Description
The Klimas LTX 90 mm hammer-in fixing plug is the standard mechanical anchor for 50 mm EPS and XPS insulation boards on new-build masonry, sitting second in the LTX-10 range by length. Held under European Technical Assessment ETA-16/0509 across five substrate categories, with a 10 mm polyethylene body, glass-fibre-reinforced polyamide pin, and point thermal transmittance of just 0.001 W/K (0.000 W/K immersed). Supplied in 200-piece boxes — enough for approximately 25–33 m² of insulated wall at standard fixing density.
Where LTX 90 mm Plugs Perform Best — Standard 50 mm Domestic EWI
The LTX 90 mm plug is the matched mechanical fixing for 50 mm EPS and XPS boards in standard domestic external wall insulation work, anchoring boards into concrete, solid brick, perforated brick, lightweight block, and aerated concrete substrates under ETA-16/0509 assessment to ETAG 014. Its 30 mm effective embedment into the structural substrate — rising to 50 mm in aerated concrete — delivers characteristic pull-out resistance of 0.75 kN in concrete C20/25, comfortably above typical domestic wind-load design figures. The 90 mm length sits one step up from the reveal-detail plug and is part of the wider fixing accessories range, where each plug length matches a specific board thickness band.
For UK retrofit work where 20 mm of existing plaster sits beneath the adhesive layer, the effective surface-mounted board capacity reduces to 30 mm, or rises back to 50 mm when the fixing is countersunk into the board face. The 60 mm pressure flange spreads the clamping load broadly and its adhesive-pocket profile gives the basecoat a positive key directly over each fixing point — a small detail that prevents the faint "ghosting" pattern that otherwise telegraphs through thin render coats under low-angle light.
Why Specifiers Choose the LTX 90 mm Plug
- Matched to the most common UK board thickness: 50 mm graphite EPS is the entry specification for the majority of domestic and housing-association EWI projects — the 90 mm plug is the length engineered for that thickness on standard masonry, with no compromise on embedment or excess sleeve length.
- Virtually zero thermal bridging at every fixing point: All-plastic construction delivers 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 no ghosting patterns appear on the finished facade in damp or cold weather.
- Five-substrate certification under one product code: ETA-16/0509 covers concrete, solid clay and calcium silicate brick, perforated brick, lightweight aggregate block, and aerated concrete — every common UK masonry type, with a single SKU on the van and a single drill bit on the belt.
- 0.75 kN characteristic pull-out in concrete C20/25: The all-plastic design intentionally trades a small headroom against metal-pin pull-out values for complete thermal-bridge elimination. For standard domestic EPS systems the values comfortably exceed design requirements.
- Glass-fibre reinforced pin drives clean in cold UK conditions: The polyamide pin stays rigid through hammer impact at low winter temperatures, where unreinforced plastic pins risk bending or splitting and metal pins introduce condensation around the head.
- One range, three lengths covers most jobs: Stocking the 70 mm for reveals, 90 mm for 50 mm main-wall zones, and 110 mm for 80 mm boards covers the majority of a typical UK domestic specification — same drill bit, same manufacturer, same installation cycle.
Technical Specifications — LTX-10090 Data Sheet Highlights
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Product code | LTX-10090 |
| Plug diameter (dk) | 10 mm |
| Overall length (Lk) | 90 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 (concrete C20/25 / solid brick) | 0.75 kN |
| Board thickness — surface mount (new-build) | up to 50 mm |
| Board thickness — immersed mount (new-build) | up to 70 mm |
| Certification | ETA-16/0509 (ETAG 014 / EAD 330196-01-0604) |
| Pack quantity | 200 pcs |
How to Install the LTX 90 mm Plug — Drilling, Embedment, Finishing
Installation follows the standard three-step cycle: drill, insert sleeve, hammer pin. 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 three or four back-and-forth strokes at reduced speed before pushing the polyethylene sleeve in until the flange sits 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 50 mm boards on new-build masonry and 30 mm boards on retrofit substrates with existing plaster. Fixing head sits 2–3 mm proud of the board face.
- 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. Extends board capacity to 70 mm and drops χ to 0.000 W/K.
- 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.
- Perpendicular drilling: Keep the drill square to the wall face — an angled hole pushes part of the expansion zone outside the substrate and reduces effective pull-out resistance.
- Pin seating check: Pin head should sit flush with the sleeve top; a proud pin signals a shallow hole or partial substrate failure, which calls for redrilling and refitting before the next plug.
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 in order. To calculate exact plug counts by wind zone and building height, the fixing pattern and spacing calculation method works through worked examples aligned to ETAG 014 design loads.
How LTX 90 mm Compares to Sibling LTX Plug Lengths
The LTX-10 range covers nine plug lengths from 70 mm to 220 mm. The 90 mm is the second variant by length, with the 70 mm reveal plug below and the 110 mm standard-domestic plug above as the most common pairings on a typical UK job.
| Variant | Board Thickness (New-Build) | Embedment | Best Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| LTX 70 mm (200 pcs) | 10–30 mm | 30 mm / 50 mm aerated | Reveals, jambs, slab junctions |
| LTX 90 mm (this product) | 40–50 mm | 30 mm / 50 mm aerated | 50 mm domestic EWI, soffits, lintels |
| LTX 110 mm (200 pcs) | 60–80 mm | 30 mm / 50 mm aerated | Standard 80 mm domestic main wall |
The plug body, flange dimensions, pin material, and ETA certification stay identical across the range — only the sleeve length changes to match board thickness plus adhesive layer plus embedment. Stocking two or three lengths on a single job is normal practice: the 90 mm for main 50 mm zones, the 70 mm for the surrounding reveals, and the 110 mm if the elevation has thicker board zones around lintels or coursing details.
