PET felt; your questions answered
We are often asked why we choose Polyethylene Terephthalate(PET)felt to create our range of acoustic products. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions covering issues including the acoustic, safety and sustainability qualities of this durable material.
How effective is PET felt in reducing noise?
PET is a very efficient material in terms of absorbing noise and our in-house designers are able to advise and guide you as to which solutions will best meet your specific needs. Our PET felt has a starting NRC of 0.45 (Class C) when it is mounted directly to a wall. This can be increased to Class B and Class A depending on how you mount the product. Having more of an air gap between the wall and the acoustic panels will increase the acoustic absorption as noise gets trapped between the surfaces. The key when managing acoustics is to ensure you have the right combination of products in the right place and as no two spaces are the same, there’s no on-size-fits-all.
What is the advantage of PET felt over other acoustic materials?
PET felt offers superior acoustic qualities because of its closed structure, as opposed to the open cellular arrangement of traditional acoustic foam. For the best noise reduction, a variety of different products within a space can create the calmest environment. For example, using ceiling products, as well as surface products within a room.
Is PET felt eco-friendly and sustainable?
PET felt is made with 60% post-consumer waste from recycled plastic bottles and has a low embodied carbon footprint and lower energy profile compared to other acoustic materials such as foam and wool. Each sheet of PET felt is made using approximately 280 recycled plastic bottles. Furthermore, our PET felt contains no formaldehyde binders and very low VOCs, making it not only environmentally friendly but also safer for indoor air quality.
Our felt is 100% biodegradable at the end of life. However, currently in the UK there is no infrastructure in place to make this practical. We are hoping this will change soon.
Is PET felt safe and suitable for schools and colleges?
Our hard-wearing acoustic products can be produced in 40 nature-inspired colours to reflect your branding and match soft furnishings and finishes within your overall interiors scheme. We can print either nature murals or bespoke artwork on each item and in the past have included school motos, motivational quotes and educational resources such as periodic tables. PET felt softens spaces and is also ‘pinnable’ making it perfect for creating displays or using as a pin board.
Our PET felt has a Class A fire rating, meaning that it is safe in a wide range of spaces, including near heat sources. It has very low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and no formaldehyde binders making it absolutely safe for use in schools, colleges and universities.
How do I work out which Four Square Furniture PET acoustic products are right for my school or college?
Our experienced team are more than happy to advise you on the best way to address acoustic issues in your school. We offer a range of acoustic solutions for education environments, from ceiling rafts and baffles, wall surfaces, suspended and floor-standing screens and desk screens.
Please contact us on 01923 774242 or email sales@foursquarefurniture.uk and we will work with you to create the optimum acoustic solution for your space.
Contact us now to arrange an online or in-person appointment.
T: 01923 774242 E: sales@foursquarefurniture.uk