Description
Most fixings advertise length. The LTX 160 mm earns its place by matching that length to a specific decision point: the moment a project steps from 100 mm standard insulation up to 120–130 mm enhanced specifications. At 160 mm with a 10 mm diameter sleeve and 60 mm flange, it is the anchor length that holds that decision in place across the full UK masonry range.
What the LTX 160 mm Plug Does in a UK EWI System
The Klimas LTX 160 mm polystyrene fixing plug is a hammer-in mechanical anchor with a 10 mm sleeve, 60 mm flange and a 30 mm anchorage depth, certified under ETA-16/0509 (ETAG 014) for fixing 120–130 mm insulation boards on new-build masonry in UK external wall insulation systems. Supplied in boxes of 200 from the insulation fixing accessories range, it is the length that secures enhanced-specification boards once a project moves beyond the standard 100 mm domestic baseline.
The plug body is polyethylene, the expansion pin is glass-fibre-reinforced polyamide, and the whole assembly contains no metal pathway from masonry to render — so the wall's thermal envelope stays intact at every fixing point.
That detail compounds across an elevation. Six to eight plugs per square metre on a 200 m² façade means 1,200–1,600 individual thermal interruptions, each carrying 0.001 W/K at surface mount and 0.000 W/K when immersed. At enhanced insulation thicknesses, that arithmetic is what separates a system that meets its U-value target from one that drifts.
What Makes the LTX 160 mm Plug Worth Specifying
- Engineered for the 120–130 mm Enhanced Specification Band: The 160 mm length aligns with the insulation thickness range used on housing association upgrades, developer schemes targeting higher EPC ratings, and retrofit programmes aiming for performance beyond the standard 100 mm baseline. Pairing it with graphite EPS boards at 120 mm or 130 mm delivers a measurably tighter U-value than the standard domestic specification.
- Thermal Envelope Stays Intact at Every Fixing: All-plastic construction delivers 0.001 W/K at surface mount and 0.000 W/K when immersed, holding insulation performance flat across the wall with no metal conduction path to bridge the build-up.
- Retrofit Reach for 100–120 mm Boards Over Plaster: On walls carrying 20 mm of existing plaster, the 160 mm plug accommodates 100 mm boards at surface mount and 120 mm boards when immersed — covering the enhanced-retrofit thickness band without forcing a step up to the next plug length.
- Reliable Drive Through Dense UK Masonry: The glass-fibre-reinforced polyamide pin holds its rigidity during hammer installation, driving cleanly through concrete C20/25, engineering brick and dense blockwork without deflection or shear failure at depth.
- Adhesive-Grip Flange for Flat Render Finishes: The 60 mm flange carries moulded pockets that key into basecoat mortar, preventing the localised dimples that show through thin-coat render under raking light on south-facing elevations.
- ETA-16/0509 Certification Across All UK Masonry Categories: European Technical Assessment under ETAG 014 covers concrete, solid clay and calcium silicate brick, perforated brick including Porotherm 25, lightweight aggregate block, and autoclaved aerated concrete — the full UK housing-stock substrate range.
Technical Specifications — LTX 160 mm Data Sheet Highlights
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Product Code | LTX-10160 |
| Plug Diameter (dk) | 10 mm |
| Overall Length (Lk) | 160 mm |
| Flange Diameter (Dk) | 60 mm |
| Anchorage Depth (heff) | 30 mm · 50 mm for aerated concrete |
| Drill Hole Depth (h0) | 40 mm · 60 mm for aerated concrete |
| Body Material | Polyethylene (PE) |
| Pin Material | Polyamide reinforced with glass fibre (PA + GF) |
| Washer Stiffness | 0.50 kN/mm |
| Thermal Transmittance (χ) — surface mount | 0.001 W/K |
| Thermal Transmittance (χ) — immersed mount | 0.000 W/K |
| Characteristic Pull-Out — Concrete C20/25 | 0.75 kN |
| Characteristic Pull-Out — Solid Brick | 0.75 kN |
| Characteristic Pull-Out — Perforated Brick | 0.60 kN |
| Characteristic Pull-Out — Porotherm 25 | 0.60 kN |
| Certification | ETA-16/0509 (ETAG 014) |
| Pack Quantity | 200 pcs |
How the LTX 160 mm Plug Installs in a Render or EWI System
On a typical UK ETICS sequence, the LTX 160 mm enters the build-up after the insulation board has been adhesive-bonded to the substrate and the adhesive has cured for the manufacturer-specified open time — most commonly 24 hours on EPS. The 10 mm hole is drilled through the board into the masonry to a minimum depth of 40 mm, the plug body is inserted until the flange sits flush against the board face, and the expansion pin is driven home with a steady hammer rhythm until the head seals against the sleeve collar. From there, basecoat with embedded fibreglass mesh covers the flange and unifies the surface for the render finish — and the fixing density across that surface is where pattern design earns its keep.
The fixing pattern across the elevation governs how many plugs per square metre the design calls for — typically 6 in central zones, 8 at corners and edges, scaling up above 15 m of height or in exposed wind zones. The full fixing-pattern and spacing calculation guide sets out the layout method aligned with ETAG 014 wind-load categories, and the step-by-step installation guide for insulation fixings covers each stage from substrate assessment through drill-mode selection to final inspection.
Installation Notes — Drilling Depth, Substrate Mode, Drive Technique
Drill mode is the single most important variable at this plug length. On concrete and solid brick, impact mode drives the bit efficiently and cleanly. On perforated brick, hollow block and autoclaved aerated concrete, rotation-only mode is essential — impact drilling collapses internal webs in perforated substrates and shatters the cellular structure in aerated concrete, both of which drop pull-out values below certified levels. After drilling, clear each hole with three to four back-and-forth passes at reduced drill speed to remove dust before plug insertion.
