Recycled PET Felt vs Fibreglass and Mineral Wool Absorbers
Fibreglass and mineral wool reach high absorption coefficients, and mineral wool can be non-combustible, but they must be wrapped, faced or boxed and are usually handled with gloves and respiratory protection. Recycled PET felt panels are self-finished, cut with a blade or scissors, decorative in their own right, and recyclable where facilities accept them.
Use mineral wool or fibreglass where maximum absorption or non-combustible performance is specified and absorbers can be concealed. Use recycled PET felt where the panel is visible, installers cut it on site, and a decorative finish is wanted.
Side by side
| Recycled PET felt | Fibreglass / mineral wool | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Needle-punched post-consumer recycled PET felt | Spun glass or molten rock fibres with a resin binder |
| Typical NRC | Up to 1.0 measured to ASTM C423, thickness and mounting dependent | Typically high with sufficient thickness and an air gap — take the value from the specific product test report |
| Low frequency | Improves markedly with a 25 mm cavity or insulation behind the panel | Often stronger at low frequency because greater thickness is practical |
| Fire classification | reaction-to-fire classification pending supplier documentation | Mineral wool products are frequently non-combustible (A1/A2); glass wool varies with facing |
| Handling | Cut by hand with a blade or scissors — a soft felt that does not shed irritant fibres | Requires gloves plus eye and respiratory protection; fibres irritate skin |
| Finish | Self-finished matte felt in 16 stock colours — no wrap needed | Must be wrapped in fabric, faced or boxed to be used visibly |
| End of life | Panel core recyclable where facilities accept it | Composite facings and binders usually make recycling impractical |
Where recycled PET felt wins
- • Visible acoustic treatment where finish matters
- • Occupied offices, classrooms and hospitality interiors
- • Site cutting with basic hand tools
- • Projects needing a decorative, recycled-content solution
Where the alternative wins
- • Recording and critical-listening rooms needing maximum absorption
- • Concealed absorbers inside ceilings, cavities or fabric panels
- • Specifications requiring a non-combustible classification
NRC values are measured to ASTM C423 and depend on thickness and mounting method. Our reaction-to-fire classification is pending supplier test documentation — we publish no fire class until the report is held, and these panels are not fire barriers. We do not currently hold an ASTM E84 classification. Recycled-content and recyclability claims apply to the panel core. Comparative statements describe typical products in each category, not any specific manufacturer: alternative-product figures are indicative category ranges from published sources and are not a statement about any named product. Always take performance values from the specific product's own test report.
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