Description
The Klimas LTX 70 mm hammer-in fixing plug is the shortest variant in the LTX-10 range, purpose-built for slim-profile EPS and XPS insulation boards (10–30 mm) at window reveals, door jambs, soffits, and slab-edge junctions. Held under European Technical Assessment ETA-16/0509 across five substrate categories, with a 10 mm diameter polyethylene body and glass-fibre-reinforced polyamide pin that delivers point thermal transmittance of just 0.001 W/K. Supplied in 200-piece boxes — enough for roughly 25–33 m² of insulated wall at standard fixing density.
Where LTX 70 mm Plugs Perform Best — UK Reveal & Junction Applications
The LTX 70 mm plug is the shortest mechanical fixing in the Klimas LTX-10 range, anchoring 10–30 mm EPS insulation boards at window reveals, door jambs, slab-edge junctions, and other detail zones across a UK external wall insulation build-up under ETA-16/0509 assessment to ETAG 014. Its 30 mm effective embedment into concrete, solid brick, or hollow block — rising to 50 mm in aerated concrete — locks the slim board permanently against wind suction and thermal cycling, while the all-plastic construction keeps the thermal envelope continuous across every fixing point. The 70 mm length sits at the top of the fixing accessories range, where each plug length corresponds to a specific board thickness band.
On retrofit substrates with existing plaster, the effective board capacity reduces to 10 mm with surface mounting or up to 30 mm when the fixing is countersunk into the board using an EPS hole cutter. The 60 mm pressure flange spreads the clamping load broadly across the board face, and its adhesive-pocket profile improves basecoat grip directly over the fixing — exactly where a render skin tends to telegraph defects under low-angle light.
Why Specifiers Choose the LTX 70 mm Plug
- Virtually zero thermal bridging at every fixing point: The polyethylene body and reinforced plastic pin deliver point thermal transmittance (χ) of 0.001 W/K surface-mounted, falling to 0.000 W/K when immersed. The U-value calculation stays accurate and "ladybird spot" patterns from cold-bridged fixings do not appear on the finished facade.
- Five-substrate certification under one product code: ETA-16/0509 covers ordinary concrete (Category A), solid clay and calcium silicate brick (B), perforated brick (C), lightweight aggregate block (D), and aerated concrete (E) — every common UK masonry type, with a single SKU on the van.
- Reinforced polyamide pin drives clean in cold conditions: Glass-fibre reinforcement keeps the pin rigid through hammer impact even at low UK winter temperatures, where unreinforced plastic pins can bend or shatter and metal pins create condensation rings around the head.
- 60 mm flange with adhesive pockets: The oversized pressure plate increases the clamped contact area and the pocket profile gives the basecoat a positive key directly over the fixing — small detail, visible result under critical raking light.
- Predictable 15–20 second installation cycle: Drill, insert sleeve, hammer pin — no rotary driver needed for the pin stage. A two-installer team can fix a typical domestic reveal detail in a single working session.
- 200-piece pack matches site quantities: One box covers approximately 25–33 m² at the standard 6–8 plugs/m² density, which aligns to a typical bay of reveals and junctions on a UK detached or semi-detached property.
