MÉTISSE RT 20kg/m3 Insulation - Recycled cotton 45mm insulation panel | Thermo-Acoustique

Flexible insulation panel with thermal and acoustic performance: MÉTISSE RT 45 mm

MÉTISSE RT 20kg/m3 is a thermo-acoustic insulator made from recycled textile fibres (at least 70% of which are cotton) and 15% polyester binder. These fibres come from clothing collected by Le Relais (emmaus network), then transformed into panels using a local, environmentally-friendly and controlled industrial process. The entire manufacturing cycle is controlled in France, to promote a circular economy and social inclusion.

Why insulate your van with recycled cotton panels ?

Insulating your van is essential to ensure good thermal comfort in all seasons, but also to reduce outside noise. MÉTISSE RT has the advantage of being a natural insulator, effective against both cold and heat thanks to its excellent thermal phase shift (higher than mineral wool), but also offers excellent acoustic performance. It's a solution that contains no irritating fibres, poses no health risk, and is suitable for installation in confined spaces such as a converted van.

What are the advantages of MÉTISSE insulation ?

• Excellent thermal performance (λ = 0.039 W/m-K)
• Very good sound attenuation (up to 68 dB depending on configuration)
• Flexible, lightweight, easy to cut and install
• No toxic emissions: classified A+ for VOC emissions
• Non-scratch: unequalled ease of installation
• Flame-retardant treatment; antifungal and antibacterial (at the heart of the textile fibre)
• Recycled and recyclable material (recovery of used textiles)
• Made in France in a spirit of solidarity and sustainability

How do you install MÉTISSE RT insulation in a van ?

We recommend that you use MÉTISSE RT recycled cotton panels only on the side walls (left and right) and swing doors (or tailgate) of your utility using a contact adhesive spray. They can be laid over a layer of sprayed cork, as long as it is completely dry. Then all you have to do is lay vapour brake in front of the panels, which will be double-sided adhesive tape, directly applied to the vehicle's sheet metal uprights for good adhesion. This system guarantees vapour-tightness while maintaining good interior humidity management. The vapour brake ensures that the insulation lasts !

For the ceiling, we recommend layingArmaflex AF 19mm (packaged in 6m² rolls) and for the 4mm thick cork (packaged in 4m² rolls).

MÉTISSE RT panels are easy to cut using a hand saw knife with smooth or corrugated blades. The insulation is positioned edge to edge, slightly compressed, abutting the floor and ceiling.

What is MÉTISSE insulation made of ?

MÉTISSE RT insulation is made from 85% recycled textile fibres, the majority of which are cotton (mainly used jeans). These fibres come from clothing collected, sorted and processed locally by the Le Relais network, in a spirit of solidarity and the circular economy.

To ensure the panel's cohesion, the fibres are mixed with 15% thermo-fusible polyester binder, which provides good mechanical strength without the addition of toxic glue. The whole panel is then treated to provide long-lasting protection against mould, bacteria and fire, using a complete bath process directly at the heart of the material.

The result is a healthy, irritant-free insulation that is 100% recyclable and perfectly suited to mobile, environmentally-friendly living.

Technical characteristics of MÉTISSE RT 45 mm

• Thickness: 45 mm.
• Density: 20 kg/m³.
• Thermal resistance (R): 1.15 m²-K/W.
• Thermal conductivity (λ): 0.039 W/(m-K).
• Reaction to fire: Euroclass D-s2,d0 (bare product).
• Moisture resistance: Wp = 3.73 kg/m² (short-term water absorption).
• Water vapour permeability: µ = 1.47.
• Sd value: 0.066 m (45 mm thick).
• Thickness recovery after compression: 100%.
• Mould resistance: Class 0 (inert medium).
• VOC emissions: A+.
• Panel dimensions: 1200 mm x 600 mm.
• Weight of one panel: 0.65 kg.
• Sold individually.

These values are taken from ACERMI certificate n°14/179/918 and from tests carried out by approved independent laboratories (CSTB, Eurofins, Conidia, etc.).

