeping compounds.
Note: all local, state and federal regulations shall be followed.
2. All stairs shall be smooth; this can be achieved by sanding.
3. All nails/screws shall be countersunk and filled or removed.
4. Loose boards shall be screwed down or removed and replaced.
5. All gaps and uneven or broken areas shall be repaired or replaced.
6. Broken off or non-right angle edges must be replaced. The front edge of the step shall be straight and
match the shape of the norament stairtread profile. This area is subject to the most stress once the stairtread
is placed into service. An unprepared step edge can compromise adhesion and result in damage to the
stairtread nosing.
7. nora flooring shall not be laid on wooden substrates that are directly in contact with concrete subfloors on or
below grade, even if built on sleepers. All suspended wood floors shall have adequate underfloor ventilation
and a permanently effective moisture vapor retarder shall be placed on the ground beneath the air space.
8. American Plywood Association (APA) underlayment grade plywood shall be used and installed as per ASTM
F1482 Standard Practice for Installation and Preparation of Panel Type Underlayments to Receive Resilient
Flooring.
9. Please note: as plywood may expand and contract due to changes in moisture content and temperature, nora
systems, Inc. can not accept any liability of the joints telegraphing through the finished floor.
Preparation of Stainless Steel or Galvanized Stairs
1. All stairs shall be dry, clean, smooth, level and structurally sound. They should be free of dust, solvents, paint,
wax, varnish, oil, grease, asphalt, old adhesives, and other extraneous materials. If required, use only water
based sweeping compounds, do not use wax or oil based sweeping compounds.
Note: all local, state and federal regulations shall be followed.
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2. All stairs shall be roughened up to ensure proper bond (40 grit sandpaper).
3. Wipe clean using Isopropyl alcohol and a clean cloth.
4. Broken off or non-right angle edges can be straightened with an appropriate repair compound and nora
repair angles, which are also available. The front edge of the step shall be straight and match the shape of
the norament stairtread profile. This area is subject to the most stress once the stairtread is placed into service
and an unprepared step edge can compromise adhesion and result in damage to the stairtread nosing.
Preparation of Regular Steel Stairs
For specific recommendations, please contact the nora® Technical Department.
nora® stepfix Method
1. Apply nora® stepfix on the entire prepared staircase.
2. The stepfix should be flush with the intersection between tread and riser
for both applications of the tape, one on riser (fold over the nosing) and
one on tread. If the stepfix overlaps on the tread, it does not matter,
proceed and press firmly into place with your hand.
3. Installation of norament stairtreads should begin with the bottom step. The riser portion of the top
stairtread is cut off and then trimmed to fit the bottom and sides of the bottom riser. The top of the riser will
be trimmed later.
4. Put the balance of that stairtread aside as this will be required for the top nosing later.
5. Starting at the bottom of the staircase, remove the paper from the riser and adhere the pre-cut riser section
(from the top norament stairtread), then trim flush with the top of the stair nosing.
6. Continue to dry lay each stairtread as follows.
7. If required, uneven sides should be scribed in using a scribing bar or using a template. Alternately, if the
side of the steps are straight, each stair should be measured across in at least three locations:
a. Across the nosing
b. At the intersection between the tread and riser
c. At the top of the riser
8. Add 1/16” to the measurements and transfer them to the back of the
stairtread. Trim to size and undercut both sides to ensure a snug fit.
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9. Remove the paper from the bottom (next) tread and place the pre-cut stairtread into position (keeping the
stairtread nosing tight to the staircase nosing) and press firmly.
Note: The vertical nosing part of the stairtread is not designed to be adhered.
10. Fold the riser section of the stairtread back (onto the tread) and remove the paper from riser.
11. Carefully roll or push the stairtread into the intersection between the tread and riser of the step, then place
into the stepfix on the riser, keeping the stairtread tight in the intersection and smooth on the riser, then press
firmly onto the stepfix.
12. Trim off the excess from the top of the riser flush with the nosing of the step above, and repeat the process
until the staircase is completed.
13. At the top nosing (landing), the tread portion shall not be used, since the tread is a different thickness to the
norament® tiles and would result in a dirt trap. It may also show a slightly different color as the batch will be
different between the stairtread and landing (tile).
14. Between the nosing and tread part of the stairtread there is a gradual
reduction of the material thickness. The thickness at the nosing is
approximately 0.20” (5mm); the thickness at the tread is approximately
0.16” (4mm).
15. Take care to cut off the nosing so the thickness matches that of the
norament tiles that it will be butted up to.
16. Cut the width of the nosing, ensuring a snug fit.
17. Use a contact adhesive applied to the top step and back of the top nosing following the manufacturer’s
written instructions. Allow appropriate open time (usually 15-20 minutes) and install the pre-cut nosing,
keeping it tight to the staircase nose.
18. With steps that are wider than the maximum width of the stairtread, it will be necessary to join sections
together. This should be achieved using a small bead of a fast setting “super glue” type of adhesive at the
base of the joint. Care should be taken not to allow any adhesive on the surface of the stairtread. nora
systems, Inc. recommends staggered fitting (Ashlar Pattern) of the cuts from one step to the next.
Note: When ordering stairtreads for this purpose, ensure that they are all from the same batch, and use the
factory edge for joining.
94 Glenn Street
Lawrence, MA 01843
Tel: (800) 332-NORA
Fax: (978) 975-0110
E-mail: info-us@nora.com
Internet: www.nora.com/us
05/2010
nora systems, Inc.