About Crematoriums
Crematoriums use customized furnaces and systems to burn human remains to ashes. The bodies are cleaned and then placed in a coffin or some type of burnable container, which is heated to 1,000 to 2,000 degrees F. After the ashes are allowed to cool for a few hours, they are crushed to break up any remaining cinders, and then carefully swept together and into an storage container, such as an urn. Crematoriums work in conjunction with funeral homes and require a permit to operate.
Other People Are Reading
-
Definition
-
Crematoriums are used to burn human remains to ashes until they can be disposed of in a respectful manner. Most laws require human remains to be disposed of in one of several specific manners, with cremation being one of the options. Crematoriums usually work in conjunction with funeral homes or cemeteries and require a license to operate in the United States. Those who cremate a body must often also have a permit of some sort.
Construction
-
Crematoriums center around cremation chambers, also called cremators. In addition to the furnace, these usually feature some type of conveyor mechanism to move the remains into the furnace, and often a fan or other device to help collect the ashes. Most crematoriums also have some sort of crusher that dissolves any cinders or bones into smaller ashes that are easier to remove and handle.
-
Process
-
Crematorium technicians usually remove nonorganic materials, such as braces or pacemakers, from the remains so they will not harm the furnace under the intense heat. Any pieces that are left or are too difficult to remove are separated later. The remains are placed in a disposable box of the some kind, usually after waiting a minimum of 24 hours, according to state laws, and then put into the cremator. The furnace is heated to somewhere between 1,500 and 2,100 degrees F and it burns for anywhere from one to four hours, then it is allowed to cool for another few hours before crushing and removal.
Advantages
-
There are several reasons families and states choose to cremate human remains. Cremating is the cheapest option available, and takes up the least amount of space, which can be useful if no particular plot or place has been purchased to bury the body. There also does not need to be embalming services, saving both time and money.
Environmental Options
-
Crematoriums use a lot of energy to perform their functions, and produce very few beneficial results, although they perform an essential service. Because they have come under pressure from outside environmental sources, some crematoriums choose to use the heat generated from cremation to heat the facilities and nearby buildings.
-