Technical Specifications — LTX-10070 Data Sheet Highlights
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Product code | LTX-10070 |
| Plug diameter (dk) | 10 mm |
| Overall length (Lk) | 70 mm |
| Flange diameter (Dk) | 60 mm |
| Anchorage depth (heff) | 30 mm (50 mm in aerated concrete) |
| Drill hole depth (h0) | 40 mm (60 mm in aerated concrete) |
| Drill bit diameter | 10 mm |
| Body material | Polyethylene (PE) |
| Pin material | Polyamide + glass fibre (PA + GF) |
| Washer stiffness | 0.50 kN/mm |
| Point thermal transmittance (χ) — surface | 0.001 W/K |
| Point thermal transmittance (χ) — immersed | 0.000 W/K |
| Characteristic pull-out (concrete C12/15) | 0.50 kN |
| Characteristic pull-out (higher-grade concrete / solid brick) | up to 0.75 kN |
| Certification | ETA-16/0509 (ETAG 014 / EAD 330196-01-0604) |
| Pack quantity | 200 pcs |
How to Install the LTX 70 mm Plug — Drilling, Embedment, Finishing
Installation is a three-step cycle per fixing: drill, insert, hammer. Drill a 10 mm hole to 40 mm depth (60 mm in aerated concrete) using impact mode on concrete and solid brick, or rotation-only mode on hollow and aerated substrates to preserve the cell structure that gives those materials their pull-out resistance. Clear masonry dust with two or three back-and-forth strokes at reduced speed before inserting the polyethylene sleeve flush with the board face, then drive the glass-fibre pin with firm, even hammer blows until the head seats fully against the sleeve collar.
- Surface mounting (standard method): Suits boards up to 30 mm on new-build, 10 mm on retrofit with existing plaster. Fixing head sits proud of the board by 2–3 mm.
- Immersed mounting (best thermal result): Cut a 67 mm × 20 mm recess into the board surface with the EPS hole cutter, drill and fix as normal, then seat a graphite EPS cap flush over the head. Drops χ to 0.000 W/K and gives the basecoat a flat plane.
- Aerated concrete adjustment: Drill to 60 mm and use rotation-only mode. The 50 mm embedment depth maintains rated pull-out without crushing the cellular substrate.
- Pin seating check: Pin head should sit flush with the sleeve top — a proud pin indicates a hole too shallow or a partial substrate failure; pull the plug, redrill, and refit.
For full sequencing across an elevation including base-track interface, corner-zone density, and snagging inspection, the complete EWI fixings installation guide for UK projects walks each stage with diagrams. To calculate plug counts by wind zone and building height, the fixing pattern and spacing calculation method works through worked examples that align to ETA and ETAG 014 design loads.
How LTX 70 mm Compares to Sibling LTX Plug Lengths
The LTX-10 range covers nine plug lengths from 70 mm to 220 mm, each tuned to a specific board-thickness band. The two nearest neighbours by length are the most common upgrade routes when board specification grows beyond reveals into standard wall zones.
| Variant | Board Thickness (New-Build) | Embedment | Best Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| LTX 70 mm (this product) | 10–30 mm | 30 mm / 50 mm aerated | Reveals, jambs, slab junctions |
| LTX 90 mm (200 pcs) | 40–50 mm | 30 mm / 50 mm aerated | Soffits, lintels, thin overlay |
| LTX 110 mm (200 pcs) | 60–80 mm | 30 mm / 50 mm aerated | Standard domestic EWI |
The plug body, flange dimensions, pin material, and ETA certification are identical across the range — only the sleeve length changes to match board thickness plus embedment plus adhesive layer. Stocking two or three lengths on a single job is normal practice: the 70 mm for reveals, a mid-length for main wall zones, and a longer variant if window heads or coursing details run thicker.
Pro Tips From UK Installers Using LTX 70 mm Plugs
The 70 mm plug rewards a few specific habits — small adjustments that show up in the final finish around reveals and junctions, where the eye notices every imperfection.
- I always keep a box of 70 mm plugs on every EWI job even when the main wall takes a longer fixing, because reveals, jambs, and slab junctions always need the short variant. Forgetting them costs a half-day site stop.
- I always immerse-mount on dark renders. The χ drop from 0.001 to 0.000 W/K is small in isolation, but across 30–40 fixings around a reveal it removes the faint cap-pattern that otherwise shows through a dark finish in low winter sun.
- I always set the drill to rotation-only on aerated concrete. Hammer mode shatters the cellular structure around the hole, dropping pull-out resistance below the 0.50 kN rated value and risking a failed pull-out test at handover.
- I always clear the hole twice on dusty substrates. Old solid brick generates fine dust that compacts under the sleeve and gives a false-seated plug — two clearing strokes at reduced speed keep the pull-out value reliable.
