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Playbark®

Playbark®

A well-graded, pine bark-based loose impact absorbing surface(LIAS), widely used and suitable with all play equipment, including climbing frames, slides and space nets.
The UK’s leading brand of LIAS and used extensively throughout the country for well over 30 years. Particularly suitable for use on playgrounds where the children are up to 6 years old.
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® The Royal Horticultural Society. Trade marks of The Royal Horticultural Society (Registered Charity No 222879/SC038262) used under licence from RHS Enterprises Limited.

• Nominal particle size range 10 – 40 mm
• Clean and virtually dust and fines-free
• Free-draining and performance not adversely affected by frost
• Reddish brown in colour and very attractive appearance
• High durability of between 3 and 5 years plus
• Good resistance to wind erosion
• Less than 5 % wood content by volume
• Specifically graded to meet all the main criteria for surfacing children’s play areas
• Compliant with BS EN 1176, Table A.1 confirming that Playbark  meets a nationally accepted industry standard
• RHS endorsed (when sold in 60 litre bags)
• Certified by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®)
• High resistance to fire confirmed by testing in accordance with BS 4790:1987

• Independently tested in accordance with the requirements of BS EN 1176, at depths of 300mm, 200mm and 100mm giving critical fall heights of 6.01metres, 3.82 metres and 1.33 metres respectively
• Rapid drainage during wet weather allows play all year round
• Easy to install and maintain
• Clean to play on
• Virtually vandal resistant
• Any overspill onto adjacent grassed areas will not damage mowing equipment
• The loose, particulate feel of Playbark 8/25 deters dogs and cats, thus helping to prevent animal fouling
• Hostile living environment for pests
• Extremely cost-effective
• Easy to relocate
• At the end of its useful life as a play surface, Playbark can be effectively re-used as a mulch or soil conditioner

We recommend allowing 10% for natural settlement

Available in 60 litre bags, bulk bags and in loose bulk

This product is from FSC MIX Sources at a minimum of 70%, FSC certificate number CU-COC-806457

Design, Installation and Aftercare
Melcourt offers extensive advice on design, installation and aftercare using products from our Play Range, together with up to date information on many contractual and standards issues regarding play areas.

To comply with BS EN 1176, the LIAS used must be installed to a layer thickness of 100mm more than that found by laboratory testing to be necessary to achieve the required critical fall height.

While we are happy to provide general guidance, customers are responsible for ensuring compliance with all current legislation, standards and best practice relating to the installation of safety surfaces in children’s play areas, especially in public or high-risk environments.

We recommend allowing 10% for natural settlement.

Wood shards
Melcourt’s loose impact surfaces, are made from natural materials. During the manufacturing and screening process a very small proportion of larger pieces of wood, referred to as ‘wood shards’, may fall through the screens and be included in the finished product.
If these wood shards are considered to be a hazard, they can be physically removed, by hand, once the surface has been installed.

Where used, the polythene packaging for this product has been manufactured using at least 30% post-consumer waste plastic. We are working with our suppliers to increase this level as quickly as we can.

The bag is 100% recyclable but check regionally for local recycling options.

Main ConstituentPine Bark
OriginBritish
Nominal Particle Size10 – 40mm
Wood Content<5%
Dust and FinesMinimal
Bulk Density210 – 260 kg/m3
Durability3-5+ years
BS EN 1176 CompliantYes
BS EN 1177 TestedYes
BS 4790:1987 TestedYes
FSC CertifiedYes

*All values given in the Specifications table are typical. However, some variation may occur from time to time. Melcourt Industries Ltd reserves the right to alter the specification without notice, for the purpose of product improvement.

Bag Size60 litres
Product Code6018
Bags per Pallet50
Pack Weight16-17 kg
Barcode Number5060157810735
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Over the last decade Melcourt have proved to be a consistent supplier of quality growing media to us . Customers ask for their products by name and we are proud to sell them.


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For us, Melcourt sets the standard in peat free compost. The quality is always great and customers keep coming back for more because they have great success with the product.


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