Abstract: An assembly for installing and using a grommet in a panel of composite material for attachment to a substructure, having interposed therebetween a layer of a compressible gasket material, includes a flared grommet with a spacer disposed between the flare and the panel to protect the panel corners in the grommet flaring operation, to distribute the concentrated load imposed on the panel when the grommet end is flared, and to shim the flared end against the substructure to eliminate the imposition of an unsupported load on the panel as a fastener connecting the grommet and substructure is drawn up to secure the panel and substructure together.