Playbark and Playsand

About our Play Grade Bark

Considerations in choosing the right play area safety surfacing for you:

Area and depth of application: please see individual play bark product technical specifications
Budget: by applying the play bark too thinly, it will wear out more quickly and become ineffective
Play grade bark, wood chip or rubber?

This choice between play grade bark or woodchip is simply a cosmetic decision. Both types will perform well. The bark is literally the ‘bark part’ from the tree and the woodchip is carefully screened and graded wood chips from the tree. The more chunky and robust chips will last the longest because they are more resilient.

Our Rubber Chips are initially more expensive, but by taking into account the longevity of the product (10 years plus), it is more cost-effective than bark and wood chip which will ultimately break down under wear and tear and the natural elements.

Loose fill materials may displace during use, we always suggest that when an impact absorbing surface is desired, the depth is increased according to the degree or maintenance and level of activity. (As with all loose impact absorbing products, raking is recommended to maintain the desired thickness).

We believe there is no formal requirement or standard for an impact absorbing surface to be used in a residential situation and you should carry out your own risk assessment as appropriate to your individual circumstances.

NB Commercial or public areas are covered by more detailed requirements BS EN1176 relating to loose fill impact absorbing products, requiring greater depths of all loose fill products in a public environment. In accordance with BS EN 1177 (2008) an additional 100mm of material should be included to allow for displacement in use.

Topping up existing play areas:

Although it is very common place to consider topping up a play area with new ‘play bark’ we strongly advise due consideration is given to the condition of the existing material which has inevitably decomposed.

Quite often this decomposed material has become extremely compressed and firm, especially in dry conditions and if new play bark is laid on top, especially at minimal depth, the new material will wear extremely quickly simply due to abrasion!

This situation applies more so with the chunkier types of material where it requires greater depth to knit together to provide settlement and therefore to provide a safe surface. The application of new play bark always has to have a credible depth to be functional and to perform correctly.

If the older material has become very hard and compact, consider removing it and replacing with new, this way it will remove the issues as mentioned above and will also prevent the new play bark spilling out of the play area due to the surfacing being too high.