FM III Outer burial containers, burial vaults, and other caskets and containers

What is an outer burial container?

Any container which is designed for placement in the grave around the casket, including, but not limited to, containers commonly known as:

• burial vaults

• grave boxes

• grave liners

What was the historical purposes of outer burial containers?

To protect from grave robbers

What is the modern purpose of outer burial containers?

To support the earth’s load

Are outer burial containers required by law?

No

Who usually requires the purchase of a outer burial container?

Most cemeteries, they require such a purchase in the interest of maintaining the structure and integrity of the grave.

Outer burial containers are one of the 6 mandatory disclosures on a ______

GPL

Every ______ is considered an outer burial container, but outer burial containers cannot legally be called ______

vault, vaults

An OBC will meet only the minimum cemetery requirements, list those requirements

• No liner

• No seal

• No warranty

• No requirement to withstand 5000 lbs. pressure PSF (per square foot)

What is a grave liner?

An outer enclosure which offers protection from the earths load but does not have sealing qualities, and therefore offers no protection from the elements.

What are the construction materials for a grave liner?

• Concrete (Most common)

• Wood

Why is concrete the most common grave liner construction material?

Most companies offer concrete

What are the two styles of OBC?

• Grave box

• Sectional box

Describe a grave box

An outer enclosure with a single-unit base and a one-piece or two-piece cap.

Describe a sectional box

A grave liner consisting of six or eight slabs of unfinished concrete placed around the casket.

What is a vault?

An outer enclosure which offers protection from the earths load as well as possessing sealing qualities. (Seal, liner, warranty, 5000lb. pressure psf required)

Vaults supports the earths load in _________________

18” of soil at 4000+ lbs.

What is the main purpose of a vault?

Protects the grave from the weight of the earth as well as additional stress from equipment

What are the four load types?

• Static

• Differential

• Dynamic

• Impact

What is static load?

weight of the earth without any other weight factors

What is differential load?

excess temporary weight is placed on a grave (ex: Dirt from another grave)

What is dynamic load?

excess temporary weight that varies (ex: equipment weight)

What is impact load?

sudden and powerful force to the outer burial container (ex: filling the grave with dirt)

What do vaults also do besides their main purpose?

Provides additional resistance from outside elements and/or subsoil conditions.

  I. Water/Moisture

  ii. Un-level grave space

  iii. Bugs/Vermin

List the types of vault materials

• Concrete

• Metal

• Polypropylene and Fiberglass

What is concrete?

A mixture of sand, gravel, water and cement.

Describe the properties of a concrete vault

• May have reinforcement

  • Wire/Steel Meshing

  • Steel Rebar

• Will have an interior lining

  • Asphalt

  • Plastic (Polystyrene or ABS) 

  • Metal (Stainless Steel, Copper, Bronze)

• Two-piece construction

  • Base

  • Cap (Cover)

  • 2000+lbs. (1 ton)

  • Top seal closure method

Describe the properties of a metal vault

• Comes in various types of metal

  • Carbon Steel

  • Stainless Steel

  • Copper

  • Galvanized

• Metal vaults are measured in Gauge

  • 7 gauge  

  • 10 gauge  

  • 12 gauge

• Two-piece construction

  • Base

  • Dome

  • Air seal closure method

Describe Polymer (polypropylene) and fiberglass vaults

• Less common than concrete and metal vaults

  • More common in infant combo units than in adult or full-sized vaults.

  • Can be either top, air, or double seal. However, air seal is the most common seal employed in polymer  and fiberglass vaults.

What is the air seal closure method?

Utilizes the air pressure created by placing the dome of the vault onto the base of the vault.

• The Diving Bell Principle

What is the top seal closure method?

Utilizes an epoxy compound in conjunction with a tongue-in-groove closure at the top of the vault.

• The most common epoxy compound is butyl.

What is the end seal closure method?

End seal vaults are utilized in above ground crypts in which one end will drop down and be sealed so a casket can be “slid” in for interment.

What is the double seal closure method?

Utilizes the principle of the air seal in conjunction with an epoxy material at the junction of the dome and the base of the vault.

What are the vault dimensions for a standard adult vault?

30” wide X 86” Long X 24.5” High

What are the vault dimensions for a oversized adult vault?

36”X92” and 42”X92”

What are the vault dimensions for a standard child vault?

23” X 60”

What are the vault dimensions for a oversized child vault?

None are available, at that point use a standard adult vault.

What sizes do urn vaults come in?

Single and Double

What are the construction materials for urn vaults?

Urn vault construction materials are as varied as the full sized burial vault ranging from high end metal to plastic.

What are other containers typically used for?

transportation purposes.

What do all commercial airlines and railways require when shipping in or out?

Some type of transfer container

Define transfer container

An outer enclosure used for the protection of the casket and the casketed remains during transport.

What is a wood box transfer container (not for airlines)?

Made entirely of wood and used to ship high-end caskets.

What is a alternative container transfer container (not for airlines)?

Nonmetal enclosure, without ornamentation or a fixed interior lining, designed for the encasement of dead human remains. Made of cardboard, pressed-wood, composition material or pouches of canvas or other materials.

What is a Ziegler case?

A gasket-sealed container used for shipping or as an insert in a casket

What is an air tray?

Wood tray with a cardboard lid used to ship casketed human remains (Can also be used for person of size cremations)

What is a combination case?

Particle board box with a cardboard tray and cover used to ship human remains (uncasketed)

What is a unfurnished wooden box as a casket?

Unornamented casket made of wood which does not have a fixed interior lining.

What is a combination unit?

A unit or series of units which are designed to be used together as both a casket and as a permanent burial receptacle.**Typically seen in infant caskets**

What are some specialty caskets?

Orthodox Jewish Caskets, “Gasketed” Wood Caskets, Clergy/Priests Caskets, The Glass Sealer, Hand-Crafted Caskets/Coffins, Ecopod Caskets, WhiteLight Caskets