9 mm PET Felt Acoustic Panels – Sound Absorbers and Made-to-Measure Wall Cladding
The vitAcoustic 9 mm PET felt acoustic panel is our base panel: we use it to manufacture nearly all our ceiling clouds, wall absorbers, acoustic panels, and cut-to-size pieces. It is also the easiest thickness to work with in our range – standard woodworking machinery produces particularly clean results when sawing and cutting it to size, noticeably more easily than with any thicker panel. This makes it the ideal base material for woodworkers, retail fixture builders, and fabricators looking to integrate PET felt into their own furniture, installations, and projects.
At around 1.9 kg/m², the panel has a high areal weight – it is compressed much more densely than many lighter PET felts. This makes it dimensionally stable and gives it a firm core and a clean, durable edge that even withstands fingernail pressure. The raw panel size is 2440x1220x9 mm; it can be cut to any custom size.
Why 9 mm Is Enough for Sound Absorption
Like any soft fibrous absorber, PET felt “slows down” sound as air flows through its open felt structure and loses energy in the process. Directly against a hard wall, however, the air barely moves – even a thick panel can do little there and absorbs only high frequencies. Only an air cavity behind the panel gets the air moving, allowing the felt to work where it matters in everyday use: in the human voice range (around 200–500 Hz).
That is why performance is determined not by material thickness, but by the air gap or backing structure. For sound absorption alone, 9 mm is therefore entirely sufficient – it just needs to be used correctly: with a small air gap, as a freely suspended ceiling cloud, or as a composite panel with nonwoven backing.
Acoustic Performance (Tested to ISO 354, Rated to DIN EN ISO 11654)
The following values apply to flat-mounted panels, depending on the air gap. The highest absorption (class A) is achieved as a nonwoven composite or a suspended ceiling cloud. We list both the weighted sound absorption coefficient αw and the commonly used NRC value:
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Directly on the wall: αw 0.25 / NRC 0.30 – sound absorption class E
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50 mm air gap: αw 0.55–0.60 / NRC 0.65 – class D–C
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100 mm air gap: αw 0.75 / NRC 0.75 – class C
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150 mm air gap: αw 0.80 / NRC 0.80 – class B
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Nonwoven composite (9 + 40 mm) or ceiling cloud: sound absorption class A
For speech intelligibility, the low-mid frequency range around 200–500 Hz is particularly important – the frequencies of the human voice that are hardest to absorb acoustically. This is precisely where the 9-mm panel performs best: as a freely suspended ceiling cloud with a gap of about 20 cm, its peak absorption falls right in this speech range. Since high frequencies in furnished rooms are already absorbed by people, textiles, and furniture, in practice a cloud of this type comes very close to the performance of a high-quality class A absorber.*
* At large air gaps, the weighted single-number rating αw according to DIN EN ISO 11654 is mathematically limited by physical cancellation in the mid-frequency range (around ~850 Hz at 200 mm); practical absorption in the speech-relevant range of 200–500 Hz, by contrast, is very high. Freely suspended ceiling clouds work on both sides and without this cancellation. All class and performance ratings refer to the specified mounting method; measurements according to ISO 354.
The panels thus support compliance with DIN 18041 for reducing reverberation time and noticeably improve speech intelligibility – whether used as sound-absorbing wall cladding, an acoustic panel, or a suspended ceiling cloud. For the highest class A with flat wall mounting, we recommend the vitAcoustic nonwoven composite (9 mm PET panel on 40 mm PET nonwoven); for a suspended solution, choose our custom-made ceiling clouds.
Applications
Offices and open-plan spaces: Used as sound-absorbing wall cladding or suspended ceiling clouds, the panels lower noise levels, reduce reverberation, and improve speech intelligibility – in meeting rooms, focus areas, phone booths, and open-plan offices.
Hotels and restaurants: In lobbies, restaurants, and bars, they provide acoustic comfort and pleasant noise levels – without restricting the design.
Medical and therapy practices: Greater privacy through reduced speech transmission in waiting and treatment areas – tested for harmful substances and hygienically safe.
Retail fixtures and commercial interiors: As counter and shelving back panels, display surfaces, or designed acoustic panels – especially where quiet consultations matter, such as opticians, hearing care practices, and jewelry and fashion stores.
Configuration – One Product, Many Options
Each panel can be configured directly when you order. The options reflect our CNC machining capabilities and apply per panel:
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CNC cutting to size: multiple parts from one panel, including free-form shapes from DXF files
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Chamfers and miters: V-Cut chamfers (30°/45°) and mitered folding edges for clean corners and joints – particularly recommended for assembled parts due to material tolerances
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Duo – dual-layer 2×9 mm: creates an 18 mm thick panel (3.8 kg/m²), optionally two-color with different front and back colors
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Nonwoven composite: 9 mm PET on 30/40 mm PET nonwoven for sound absorption class A with flat wall mounting
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V-Cut textures: Lines, Bricks, Triangle, and custom designs at various angles and depths. The grooves do more than add visual interest: they increase the surface area and also scatter sound (diffusion) – reducing flutter echoes and allowing sound to decay more evenly throughout the room.
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Direct UV printing (CMYK): full-surface custom colors, designs, photos, or logos
Related material thicknesses include the 12 mm panel (size 2800x1225x12 mm) and the 24 mm panel. All thicknesses are suitable for all applications – the choice depends on weight, rigidity, and the desired design depth, not primarily on acoustics.
Colors, Availability, and Delivery Time
Our PET colors are organized into collections – the collection is included in the item number and can be selected in the color dropdown. There you can see the current stock level, delivery time, and minimum order quantity for each color, making it easy to select colors that are immediately available. Availability is determined by the collection, not the material thickness.
