Delta Facades Attends the Schüco FWS 50 Curtain Wall Installation Course
Our installation team completed the two-day Schüco Academy FWS 50 Curtain Wall course, achieving the GQA qualification and deepening our expertise in one of the industry's leading aluminium curtain wall systems.
Delta Facades is proud to announce that members of our installation team have successfully completed the Schüco FWS 50 Curtain Wall Installation Course at the Schüco Academy in the UK. The intensive two-day programme combines classroom theory with hands-on workshop practice and culminates in a GQA (Glass Qualifications Authority) qualification — an industry-recognised credential that underlines our team's competence in installing one of the world's leading curtain wall systems.
About the Schüco FWS 50 System
The Schüco FWS 50 is a 50 mm sight-line, mullion-and-transom aluminium curtain wall designed for vertical glazing, roof glazing and complex facade geometries. With slim profiles, excellent thermal performance and a wide range of compatible window, door and opening vent inserts, FWS 50 is one of the most specified stick-built curtain wall systems on UK commercial, education and residential projects. Correct installation is critical to achieving its certified performance for air, water, wind and U-value, and that is exactly what the Schüco Academy course is designed to deliver.
A Two-Day Course Built Around Real Installation
The course is delivered at the Schüco Academy training centre and is split between technical theory in the classroom and practical workshop sessions on full-size FWS 50 rigs. Over the two days, our team worked through every stage of a curtain wall installation, from setting out and bracketry through to glazing, capping and weather sealing.
Day One — System Knowledge and Bench Assembly
- Introduction to the FWS 50 product family, profiles and accessories
- Reading and interpreting Schüco fabrication and installation drawings
- Mullion and transom preparation, drainage paths and EPDM gasket detailing
- Bench assembly of the structural grid using the Academy's training jigs
- Bracket selection, tolerances and movement joints
Day Two — Glazing, Capping and Weather Performance
- Installing the assembled curtain wall frame onto a vertical test rig
- Loading insulated glass units, setting blocks and edge cover
- Pressure plate and decorative cap installation to the correct torque
- Drainage, ventilation and pressure equalisation principles
- Final inspection, snagging and Schüco quality checklist
Hands-On Workshop Practice
What sets the Schüco Academy course apart is the volume of hands-on time on real, full-scale equipment. Our team worked on dedicated FWS 50 fabrication benches, lifted assembled units onto vertical training rigs, and then completed glazing and capping under instructor supervision. Working through a complete installation in a controlled environment means small details — sealant order, gasket orientation, drainage slot positions — become second nature before the team transfers them to live sites.
Achieving the GQA Qualification
On successful completion of the practical and theory assessments, attendees are awarded a GQA (Glass Qualifications Authority) qualification in Schüco FWS 50 curtain wall installation. GQA is the sector skills certification body for the glass and glazing industry in the UK, and its qualifications are recognised by main contractors, principal designers and warranty providers as evidence that operatives are competent to install the system to the manufacturer's standards.
For our clients, the GQA qualification provides documented assurance that the team installing their FWS 50 facade has been trained and assessed by Schüco itself — not just generally experienced, but specifically certified on the system being installed.
Why This Matters for Our Clients
- System-specific competence: Installers trained directly by the system manufacturer on the exact profiles, gaskets and accessories used on site
- Performance assurance: Correct installation is essential to achieve the tested air, water, wind and thermal performance of FWS 50
- Reduced risk: Fewer snags, fewer leaks and fewer warranty issues over the life of the facade
- Pre-qualification strength: GQA certification supports CSCS card upgrades and satisfies main contractor competence requirements
- Programme certainty: Confident, well-drilled teams install faster and with fewer reworks
An Ongoing Commitment to Training
The Schüco FWS 50 course is part of a wider investment by Delta Facades in continuous professional development for our installation, supervisory and project management teams. Alongside our SSIP accreditation, CSCS-carded workforce and detailed RAMS culture, manufacturer training ensures that the people on site are matched to the systems they are installing.
