Recycled PET Felt vs Wood Slat Acoustic Panels
Recycled PET felt panels are soft, light and self-finished, while wood slat panels are rigid, heavier and warmer in appearance. PET felt absorbs sound directly through its depth; wood slats are largely reflective and only perform acoustically once installed over a cavity with an absorbent backing. PET felt does not swell or delaminate when damp.
Choose PET felt where absorption per millimetre, weight, moisture resistance and end-of-life recyclability matter. Choose wood slat where a rigid timber face is the design intent and a cavity build-up is possible.
Side by side
| Recycled PET felt | Wood slat | |
|---|---|---|
| Core material | Needle-punched post-consumer recycled PET felt | MDF or solid timber slats, usually over a felt or fabric backing |
| Absorption per mm | High — the whole panel depth is porous | Low alone; slats reflect sound, absorption comes from cavity and backing |
| Typical NRC | Up to 1.0 measured to ASTM C423, thickness and mounting dependent | Varies widely with slat spacing, battens and backing — take the value from the specific product test report |
| Fire classification | reaction-to-fire classification pending supplier documentation | Varies by core and facing; ratings differ and are tested product by product |
| Weight | Approximately 1.0–2.5 kg/m² depending on thickness | Typically heavier than felt because of the timber or MDF core |
| Moisture | Does not swell when damp in the way an MDF core does | MDF cores swell when wetted; solid timber moves with humidity |
| Installation | Adhesive, double-sided tape, magnetic mounts or battens — one person, basic tools | Usually battens and screws with a cavity build-up; more cutting and fixing |
| End of life | Panel core recyclable where facilities accept it | Composite timber and adhesive build-ups are hard to separate |
Where recycled PET felt wins
- • Rooms with limited wall depth or structural capacity
- • Spaces needing absorption across mid and high frequencies
- • Humid locations, kitchens and washroom-adjacent walls
- • Projects with recycled-content or end-of-life requirements
Where the alternative wins
- • Interiors where a timber face is the design brief
- • Rooms needing a rigid, impact-resistant surface
- • Projects able to carry a batten cavity and higher wall load
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.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
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