Description
The base track 103mm 2.5m is an aluminium starter profile, sold in 2.5 m lengths, that is fixed level along the foot of the wall as the base line before the insulation goes on. The first row of boards stands in it, the profile covers their bottom edge, and a drip on the front throws rainwater off the facade. Renders World stocks it with the other render fixings and starter tracks.
Where the Base Track 103mm 2.5m Is Used
PROFIGIPS of Poland makes the track as a plinth profile, or starter trim, under the code AC, in a ladder of widths each matched to a thickness of polystyrene or mineral wool board. The 103 mm width is for walls insulated with a board too thick for the 93 mm track.
- solid-wall houses insulated from the outside;
- new builds with an insulated render system;
- walls insulated with mineral wool slabs as well as polystyrene.
103 mm Base Track Specification
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Product | Plinth profile (starter trim), code AC |
| Maker | PROFIGIPS Sp. z o.o., Poland |
| Material | Aluminium |
| Width | 103 mm |
| Length | 2.5 m (2.0 m also made) |
| Drip | Yes, along the front edge |
| Insulation | Polystyrene (EPS) or mineral wool |
| Lengths per carton | 20 |
| Lengths per pallet | 3,200 |
| Standard | PN-EN 13658-2:2009, declaration 01/2023 |
What the 103 mm Track Does on the Wall
- Sets the base line. It is the first thing fixed to the wall, and the boards, beads and sills above all follow it.
- Holds the first row. The width is matched to the board, so the first row of insulation stands square in the channel.
- Keeps water off the base. The drip on the front edge lets rain running down the render fall clear of the wall.
- Protects the edge. The bottom of the insulation is the part most open to knocks and splash-back; the aluminium profile covers it.
- Comes in trade packs. PROFIGIPS packs it 20 lengths to a carton — 50 m of track — and 3,200 lengths to a pallet.
Fixing the 103 mm Track and the First Row
Check the width first: an off-cut of your board should stand in the base track 103mm 2.5m firmly, without forcing and without a gap behind it. Then:
- Mark one level line round the building, above the damp-proof course and continuous round the corners.
- Fix the lengths to that line with fixings that suit the wall, butting them end to end in one straight run.
- Clip a clip-on profile onto each length. It adds a drip nose and a glass-fibre mesh wing that is bedded into the base coat over the face of the board; the shop advises one clip-on profile per track.
- Bond the first row of boards into the channel, then work upwards from it.
Fixing the Boards Above the Base Track
Once the insulation is bonded, it is fixed back to the wall with plugs. The plug length depends on the board, the wall and the plug maker's own table, so choose it from the EWI plugs and fixings range once you know:
- the board thickness;
- what the wall is built of;
- the plug maker's table for that board and wall.
Insulation for the first row is on the EPS insulation boards and mineral wool slabs shelves; the starter track guide for external wall insulation sets out the first day step by step.
103 mm and the Other Widths
Every base track in the range is 2.5 m long; they differ only in width, chosen to match the board at the base.
| Track | Width | Length | Maker's carton |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 mm base track | 23 mm | 2.5 m | — |
| 33 mm base track | 33 mm | 2.5 m | 20 |
| 53 mm base track | 53 mm | 2.5 m | 20 |
| 83 mm base track | 83 mm | 2.5 m | 20 |
| 93 mm base track | 93 mm | 2.5 m | 20 |
| 103 mm base track (this track) | 103 mm | 2.5 m | 20 |
| 163 mm base track | 163 mm | 2.5 m | 10 |
Choosing and Ordering the 103 mm Track
Measure the insulation that will stand on the base track on each side of the house. Where it changes, change the width with it and fix every width to the same level line.
For the number of lengths, divide the length of wall in metres by 2.5, round up and add one spare for corners. A 30 m run round three sides of a bungalow gives 30 ÷ 2.5 = 12 lengths, so order 13.
- Dispatch: same day when the tracks are in stock.
- Delivery: the team contacts you after the order to arrange the most cost-effective way to send it. Parcels up to 25 kg next day; pallets next day, or two business days on the economy option. All deliveries are kerbside.
- Collection: at the Southampton counter, Unit 9A, Central Trading Estate, SO14 5JP — Monday to Friday 7am to 5pm, Saturday 7am to 12pm.
Tracks bought from Renders World can be returned within 14 days in their original condition; the terms are on the cancellations and returns page.
FAQ — 103 mm Base Track
How many lengths do I need?
Wall length in metres ÷ 2.5, rounded up, plus one spare length of the base track 103mm 2.5m. A carton of 20 lengths covers 50 m.
Which plugs go above the track?
Plugs are chosen for the insulation and the wall from the plug maker's table, not from the track width. The plugs stocked by Renders World sit in the same range as this track.
How do I check that 103 mm is the right width?
Stand an off-cut of your board in a length of the base track 103mm 2.5m. A firm fit is right; a loose board needs the 93 mm track, and for a much thicker board there is the 163 mm.
Can I use it with mineral wool slabs?
Yes. PROFIGIPS makes the AC starter profiles for both polystyrene and mineral wool insulation.
What standard does it meet?
The maker's national declaration of performance 01/2023 covers the AC aluminium starter profiles under PN-EN 13658-2:2009.
Technical Documentation for the 103 mm Base Track
- PROFIGIPS plinth profile (starter trim) — product page — widths, lengths, cartons and pallets for the AC range.