4: The Cremation Process

For infants it is essential to remember that commingling is illegal in this case as well:

1. A metal identification disc is required, just as with an adult. 2. In this case, the body of the infant should be placed in a special infant pan alone close to the primary burner, but not directly beneath the burner to create a lower temperature for cremation. 3. Cremate following other cremations using the ambient heat for the cremation process. It may be necessary to begin with the primary burner, but if possible lower the temperature as soon as you can as the intense heat could dissipate the cremated remains leaving nothing to return to the family. 4. The pulverizer process can generally be accomplished by hand rather than in the processor.

Following the removal of the cremated remains (Bone fragments) from the primary chamber, what is removed from the cremated remains?

Any metal that may have remained after the cremation process(remove with magnet)

a device used to introduce flame to the primary chamber of a retort; may be referred to as the primary burner

Burner

What is placed into the crematory primary chamber to facilitate the loading of the deceased?

Cardboard cylinder/roller

a chemical reaction that results from mixing fuel and oxygen in the presence of an ignition source and releases light and heat

Combustion

an environmentally safe casket which is designed for encasing dead human remains for cremation

Cremation casket

the case / container in which the human body is delivered to the crematory and in which the body is cremated

Cremation container

Which portion of the deceased (head or feet) should be loaded into the primary chamber first during a normal (non-obese) cremation?

Feet First

What may happen if the secondary chamber has too high of a temperature?

It could cause the gases and particulates to evacuate through the stack more quickly causing a visible emission from the stack

According to the instructor notes, should the cremation container be opened at the crematory without the funeral director present?

No, the funeral directors should verify with the crematory that the container will not be opened without the funeral director present since the funeral director is the representative of the family

cool down period

Obviously if the cremation process was at temperatures of 1400-1600 degrees, it will take some time for the crematory to cool down enough for the operator to remove the cremated remains

processing of cremated remains

Once the cremated remains have cooled, sweep the cremated remains with a magnet to collect/remove any metal that may have remained following cremation. Reduce the cremated remains to a fine sand-like appearance. This is accomplished utilizing the processor through a pulverizing process which is similar to a blender in a kitchen. The unit below has the cooling tray on top and the processor below on the same unit.

placement into urn or other container

Once the reduction is complete, the cremated remains can be poured into a plastic bag which has been placed into the urn or other container. If the cremated remains will not fit into one container, the operator will utilize 2 containers and return both to the family. The metal disc that was with the body at the beginning of the cremation process is included in the urn to remain with the cremated remains.

small pieces of liquids or solids that include dust, fumes, smoke, mists or sprays that are products of incinerated matter

Particulates

chemical compounds (gaseous or particulate matter) in combustion / flue gases that present human health and environmental concerns

Pollutants

chamber within a retort where primary ignition and burning of human remains occurs

Primary combustion chamber

What unit is utilized to reduce the bone fragments down to a fine sand-like powder?

Processor

the process of reducing the size of cremated remains after or as a secondary step of cremation

Pulverizing

special high temperature lining of the combustion chambers

Refractory

the burning chamber in a crematory

Retort

chamber where unburned combustible materials from the primary chamber are completely burned

Secondary Combustion Chamber

a chamber designed to reduce the velocity of the products of combustion to promote the settling of fly ash to allow for further combustion or to inhibit escape from the stack

Setting or expansion Chamber

What relative temperature should be used to cremate an infant?

Should utilize the heated crematory after a deceased person has been cremated

purge the system

Some retorts require that crematory to run a purge especially before the first cremation of the day. The purge will remove any gases or particulates that are remaining in the retort from prior cremations.

What material is often used for the metal identification discs of cremation?

Stainless steal or titanium

What special consideration relative to the primary chamber is given to the cremation process of an infant?

The infant should be placed in a special infant pan alone close to the primary burner

Why is ambient heat (heat that builds up from other cremations) used for an infant cremation?

The intense heat could dissipate the cremated remains leaving nothing, because the babies are so tiny that normal burners and blowers would dissipate the cremated remains of the infant so ideally you would want to use a gentle heat for them

What should be done if the cremated remains will not fit into 1 urn?

The operator will utilize 2 containers and return both to the family

Preheat retort

The preheat process utilizes the afterburner and is necessary to ensure that the temperature in the secondary chamber is high enough to combust the gases and particulates released from the primary chamber during cremation. Notice the afterburner is the smaller flame in the back and near the bottom of the crematory. This temperature is different based upon different manufacturers but is generally between 1400 and 1800 degrees Fahrenheit for most cremators, though some older ones will need to remain between 1200 and 1600 degrees.

Insert the metal disc into the retort

This disc is usually made of stainless steel or titanium and it can withstand the intense heat of the retort. It must have a unique identification number which is assigned only to the deceased person and follows the body / cremated remains throughout the entire process including being placed in the urn or temporary container with the cremated remains. This could be accomplished after the deceased is placed in the retort as well.

engage the primary burner

This is when the flame will actually burn the body of the deceased

Why do you preheat the crematory prior to cremation?