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Standard & Trend: always stocked at our warehouse, available from 1 panel – small quantities (under 200 panels) generally in just 1–2 weeks, including cutting to size and machining
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Extended: stocked by the manufacturer, also available from 1 panel, delivery time approx. 6 weeks (rail transport)
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Production: manufactured to order – from approx. 300 panels (in some cases from as few as 200). Available only here: custom dimensions and project-specific cuts optimized to minimize waste – production runs continuously at a width of 244 cm, with freely selectable cuts across the width and length
Fast delivery, including cutting to size and machining, is one of our strengths – especially for projects with tight deadlines.
Material and Manufacturing
The vitAcoustic PET felt panel is made from recycled PET plastic bottles, which are processed into textile fibers and laid into a fiber web using a felting process. This is then thermally bonded: a proportion of blended-in PET melt fibers (bicomponent fibers) partially melts in the oven and fuses the structure into a dimensionally stable panel – entirely without chemical adhesives or binders. This thermal bonding is precisely what gives the 9-mm panel its firm core and clean, durable edge. The many colors and heathered effects are created by blending differently colored fibers before bonding. The recycled content is certified by SCS Global Services.
Note on the nonwoven composite: Unlike the rigid panel, the PET nonwoven on the back is not thermally bonded. It remains soft and flexible, providing absorption at lower frequencies within the composite, while the rigid panel forms the designed visible surface.
- High areal weight (1.9 kg/m²) – densely compressed, dimensionally stable, and with a firm edge
- Unaffected by moisture and water-resistant
- Resistant to mold, pests, and dust mites
- Suitable for allergy sufferers – no volatile constituents
- Fully recyclable at the end of its service life
Fabrication and Installation
The 9-mm panel is designed for use with standard woodworking tools: clean sawing and cutting to size (circular saw or jigsaw, oscillating knife). Various mounting systems are available depending on the application:
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Adhesive bonding: e.g., UHU Polymax High Grip, UHU por contact adhesive, or double-sided tape (CT-S 5735)
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Screws and staples: particleboard screws, staples
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Z-rails (Z-Clip): for removable, precisely aligned wall mounting
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Magnetic mounting: for panels that can be removed without tools from a magnetic substrate
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Ceiling suspension cables: for freely suspended ceiling clouds at the desired height
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Halfen channels: for baffles and wall baffles, including installation in rows
Cleaning and care: vacuum or wipe with a damp cloth, as with textile coverings. Stubborn grease stains can be dissolved with a little thinner, and coffee or wine stains can be bleached with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) – without damaging the PET fiber or color.
Certificates and Standards
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Flame-resistant according to EN 13501-1 (B-s1,d0) – tested by TÜV-SÜD, equivalent to fire class B1 according to DIN 4102
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OEKO-TEX Standard 100 – tested for harmful substances, suitable for daycare centers, schools, and clinics
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Greenguard Gold – low VOC emissions for healthy indoor air
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EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) – relevant to DGNB and LEED certification
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SCS Recycled Content – certified recycled content
Technical Properties
| Property |
Value |
| Construction |
Single-layer PET felt, thermally bonded (melt fibers); optional dual-layer “Duo” = 18 mm |
| Material |
PET felt from recycled PET bottles, thermally bonded – without chemical binders |
| Thickness |
9 mm (Duo 18 mm) |
| Areal weight |
1.9 kg/m² (Duo 3.8 kg/m²) |
| Acoustic function |
Porous broadband sound absorber; performance adjustable through air gap/construction |
| Sound absorption class |
E directly mounted · D–C (50–100 mm air gap) · B (150 mm air gap) · A as nonwoven composite or ceiling cloud |
| αw |
0.25 (directly mounted) · 0.55–0.60 (50 mm air gap) · 0.75 (100 mm air gap) · 0.80 (150 mm air gap); composite/cloud → A · according to DIN EN ISO 11654 |
| NRC |
0.30 (directly mounted) · 0.65 (50 mm air gap) · 0.75 (100 mm air gap) · 0.80 (150–200 mm air gap) |
| Frequency range |
Broadband; peak absorption in the low-mid range depending on air gap (speech range 200–500 Hz) |
| Edge finish |
CNC-cut edge; optional V-Cut miter/chamfer (30°/45°, folding edge) |
| Surface texture |
Smooth or V-Cut (Lines/Bricks/Triangle); optional UV printing |
| Color configuration |
50+ design colors in stock; custom colors from 300 panels; Duo two-color |
| Made to measure |
CNC cutting to size from raw panel 2440x1220x9 mm; free-form shapes from DXF files |
| Fire classification |
Flame-resistant B-s1,d0 according to EN 13501-1 (TÜV SÜD; equivalent to DIN 4102 B1) |
| Recycled content |
Recycled PET, content certified by SCS |
| Environmental declaration |
EPD (relevant to DGNB/LEED); Greenguard Gold |
| Harmful substance testing |
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 |
| Care |
Vacuum / wipe with a damp cloth; remove grease with thinner, bleach coffee/wine stains with H2O2 (without damaging the material) |
Samples, Data Sheets, and Shipping
Free color samples are available in the Samples and Miscellaneous category. Technical data sheets, absorption values, and certificates are available in our download section. Shipping: small parts and cut-to-size pieces are sent by parcel service; whole panels (2440x1220x9 mm) are shipped as palletized freight via a freight forwarder.
Are you planning a project or need custom dimensions? Call us at +49 7248-93566-90 or email [email protected] – we manufacture to your specifications.
