Description
The base track 83mm 2.5m is an aluminium starter profile for the bottom edge of an insulated wall. It comes in 2.5 m lengths and is fixed level along the base before any adhesive or board goes on. The first course of insulation stands in it, its lower edge is covered, and a drip on the front sheds rainwater away from the wall. Renders World stocks it with the other EWI fixings and starter tracks.
Where the Base Track 83mm 2.5m Is Used
Every external wall insulation job starts with this part. PROFIGIPS of Poland makes it as a plinth profile, or starter trim, under the code AC, and makes each width to match a thickness of polystyrene or mineral wool board. The 83 mm track is the one for walls where a thicker board goes on than the 53 mm kit width carries.
It suits the same kinds of wall as the rest of the range:
- solid brick or block houses being insulated from the outside;
- new builds with an insulated render finish;
- extensions, where the base line has to meet the existing house.
Reasons to Choose the 83 mm Track
- A wider seat for a thicker board. The maker matches each width to a board thickness, so the 83 mm track is chosen when the insulation is too thick for the narrower tracks.
- Aluminium with a drip. The drip along the front edge throws rain clear of the base instead of letting it run back into the wall.
- A covered bottom edge. The lowest edge of the insulation takes the knocks and the splash-back from the ground; the profile shields it.
- Trade packs. PROFIGIPS packs this width 20 lengths to a carton, which is 50 m of track (20 × 2.5 m), and 3,600 lengths to a pallet.
- The same profile in other widths. If the insulation changes thickness on another side of the house, the narrower and wider tracks share the same profile and fix to the same line.
83 mm Base Track Specification
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Product | Plinth profile (starter trim), code AC |
| Maker | PROFIGIPS Sp. z o.o., Poland |
| Material | Aluminium |
| Width | 83 mm |
| Length sold | 2.5 m (the maker also makes 2.0 m) |
| Front edge | Drip to shed rainwater off the facade |
| For insulation | Polystyrene (EPS) or mineral wool |
| Maker's carton | 20 lengths |
| Maker's pallet | 3,600 lengths |
| Standard | PN-EN 13658-2:2009 (maker's declaration 01/2023) |
Fitting the 83 mm Track
Hold an off-cut of the board you are going to use inside the base track 83mm 2.5m before you fix the first length: the board should sit in the channel without being forced and without a gap behind it. Then:
- Mark one level line round the whole house, carried round every corner.
- Fix the lengths to that line with fixings that suit the wall, keeping the front edges in one straight run.
- Clip a clip-on profile onto the front of each length. It has its own drip nose and a glass-fibre mesh wing that runs up the face of the insulation and is bedded into the base coat; the shop advises one clip-on profile for every track.
Site Notes for the Base Line
Once the base line is set, the boards, beads and window sills above all follow it, so it is worth checking twice before the adhesive comes out. Check three things.
- the line runs above the damp-proof course, so the base track 83mm 2.5m and the boards it carries stay clear of it;
- the line meets itself level after going round the whole house;
- every length sits tight to the wall, with no rocking at the joints.
When the Wall Is Not Flat
Where the wall bows in or out along one side, keep the track on the level line rather than letting it follow the wall: a straight base gives a straight render line above it.
The boards that go in next are on the EPS insulation boards and mineral wool slabs shelves; the first day on site is set out step by step in the starter track guide for external wall insulation.
83 mm and the Other Widths
The tracks differ in width only; every one is sold in 2.5 m lengths. The width is chosen to match the board at the base of the wall.
| 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 (this track) | 83 mm | 2.5 m | 20 |
| 93 mm base track | 93 mm | 2.5 m | 20 |
| 103 mm base track | 103 mm | 2.5 m | 20 |
| 163 mm base track | 163 mm | 2.5 m | 10 |
Choosing the Width and Ordering
Measure the insulation that will stand on the track. If it is the same thickness all round, one width does the job; if it changes from one side of the house to another, use the matching width on each side and fix them all to the same level line.
To work out how many lengths you need, divide the length of wall in metres by 2.5 and round up, then add one for corners and cuts. A 12 m back wall gives 12 ÷ 2.5 = 4.8, so five lengths and one spare.
- Dispatch: same day when the tracks are in stock.
- Delivery: after the order, the team contacts you with the most cost-effective way to send it. Parcels up to 25 kg can go next day; pallets next day, or in two business days on the economy option. Every delivery is kerbside.
- Collection: from the Renders World counter at Unit 9A, Central Trading Estate, Southampton SO14 5JP, Monday to Friday 7am to 5pm and Saturday 7am to 12pm.
Tracks bought from the Renders World online store can go back within 14 days in their original condition; the details are on the cancellations and returns page.
FAQ — 83 mm Base Track
How do I know the 83 mm width is right for my boards?
PROFIGIPS matches each width to a board thickness. Put an off-cut of your board in a length of the base track 83mm 2.5m: it should stand in the channel snugly. If it is loose, try the next width down; if it will not go in, the 93 mm track is the next width up.
How many lengths come in a carton?
Twenty, which is 50 m of track. Single lengths of the base track 83mm 2.5m are sold too, so a short run does not need a full carton.
What is the track made of?
Aluminium, with a drip formed along the front edge.
Does it work with mineral wool as well as polystyrene?
Yes. The maker makes the starter profiles for polystyrene or mineral wool boards; the width is what has to match the board.
Which standard does it follow?
PROFIGIPS declares the AC profile under PN-EN 13658-2:2009 in its declaration of performance 01/2023.
Technical Documentation for the 83 mm Base Track
- PROFIGIPS plinth profile (starter trim) — product page — widths, lengths, cartons and pallets for the AC range.