The grad® system is designed with aluminum rails (also known as rail bars) that come pre-installed with grad® clips.
How to Use the grad® Rail System
The rail should be securely fastened to the main structural components (beams, concrete, etc.). The type and number of accessories required will depend on the substrate material and the wind zone. Please refer to the installation guide for further details.
The rails must be installed parallel to one another (simply use a leveling tool), and the clips connecting one rail to the next must be aligned perfectly. There is no need to use a separate rail for each cladding panel! You will require the same number of rails as you would standard battens.
How do I align the rails with each other?
Connectors allow you to position the rails consecutively; however, you do not need a connector every time you place two rails side by side. The connector is simply to assist with the precise positioning of the second rail. It does not need to be fastened—simply use it as a guide for the next rail. Please refer to our installation guide for additional details.
Always consult the most recent installation instructions for the latest guidance.
The rails can be fixed either on the building’s outer membrane or onto battens.
Install horizontally for vertical cladding or vertically for horizontal cladding.
Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for the distance between the rails.
Use Grad® grooved cladding panels.
Snap the cladding panels onto the clips.
Enjoy the durable and aesthetically pleasing results
Why are the clips pre-installed on the aluminum rail? What does it mean?
In conventional cladding installation methods, support battens are used to fix the panels—either by attaching individual clips one by one, or by screwing directly through the cladding into the structure behind.
Our advanced rail system eliminates this outdated approach. The clips are pre-mounted on the aluminum rails, streamlining the installation process and ensuring precise alignment. Cladding panels simply snap into place, without the need for visible screws or additional fixing. The result is a clean, refined finish and a faster, more efficient installation with no margin for error.
Crafted from high-performance Polyoxymethylene (POM)—a premium engineering thermoplastic widely used in high-stress applications such as ski boots—the grad® clips offer exceptional dimensional stability, mechanical strength, and resilience. They perform reliably in extreme environments, from -50°C to +90°C, and are resistant to corrosion, moisture, gasoline, solvents, and various neutral chemicals. Fully recyclable and trusted across the construction industry, POM ensures long-term durability and performance, even in the most demanding conditions.
