Flat Joining Plate 2.0mm Heavy Duty Galvanised Steel

Heavy duty galvanised steel flat joining plate, 2.0mm thick, manufactured to the harmonised European standard EN 14545:2008 for structural connections in timber construction. Rather than a fixed-angle corner bracket, it is a flat, load-spreading connector for splicing, bracing and reinforcing timber joints in fences, decking, roof trusses and general framing - anywhere two timber members need to be joined, or an existing member needs reinforcing, without a pre-set angle dictating how the plate must sit.

Because the plate is flat rather than angled, it can be positioned across almost any joint configuration: spanning a butt joint to splice two lengths of timber end-to-end, bridging a crack or weak point in an existing member, or fixed across the face of a lap joint to resist pull-apart forces. It is fixed with nails or screws through the pre-punched holes on both sides of the joint, spreading load across the full plate rather than concentrating it at a single fixing point. At 2.0mm thick, this range covers a wider set of sizes than our 2.5mm plates, giving finer control over plate size versus load for lighter-duty structural repairs and connections.

Manufactured from Z275 galvanised steel, the plates carry a declared characteristic yield strength of 220 N/mm² and a minimum elongation at failure of 20% - enough ductility to deform slightly under overload rather than fracturing suddenly, an important safety characteristic in structural timber connectors. The Z275 coating is rated for service classes 1 and 2 under EN 1995-1-1 (Eurocode 5), covering enclosed and outdoor timber construction.

Key Features

• Manufactured to EN 14545:2008 (System 2+), the harmonised European standard for punched metal plate fasteners in timber structures
• 2.0mm thick Z275 galvanised steel construction for corrosion resistance in service classes 1 and 2 under Eurocode 5 (EN 1995-1-1)
• Characteristic yield strength of 220 N/mm² with a minimum elongation at failure of 20%, giving ductile overload behaviour rather than sudden fracture
• Flat, unangled design that can be positioned across virtually any joint configuration rather than being limited to a fixed corner angle
• Pre-punched fixing holes across the full plate on both sides of the joint, allowing load to be spread rather than concentrated at one point
• Fixed simply with nails or screws through the pre-punched holes - no specialist fixings required
• Nine sizes available from 40×80mm (1.57″×3.15″) up to 80×200mm (3.15″×7.87″), giving finer control over plate size versus load than our heavier 2.5mm range

Specification

• Material: Galvanised steel, Z275 coating
• Standard: EN 14545
• Manufacturer's intended use: for structural timber elements
• Characteristic yield strength: 220 N/mm²
• Minimum elongation at failure: 20%
• Thickness: 2.0mm

Typical Applications

• Splicing and joining timber lengths end-to-end where a member isn't long enough to run in one piece
• Reinforcing or repairing damaged, split or cracked joists and rafters without replacing the whole member
• Bracing fence panels and posts at joints prone to racking or movement
• Roof truss fabrication and repair, and stud wall framing, where flat connections between timber members are needed
• Decking substructure connections, including joining or reinforcing joists and bearers
• General structural timber repair and reinforcement where a flat, load-spreading connector is preferable to an angled corner bracket - for example where the joint doesn't sit at a right angle, or where the plate needs to bridge a defect rather than form a corner
• Choosing from the smaller end of the size range (40×80mm to 40×160mm) suits lighter repairs and narrower timber sections, while the larger sizes (60×140mm up to 80×200mm) suit heavier framing members and joints needing more fixing points either side

Installation Guidance

• Position the plate centrally over the joint, crack or defect it is spanning, making sure it sits flat against the timber face with no gaps that would prevent even load transfer.
• Fix through every pre-punched hole on both sides of the joint with nails or screws - using only some of the holes concentrates load on fewer fixings and undermines the load-spreading benefit of the plate.
• For a spliced butt joint, centre the plate over the joint line so the fixing pattern is distributed evenly across both members being joined.
• Select a plate size that fully covers the joint or defect with margin either side for the pre-punched holes to engage sound, undamaged timber.
• For a lap joint, fix across the face of the joint so the plate resists the pull-apart forces trying to separate the two overlapping members.

Order before 2pm Mon–Fri for same-day dispatch from our UK warehouse.