Merchandising leson 8

What is the definition and FTC requirement of an alternative container in funeral service?

An enclosure for human remains in preparation for cremation; an FTC required option when offering direct cremations, composed of combustible material, rigid enough for handling, protecting operator health/safety, and providing privacy and respect.

What are the primary materials used in modern standard alternative containers?

A combination of robust corrugated cardboard with a minimal amount of wood reinforcing the bottom.

When is an alternative container specifically required or used during funeral arrangements?

It is used for direct cremations or when a family chooses cremation without purchasing a traditional wood burial casket or cremation casket.

What is the definition and purpose of a cremation pouch?

A non-rigid, combustible, cremation-friendly bag used for human remains, often required by crematory operators or state regulations to ensure a leak-proof delivery.

What is a cremation casket and what advantage does it offer over a traditional burial casket?

A specialty casket engineered/constructed for traditional viewing/funeral services and subsequent cremation; offers a lower comparative cost than a traditional wood burial casket.

How does a rental casket work with a rental insert during funeral services?

The family rents the casket shell for a traditional viewing/funeral; a combustible rental insert (holding the remains) slides in/out from the foot end, gets covered with a matching lid, and goes to the crematory.

What is the general funeral industry definition of an urn?

A container designed for the safeguarding and protection of cremated remains.

What is a temporary container for cremated remains and what materials is it made from?

A plain box used immediately after cremation to secure remains; made of corrugated cardboard, rigid plastic, or light-duty tin, containing remains sealed in a heavy-duty plastic bag with a durable ID tag.

What is the definition and purpose of a permanent urn?

A permanent container purchased or provided by the family to safeguard cremated remains; can sometimes be sent directly to the crematory to bypass a temporary container if approved.

What is the standard capacity (in cubic inches) of a single adult urn?

Minimum volume of 200 cubic inches, averaging between 200 and 230 cubic inches.

What are double urns and what are their two internal chamber configurations?

Urns designed for the cremated remains of two adults; available in double chamber models (separate chambers) or single chamber models (commingled remains).

What is the capacity (in cubic inches) and purpose of a portion urn?

Capacity of 15 to 70 cubic inches; used when dividing cremated remains among multiple family members or locations.

What is the capacity (in cubic inches) and purpose of a keepsake urn?

Holds up to 10 cubic inches; keeps a small token of cremated remains in the home or personal location, often matching the design of a larger parent urn.

What is a scattering device (wand, tube, baton, capsule) used for?

A special container designed to safely hold cremated remains pending and during a memorial scattering ceremony.

What is an urn vault and what is its primary purpose?

An outer burial container for an urn (made of materials like concrete with stainless steel/plastic reinforcement or 12-gauge galvanized steel) that protects the urn from crushing and prevents ground cave-in.

What is a transfer container in funeral service?

An outer enclosure used to protect casketed or uncasketed human remains during transportation beyond local destinations.

What is an Air Tray and when is it used?

A transfer container consisting of a solid composite wood bottom with a corrugated cardboard cover, lifting/cinching straps, and corner protectors; used specifically to ship casketed human remains.

What is a Combination Case (Combo Case) and when is it used?

A transfer container consisting of a particle board tray with a cardboard cover; used to ship uncasketed human remains.

What is a Wooden Box (Shipping Crate) and when is it used?

A rugged wooden container built specifically to hold and protect a casket or metal Ziegler case for long-distance or international shipping anywhere in the world.

What is a Metal Shipping Case (Ziegler Case) and how is it constructed?

A 20-gauge carbon steel gasketed container with threaded screw fasteners; used as a casket insert, an independent shipping container, or inside a wooden international box for uncasketed remains.

Why must a Metal Shipping Case (Ziegler Case) be properly vented during air transport?

Because cargo holds in aircraft are unpressurized; proper venting prevents the container from collapsing due to extreme atmospheric pressure changes at high altitudes.

What is a casket liner in funeral service history?

A metal liner placed inside a casket shell for added protection; largely historical and replaced today by metal caskets and burial vaults.

What is the difference between a cremation pouch and a standard pouch (body bag)?

A cremation pouch is a non-rigid, combustible bag designed specifically for cremation; a standard pouch is a leak-resistant, zippered plastic bag used for removals and body fluid containment (not necessarily combustible).

What is the difference between a combination case and a combination unit?

A combination case is a shipping container (particle board tray/cardboard cover) for uncasketed remains; a combination unit is an all-in-one casket and outer burial vault (usually polymer/plastic) used for infants/children.

When are outer burial containers (OBCs) required for infant or child combination units?

Requirement depends on individual cemetery regulations, which base decisions on criteria like the child's age, container length, or shell material.