How many MÉTISSE RT recycled cotton panels do you need to insulate your van ?

The quantity of MÉTISSE RT panels you need depends on the dimensions of your vehicle and the surfaces you wish to insulate.

Heode guides you through the process of ordering the right number of 45 mm recycled cotton panels to insulate your converted vehicle !

As a matter of principle :

- 1 45 mm thick MÉTISSE RT panel measures: 1200 mm (1.2 m) long x 600 mm (0.6 m) wide, i.e 0.72m².

- Our former expert developers Heode advise installing MÉTISSE RT insulation only on side walls + swing doors (or tailgate).

Now we need to :

- Know the size of your vehicle: L1H1; L1H2; L2H1; L2H2; etc.

- Know the dimensions (LxW) of the surfaces to be covered with MÉTISSE RT insulation: left + right side walls and hinged doors (or tailgate) of your vehicle.

Of course, any surface that has a window or will soon have a window (before the insulation stage) should not be included in your measurements.

For information, to obtain a surface area in m², perform the following calculation: Length in metres x width in metres (if you measure your surfaces in cm, then convert them into metres before performing this calculation.)

Once you know the total surface area in m² that you plan to cover with MÉTISSE RT panels, all you have to do is make the following calculation: Total surface area in m² / 0.72 m² ≃ Number of MÉTISSE RT panels to order. If the result is: "4.16" (for example), round it up to the nearest whole number, in this case 5. The number 5 would correspond to the number of panels to be ordered.

💡 Tip Heode always allow 1 or 2 extra panels for any adjustments or losses.

FAQ about MÉTISSE RT insulation in 45 mm panels

Is MÉTISSE RT suitable for insulating a converted van ? Although originally designed for the building industry, MÉTISSE RT is perfectly suited to fitting out vans. Its lightness, flexibility, ease of installation and thermo-acoustic properties make it an excellent solution for side walls and hinged doors (or tailgate).

Can 45 mm thick MÉTISSE RT insulation panels be fitted to the ceiling and floor of a van ? This is not recommended. For the ceiling, thin, self-adhesive insulation such asArmaflex AF 19 mm is more suitable, particularly for limiting height loss and making installation easier. For the floor, choose 4 mm thick cork on a roll: high-performance, crush-resistant and perfect for avoiding the "cold floor" effect. Cork is glued with a spray adhesive.

Can MÉTISSE RT insulation panels be laid over sprayed cork ? Yes, it's perfectly possible! MÉTISSE RT recycled cotton insulation panels can be laid directly on top of a layer of sprayed cork, as long as it is completely dry. This guarantees that the panels will hold together mechanically.

💡 Council Heode wait at least 24 to 48 hours after applying the sprayed cork before laying your panels, if and only if the humidity and temperature conditions in the drying area are optimal. Discover soliege spray cork here.

Is it compulsory to install a vapour barrier with MÉTISSE RT ? Yes, to guarantee the durability of the insulation in a van (confined space, condensation, thermal variations). It is essential to install a vapour brake, such as Intello®, directly on MÉTISSE RT panels, to be fixed with adhesive tape double-sided.

How long does MÉTISSE RT last ? Very long-lasting! Thanks to its antifungal, antibacterial and fireproof treatment, and its polyester-bonded natural fibre composition, MÉTISSE RT is stable over time. It won't shrink or mildew, and retains its performance throughout the life of your van (and beyond).

Does MÉTISSE scratch like glass wool ? Not at all. Unlike mineral insulation, MÉTISSE RT contains no irritating fibres. It's soft to the touch, easy to handle and non-itchy. You can even install it without gloves, although a minimum of protection is always advisable (mask/gloves).

Is MÉTISSE RT an environmentally-friendly product ? Absolutely. It's made in France from recycled used clothing, mainly cotton jeans. It has A+ VOC emissions, helps to reduce textile waste, and is 100% recyclable after removal.