- I always pull-test one plug per 50 fixings on retrofit substrates of unknown grade. A simple manual pull on a sample plug confirms the substrate is delivering rated resistance before the rest of the elevation goes up.
Is the LTX 70 mm Plug Right for Your Project?
- Reveal, jamb, soffit, and slab-junction fixing on EPS or XPS boards 10–30 mm: The 70 mm length is the correct specification, paired with a graphite EPS cap for a flush finish.
- Main wall zones with 50 mm boards: Step up to the LTX 90 mm plug, which carries the same five-substrate certification with a longer sleeve.
- Standard 80 mm domestic EWI: The LTX 110 mm plug is the most common specification across UK retrofit work.
- Mineral wool slabs above 100 mm or high-rise applications: Steel-pin fixings are typically called up for non-combustible fixing chains under current Approved Document B guidance. Browse the full fixing accessories range for compatible variants.
- Timber-frame substrate: The LTX hammer-in plug is designed for masonry and concrete only. TD60 PVC discs (also in the fixing accessories range) suit timber-frame board attachment.
FAQ — LTX 70 mm Coverage, Compatibility, Substrate Limits
How many LTX 70 mm plugs do I need per square metre?
The standard density for EPS insulation up to 15 metres above ground is 6 plugs/m² in central wall zones and 8 plugs/m² in corner and edge zones where wind suction concentrates. Above 15 m the figures rise to 8 and 10 plugs/m² respectively. One 200-piece box covers roughly 25–33 m² of central wall, which makes pack-quantity planning straightforward at quote stage. Project-specific wind-load calculation under BS EN 1991-1-4 confirms the exact figure for any unusual exposure.
Is the LTX 70 mm plug certified for aerated concrete blocks?
Yes — substrate Category E (aerated concrete) is covered by ETA-16/0509. On aerated concrete the anchorage depth increases to 50 mm and the drill hole to 60 mm, so the 70 mm sleeve length supports boards up to 10 mm on new-build aerated substrates. For thicker boards on aerated concrete, the LTX 90 mm or 110 mm variants provide the additional sleeve length needed.
How does the plastic pin compare to metal-pin fixings on pull-out strength?
The LTX-10 delivers characteristic pull-out resistance of 0.50 kN in concrete C12/15, rising to 0.75 kN in higher-grade concrete and solid brick. For standard EPS systems on domestic and low-rise buildings these values comfortably exceed typical design loads. Metal-pin fixings deliver higher pull-out values for dense mineral wool at height or other demanding applications, with the trade-off of measurable point thermal bridging at each fixing — typically χ of 0.002–0.004 W/K versus 0.001 W/K for the LTX.
Can the LTX 70 mm be used on retrofit walls with existing plaster?
Yes, with reduced effective board capacity. The 30 mm anchorage depth must still reach into the structural substrate beyond the plaster layer, so a 20 mm existing plaster reduces the surface-mounted board capacity to 10 mm and the immersed-mounted capacity to 30 mm. Where the plaster condition is unknown, a pull-out test on a sample plug confirms the substrate is delivering rated resistance before the full elevation is fixed.
How should LTX plugs be stored on site?
Keep the 200-piece boxes in a dry store at normal site temperatures. The polyethylene and polyamide components are stable across the −20 °C to +60 °C range typical of UK conditions and unaffected by humidity. Avoid prolonged direct sun exposure on stripped pallets, since UV can over time degrade unprotected thermoplastics — though this is a multi-year effect, not a short-term storage concern.
Can the plugs and packaging be recycled?
Both the polyethylene body and polyamide pin are recyclable thermoplastics that can be returned to plastics recovery streams. The cardboard 200-piece packaging is fully recyclable through standard paper and card collection. At end-of-life demolition, the plugs separate from the wall debris readily and can be recovered along with other building plastics.
Technical Documentation — LTX-10 TDS, ETA, Anchorage Calculation