STRUCTURAL FRAME
Helideck Support Structure.
The aluminium frame that carries the deck. 60% the weight of equivalent steel, fastener-only assembly, no painting, no corrosion.
60%
LIGHTER THAN STEEL
~1 week
TYPICAL ASSEMBLY
5083 / 6082
PRIMARY ALLOY
Zero
PAINTING REQUIRED
WHY THIS EXISTS
If the deck is aluminium, the frame should be too.
An aluminium deck on a steel support frame is half the answer. The deck saves topside weight. The frame underneath it doesn't.
Carrying the same engineering logic one level down delivers compounding savings: less topside weight cascading through every supporting structure below, fewer welds in the load path, no painting or blasting in the fabrication schedule, and no corrosion to manage over the asset's life.
We design, build and install support frames using the same modular fabrication process that underpins every XE and XD deck we ship.
MODULAR FABRICATION
Engineered to spec. Bolted on site.
Every support frame is fabricated to tolerances tight enough that components fit first time on site. Parts are packed directly into shipping containers and sent to platform, no trial assembly, no dismantling, no rework.
A typical 22m support frame assembles on site in around one week. The steel equivalent takes 8 to 12 weeks of fabrication, blasting and painting before it's ready to install.
Compatible with XE Enhanced Safety™ and XD Standard helidecks. Specified as a complete deck-and-frame package, or supplied separately to retrofit an existing deck onto a new structure.
~1 week
ALUMINIUM ASSEMBLY
8–12 weeks
STEEL EQUIVALENT
Zero
ON-SITE WELDS
ENGINEERING ADVANTAGES
Lighter, faster, outlives the deck above it.
1. 60% lighter than steel
A direct weight reduction at the support frame level cascades through foundations, lifting requirements and installation cost.
2. One-week assembly
A typical 22m frame assembles in around a week. The steel equivalent takes two to three months end-to-end.
3. No painting, no blasting, no corrosion
Marine-grade aluminium doesn't need a protective coating system. The frame ships finished and stays finished for the life of the asset.
4. Reusable, recyclable
Bolted construction means the frame can be dismantled, relocated and reinstalled on a different platform. End-of-life material is fully recyclable.
SPECIFICATIONS
Engineered to the standards your operators audit against.
Design Standards
Structural design to BS 8118 · Classification society requirements · Per-project engineering to operator specification
Materials
Primary and secondary structure: AA6082-T6 marine alloy · Fasteners: SS316 (A4-70) · No protective coating system required
Fabrication & Assembly
Precision-fabricated to tight tolerances · Bolted assembly only, no on-site welding · No on-site painting or blasting · Site supervision included
Package Includes
Aluminium support frame · All fasteners, brackets and joints · Steel-mating transition joints · Classification approvals (DNV, ABS, Lloyd's Register on application) · Full documentation and installation supervision
Enquiries
Specifying an XD for an upcoming programme?
Tell us about the platform and the deck it will carry. We'll come back to you within two working days.
