Schools
We are a specialist supplier to Schools
Welcome to our web page dedicated specifically for schools and the education sector.
Although our range of products is comprehensive, due to our industry knowledge and experience we are confident we can assist you in making the right choice for your particular school.
As a result we have summarised the predominant products and service which we believe may be of consideration.
Play Equipment
School Equipment
Find out moreSchool Credit Application
School Credit Application
Find out morePrayer and Reflection Area
Prayer and Reflection Areas
Find out moreFrequently Asked Questions
Not a problem, simply browse through the rest of our products available, don’t forget you can still order any of the products on our website and put them on your very own school credit account.
We are one of the UK’s largest suppliers of bulk play surfacing products so we are confident we can assist you with any requirement your school needs.
We have all vehicle types and sizes available to facilitate your delivery.
We will be delighted to pop out to assist you with your requirements, just contact our sales office and we will gladly arrange this for you.
Installation
Playbark.com has its own installation team which operate throughout the UK, installing play surfaces to suit all budgets. If this is a service you are interested in, please contact us here and we will arrange for a FREE OF CHARGE site visit.
We have made the ordering process as easy as possible.
Simply fill in the account application form providing your school’s details.
Please allow 7 days for us to carry out our usual credit checks. We will then set up your account so please keep an eye out for an email from us with instructions on completing set-up and creating a password.
Once you have done this, use your login every time you shop online with us and you will automatically be facilitated with a 30 day credit account, no payment is necessary! Simply select ‘pay by invoice’ during the checkout process.
Summary of Product Types:
- Traditional Play Barks & Play Wood Chips
- ‘Loose fill’ Rubber Play Surfaces
- Bouncy Bond, Bonded Rubber Mulch
- Wetpour Bonded rubber surfaces
- Conipave SUDS compliant surfacing
Critical Fall Height- in plain English!
It is good practice for all competent suppliers to have their play surfacing product tested in accordance with BS1177 EN:2018.
The Critical Fall Height (CFH) of a playground surface is based on the height of the highest piece of equipment which a child can stand upon; In turn, this will then determine the thickness of the safety surfacing.
Determined depth + 100mm
For Loose-fill Impact Absorbing Surfaces (LIAS), a 100mm thickness of play surfacing shall be added to the test result to allow for compaction and displacement.
Therefore if for example the tested Critical Fall Height is 2.2 metres at a depth of 100mm, the depth applied to the play area needs to be 200mm.
This does not apply to bonded surfaces as this type of surface will not move.
Advantages and disadvantages of our product types:
| Product | Description | Particle Size | Critical Fall Height | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pine Play Bark Chippings | Traditional play bark, applied loose. Suitable for most applications. | 18-35mm | 100mm: 1.5m 300mm: >5m | * Cost effective. * Natural product. * Easy to apply. | * Will need to be topped up after a few years. * May attract creepy crawlies. * May become messy in winter. |
| Play Area Softwood Chip | A play area chip derived from Soft wood. | 5-40mm | 100mm: >3m 200mm 300mm: >3m | * Very cost effective. * Natural product. * Easy to apply * Smaller particle may suit younger children. | * Will need to be topped up after a few years. * May attract creepy crawlies. * May become messy in winter.
|
| Loose-Fill Rubber Chippings | Coloured chippings suitable for most areas. | 11-19mm | 50mm: 1.93m 100mm: 2.61m 200mm | * Very long lasting. * Bright colours. * Easy to apply. * Can be used all year around. * Requires less depth to be compliant, therefore cost effective. | * Initially may be more expensive than traditional play barks. * Not derived from natural resources. |
| Bouncy Bond Bonded Rubber Mulch | Rubber Mulch, bonded together to make a semi-permanent surface. | 5-30mm (Bonded together) | 40mm: 1.7m 50mm: 1.9m 75mm: 2.7m | * No loose chippings to be kicked about. * Retains depth so always safe. * Very long lasting. * Slip resistant. * Tactile. * Minimal Maintenance required. * No top ups needed. | * Initially more expensive. * Not derived from natural resources. |
| Wetpour Rubber Surfaces | A 2 tier bonded surface, consisting of a SBR rubber sub base topped off with a 1-4mm EPDM wearing layer. | 1-4mm, Bonded. | TBC | * No loose chippings to be kicked about. * Retains depth so always safe. * Very long lasting. * Slip resistant. * Tactile. * Minimal Maintenance required. * No top ups needed. | * Initially more expensive. * Not derived from natural resources. |
| Play Area Hardwood Chip | A long lasting play area chip derived from hardwood tree species’. | 5-40mm | TBC |
* Attractive, rustic appearance. * Clean to handle. | * Will need to be topped up after a few years. * May attract creepy crawlies. * May become messy in winter. |
| Rubber Mini-mulch | An attractive, extremely long lasting and recycled rubber loose fill surfacing.
| 5-30mm | TBC | * Extremely long lasting. * Very safe. * Wonderful colour options. * Will not attract creepy crawlies. | * Initially more expensive than regular bark. * Colour will eventually fade. |
Please remember, apart from the Rubber Bonded Surfaces, all loose play surfacing will require an additional 100mm on top of the relevant depth to be compliant.