Pro Tips From UK Installers Using LTX 90 mm Plugs
The 90 mm plug is the workhorse of domestic EWI — small habits around drilling and seating compound across a full elevation, particularly on housing-association refurbishment work where the finish is judged against neighbouring properties.
- I always keep the drill perpendicular to the wall. An angled hole shifts part of the expansion zone outside the substrate and quietly drops pull-out resistance below the 0.75 kN rated value. A two-second visual check on each hole costs nothing.
- I always clear the hole three times on dusty solid brick. Victorian and Edwardian brickwork generates fine dust that packs under the sleeve and gives a false-seated plug. The extra clearing strokes keep pull-out reliable across the elevation.
- I always immerse-mount when the spec includes dark render. Across 100–150 fixings on a typical semi, the 0.001-to-0.000 W/K drop removes the faint cap-pattern that otherwise shows through dark finishes in low winter sun.
- I always change to rotation-only on aerated concrete. Hammer mode shatters the cellular structure around the hole — the visible powder coming back out is intact cells, not just dust, and the pull-out value drops with it.
- I always pull-test one plug per 50 on unknown retrofit substrates. A simple manual pull on a sample confirms the substrate delivers rated resistance before the next pallet of plugs goes up the scaffold.
Is the LTX 90 mm Plug Right for Your Project?
- Standard 50 mm EPS or XPS retrofit on masonry: The 90 mm length is the matched specification, paired with a graphite EPS cap for a flush thermal finish. The LTX-10 range covers the full UK substrate range from solid brick through to aerated concrete.
- Reveal, jamb, or junction details on the same elevation: Step down to the LTX 70 mm plug for 10–30 mm reveal boards, which keeps drill bit and installation cycle identical.
- Main wall zones with 80 mm boards: Step up to the LTX 110 mm plug — the most widely specified length across UK domestic EWI work.
- Mineral wool slabs on fire-rated facades or high-rise: Steel-pin fixings are typically called up for non-combustible fixing chains under current Approved Document B guidance. The full fixing accessories range includes alternatives suited to those specifications.
- Timber-frame substrate: The LTX hammer-in plug is designed for masonry and concrete only. TD60 PVC discs in the fixing accessories range provide the correct load-spread for fixing EPS to timber studs.
- Need 50 mm boards to go with these plugs? The graphite EPS insulation boards stock 50 mm in matching pack sizes, ready to pair on a single order.
FAQ — LTX 90 mm Coverage, Compatibility, Substrate Limits
How many LTX 90 mm plugs do I need per square metre?
For EPS insulation up to 15 metres above ground, ETAG 014 indicates 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 or building geometry.
Can the 90 mm plug handle thicker boards with immersed mounting?
Yes — an EPS hole cutter creates a 20 mm-deep recess in the board face before drilling, which extends the surface-mounted board capacity from 50 mm to 70 mm on new-build substrates and from 30 mm to 50 mm on retrofit walls with existing plaster. Immersed mounting also drops point thermal transmittance to 0.000 W/K, so the technique delivers both a thickness increase and a thermal performance gain in the same step.
What pull-out resistance does the LTX 90 mm achieve?
Characteristic pull-out values under ETA-16/0509 are 0.50 kN in concrete C12/15, rising to 0.75 kN in concrete C20/25 and solid brick. For standard domestic EPS systems on typical UK substrates these values comfortably exceed the design loads from wind-suction calculations. Metal-pin fixings deliver higher pull-out for dense mineral wool or high-rise work, at the cost of measurable point thermal bridging (typically χ of 0.002–0.004 W/K versus 0.001 W/K for the LTX).
Is the LTX 90 mm certified for aerated concrete?
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 90 mm sleeve length supports boards up to 30 mm on new-build aerated substrates. For thicker boards on aerated concrete, longer LTX variants provide the additional sleeve length needed.
Can the LTX 90 mm be used on retrofit walls with existing plaster?
Yes, with reduced effective board capacity. The 30 mm anchorage depth must reach into the structural substrate beyond the plaster, so a 20 mm existing plaster layer reduces the surface-mounted board capacity to 30 mm and the immersed-mounted capacity to 50 mm. Where the plaster condition or thickness is unknown, a pull-out test on a sample plug confirms the substrate delivers 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 body and polyamide pin remain stable across the −20 °C to +60 °C range typical of UK conditions and are unaffected by humidity. Avoid prolonged direct sun on stripped pallets, since UV degrades unprotected thermoplastics over multi-year exposure — a storage discipline issue, not a short-term concern.
Can the plugs and packaging be recycled?
Both the polyethylene body and polyamide pin are recyclable thermoplastics that can enter standard plastics recovery streams. The cardboard 200-piece packaging is fully recyclable through paper and card collection. At end-of-life demolition, the plugs separate from wall debris readily and can be recovered with other building plastics, making the LTX range straightforward to manage within waste-tracked or sustainability-targeted projects.
Technical Documentation — LTX-10 TDS, ETA, Anchorage Calculation