For the best result on enhanced-thickness specifications, use a depth stop set to 40 mm (60 mm on aerated concrete) and check drill perpendicularity every third or fourth hole. At 160 mm overall length, small angular deviations at the surface translate to meaningful offset at the expansion zone.
Immersed mounting delivers 0.000 W/K per fixing. Use an EPS styrofoam hole cutter to recess the plug below board level, then cap with grey EPS finishing caps for a fully flush surface before basecoat application.
What UK Installers Do Differently With the LTX 160 mm Plug
- Carry a spare 10 mm masonry bit per box: Drilling a 40 mm hole through 130 mm of EPS into dense masonry wears bits faster than installers expect — a fresh bit every 400–500 holes keeps hole geometry clean and prevents the slight oversizing that reduces grip.
- Store boxes flat on site: The 160 mm sleeves can bow slightly under their own weight if stored vertically for several days, which makes hole insertion fractionally tighter. Flat storage on a pallet keeps every plug straight.
- Pre-mark the pattern before drilling: Snap a chalk grid on the board face matching the design fixing pattern. On 120–130 mm boards the visual cue matters more than at 80–100 mm because the longer plug magnifies any layout drift in the finished render plane.
- Run immersed installation on south and west elevations: Solar-driven differential surface temperature shows fixing positions through thin-coat render most clearly on sun-loaded walls. Recessing the plugs and capping with grey EPS caps removes that risk entirely.
- Order a small surplus on every elevation: First-drive pin integrity is reliable across the LTX-10 range; carrying ten per cent over the calculated count simply removes the need for a top-up order if a masonry pocket contains an unseen void.
Is the LTX 160 mm Plug Right for Your Project?
- Choose the LTX 160 mm if you are fixing 120–130 mm EPS or XPS boards on new-build masonry, or 100–120 mm boards on retrofit walls with up to 20 mm of existing plaster — the enhanced-specification thickness band.
- Stepping down to 100 mm boards? The LTX 140 mm plug at 200 pcs per box is the precise length match for standard 100 mm domestic specifications on new-build substrates.
- Stepping up to Part L compliance thicknesses? The LTX 180 mm plug at 200 pcs per box provides the additional depth for 140–150 mm boards aligned with current Part L domestic targets.
- Specifying mineral wool for fire-rated or high-rise façades? Higher-density mineral wool and fire-strategy requirements typically call for metal-pin fixings with greater pull-out capacity; the broader mechanical fixings range includes heavy-duty variants for those specifications.
FAQ — LTX 160 mm Coverage, Substrates, Ordering
How many square metres does one box of 200 cover?
At the standard fixing density of 6 plugs per square metre in central zones and 8 per square metre at corners and edges, a 200-piece box covers approximately 25–33 m² of insulated wall. For exposed elevations above 15 metres in height or in higher wind-load zones, density rises to 8–10 per square metre and coverage falls to roughly 20–25 m² per box. Project-specific fixing pattern calculation governs the exact figure.
What insulation board thickness does the 160 mm length actually secure?
On new-build masonry with a 10 mm adhesive layer, surface mounting secures boards up to 120 mm thick and immersed mounting with a hole cutter extends that to 140 mm. On retrofit substrates carrying 20 mm of existing plaster beneath the adhesive, the effective range is 100 mm at surface mount or 120 mm with a cutter. This positions the 160 mm plug squarely in the enhanced-specification band between standard domestic 100 mm and Part L compliance thicknesses.
How does the plug perform on perforated brick and Porotherm walls?
Characteristic pull-out is 0.60 kN in perforated brick and 0.60 kN in Porotherm 25, compared with 0.75 kN in solid brick and concrete C20/25. These values meet the design requirements for domestic insulation under standard UK wind-load conditions. Rotation-only drilling mode is essential on these substrates — impact drilling collapses the internal web structure and reduces pull-out below the certified figure.
Can I use the LTX 160 mm to fix mineral wool slabs?
The LTX-10 range is engineered and certified primarily for EPS and XPS boards. Mineral wool installations typically specify metal-pin fixings with higher pull-out capacity and a larger flange profile to suit the board's density and fire-strategy requirements. For mineral wool specifications, the wider fixings range includes appropriate variants and the insulation fixings installation guide covers the differences in selection and drive technique.
Is the plug suitable for projects with environmental reporting requirements?
The polyethylene body and polyamide pin are both recyclable thermoplastics, and the cardboard outer packaging enters standard paper and card recycling streams. The all-plastic construction carries lower embodied carbon per fixing than equivalent steel-pin alternatives, which supports the embodied-carbon line of any EPC+ or PAS 2035 reporting framework that tracks material impact across the building envelope.
What ambient conditions does the plug install in?
The polyamide pin retains its drive characteristics across the temperature range encountered on UK sites, from cool winter mornings down to around +5 °C through to summer heat above 25 °C. As with all ETICS fixings, the underlying adhesive must have reached the manufacturer-specified cure time before mechanical fixing begins — most commonly 24 hours on EPS at +20 °C, extended in colder conditions. Avoid driving plugs into substrates that are visibly frosted or saturated.
Technical Documentation — LTX-10 TDS and Anchorage Reference
- Klimas LTX-10 Product Data Sheet (PDF) — covers all LTX-10 length variants including the 160 mm anchor.