Which Fastmount clip to choose for each surface

Selection guide · Specification

Which Fastmount clip to choose for your surface: timber, plasterboard, metal or upholstery

By the Panelclip technical team · 7 min read · Interior designers and architects

This is the question we are asked most: “I have a project with oak panels on a plasterboard structure, which clip do I need?”. Or: “We are specifying upholstered panels for a hotel, which range works best?”. The answer always depends on two factors: the panel material and the type of structure it will be fixed to. Here is the definitive selection guide.

Each Fastmount range is designed for a specific substrate. Choosing the right one is not a technical whim: it guarantees the system's performance, simplifies installation and avoids surprises on site. We go through the most common combinations in interior design, contract and architecture.

01Timber panels on a timber structure

For the most common combination in interior design —solid timber, plywood, MDF or melamine panels on a substructure of timber battens or frames— the Standard (PC) range is the undisputed benchmark.

The PC-F1A female self-taps into a 16.8 mm hole in the timber structure with a simple turn: no wall plug is needed. The male is fitted to the back face of the panel. The resulting profile is just 4 millimetres, which allows an extremely tight finish to the wall.

If the structure is not timber but accepts screws (metal, composite, concrete with a plug), the PC-SF1 female is surface-screwed onto any substrate. And for projects where the panels expand with temperature or humidity —rooms with underfloor heating, bathrooms, kitchens— the self-adjusting PC-AF1 female offers 5 millimetres of tolerance to absorb those movements.

02Panels on plasterboard walls

Plasterboard walls (gypsum board, Knauf or Pladur type) are everywhere in modern construction, especially in hotel and office refurbishments. For this specific substrate, Fastmount has designed the following range: SLX.

The SLX-F40T female is recessed directly into the plasterboard. It does not need to reach the metal structure behind: it fixes into the board itself. The decorative panel is placed over it and is held perfectly. It is the cleanest solution for refurbishments where the drywall partitions are already installed and you do not want to —or cannot— alter them.

If the project requires fixing directly to the Knauf metal profile (in new build or when the plasterboard has not yet been fitted), the SL-FB1 female is pushed into the galvanised steel profile. This provides a direct mechanical hold on the structure, without relying on the plaster.

03Metal panels and demanding environments

For metal panels, outdoor installations, high-humidity environments or projects that must comply with fire regulations, the Metal Clip (MC) range is the choice.

There are two main variants. The MC-SS, made of AISI 316 stainless steel, withstands marine environments, salt humidity, extreme temperature changes and exposure to the weather. It is fixed with a screw to both the structure and the panel, providing a robust mechanical hold that does not depend on adhesives. It is the range used on superyachts, coastal hotel terraces and external ventilated façades.

The variant MC-NP, with a nickel-plated finish, is specifically designed to meet the fire-resistance standards required by European regulations. In hotels, hospitals, shopping centres and any public space where fire regulations are strict, MC-NP clips ensure that the fixing system does not contribute to the spread of fire.

04Upholstered and fabric panels

In boutique hotels, design restaurants and high-end residences, upholstered panels are a key aesthetic resource. For these cases, the Low Profile (LP) range is especially popular.

The male clip is fitted to the rigid core of the panel (board, MDF, plywood) and the fabric simply wraps the assembly. The extra flexibility of the LP range is ideal for slightly curved or padded panels, where a rigid clip could create stress points in the upholstery.

For applications where every millimetre of profile counts —panels that must sit practically against the wall— the Very Low Profile (VLP) range offers the lowest thickness on the market.

05Large-format panels and common areas

For large, heavy panels in hotel common areas, lobbies, shopping centres or airports, the StratLock range includes a locking mechanism that prevents the panel from being removed accidentally. Only authorised staff with the right tool can remove these panels. It is the perfect combination of controlled accessibility and security.

06Decision matrix: surface → clip

We sum up the selection logic in a table. The first question on every project is always the same: what is behind and what is in front?

07The ranges at a glance

As the official Fastmount distributor for Spain and Portugal, we hold permanent stock of every range, with deliveries in 24-72 hours across the whole Iberian Peninsula.

Standard15 kg/clip, scalable

Low ProfileThin and upholstered panels

MetalLoad, weather and fire

TextileCushions (~32 kg)

StratLockLarge format with lock

Panel ControlSeismic retention

“The first question we ask on every project is: what is behind and what is in front? The answer tells us exactly which Fastmount range we need. We have never gone wrong with that logic.”

The application images belong to Fastmount™. No acoustic values are claimed: all performance is referred to testing and the technical data sheet.