To ensure that the temperature in the secondary chamber is high enough to combust the gases and particulates released from the primary chamber

termocouple

a heat-sensing device, typically there is two with one in each chamber

settling chamber

allowing for heavy particulates to settle out as they cool

cleanout door

allowing for the cremated remains to be removed from the retort

components not burned as fuel remain as:

ash

What should temp of secondary burner be?

between 1400 and 1800

How should infant pulverization be accomplished?

by hand

a furnace or retort for cremating dead human bodies; a building that houses a retort

crematory

primary burner

direct flame onto the deceased body

combustion products such as smoke, soot, sulfur dioxide, etc

emissions

When the body is placed in the primary chamber it should generally be placed in the:

enter with the feet of the deceased entering the chamber first

a horizontal passage for conducting products of combustion into the atmosphere

flue

a solid surface upon which the human remains and container are placed for the cremation process

hearth

Most crematories also utilizes a loading table which is a:

hydraulic lift that raises the cremation container high enough to set on the portal of entry into the primary chamber

burners

introduce flame by delivering fuel and its combustion air at desired velocities and turbulence -located at primary and secondary chambers -maintain proper ignition and combustion of fuel

What kind of batteries need to be removed?

lithium

What should always be followed?

manufacturer protocol

first cases of the day should be:

obese or highly varnished caskets

The degree to which a substance allows light to pass through

opacity

afterburner

secondary flame used to further combust the gases / particulates of the cremation process reducing the visible emissions

refractory material

specialized material designed to withstand high temperatures, lines the interior of the crematory

What should be done with a removed pacemaker?

sterilized and returned to manufacturer

refractory

the brick walls lining the primary chamber

stack

the chimney

hearth

the floor of the primary chamber

What is the final discharge point?

the stack where products of combustion are released into the environment

operator control panel

used to control the cremation process

portal a.k.a door

used to place the deceased into the retort

What is an indicator of IMPROPER combustion?

visible emissions of smoke and flame

autoloader

will move the cremation container into the chamber without the operator manually pushing it in

maintence

-do note use facility as storage area (cause it will be combustible you dumb bitch) -inspect external stack monthly -inspect refractory material when loading every case -inspect refrigeration unit

What medical devices need to be removed prior to cremation?

-implants -pacemakers -defibrillators -infusion pumps -radioactive devices -artificial limbs -braces

container requirements

-leaking not contents -rigid -less than 0.5 chlorinated plastic

needed supplies include:

-loading devices -fire extinguisher -high density cardboard rollers to move cremation container into cremation chamber -cremation plan -wire brushes to clean crematory floor -collection plan -hand magnet -heavy duty plastic bags -temporary containers -funnel -mortar and pestle -zip ties -identification medallions -vacuum system -PPE (ear, eye and respiratory protection as well as heat protection)

cremation process:

-open charging door and inspect primary chamber -start the purge cycle -preheat secondary chamber -transport container to loading area and log -load container with loading device -ignite primary burner -monitor cremation process (do not open door for at least an hour into cremation process) -remove cremated remains with a brush and rake -remove non-ferrous metals -pulverize -place into clear plastic bag

How much hotter should the secondary chamber run from the main for drafting and airflow?

50 degrees

What must be on the metal discs that are inserted into the crematory prior to cremation?

A non-repeating number that is assigned to each decedent

removal of cremated remains from the crematory

A. Be sure the clean out hopper / pan(s) are properly positioned. B. The blower of the crematory should be turned on to ensure the dust and heat are drawn away from the operator. C. Open the door and engage the safety pins. D. Remove the identification disc and place in the clean out hopper. E. Utilizing rakes and brooms, the operator will brush the cremated remains (bone fragments and ashes) to the front of the chamber allowing them to drop into the clean out hopper. Some crematories will also utilize a vacuum system to remove any remaining dust from the primary chamber of the crematory F. Place the cremated remains into the processing or cooling area

general process of cremation

A. Funeral Directors should ensure that medical devices such as pacemakers, defibrillators, infusion pumps be removed prior to placing the deceased in the cremation container. B. It is recommended that the body be placed in the cremation container by the funeral director and the cremation container not be opened at the crematory without the funeral director present. C. Most, if not all, states require a permit for cremation. The reason is because it is an irreversible process and could destroy evidence in a criminal or civil investigation. Do not proceed with cremation if you have not completed the required permits. D. It is recommended to wait 48 hours for cremation because if you cremate sooner than that you run the risk of there being a family issue and you cannot undo the cremation process. E. Use the manufacturer's guidelines for the temperature and processes. If the temperature gets too high, it could cause other problems

Which burner is used to preheat the crematory?

Afterburner

the secondary burner of a retort which facilitate additional combustion of the unburned combustible material that left the primary chamber

Afterburner

the secondary chamber of a retort where unburned combustible materials from the primary chamber collects for further combustion

Afterchamber

Over the past several years, the level of obesity has risen dramatically in the United States. These cases require special care during the cremation process. Some considerations include:

1. Always cremate in a cool chamber, this is best accomplished by cremating obese cases early in the day before the crematory heats up. To ensure the crematory is cool, make sure there was no cremation for the 12 hours prior to the cremation of the obese case. 2. Though non-obese cases are loaded feet first into the cremation chamber, always load the obese body head first into the cremation chamber. 3. Preheat the chamber to 1400-1600 degrees, but monitor the temperature to ensure it does not reach 2000 degrees. 4. Make sure you have at least a 1 inch clearance on the top and sides of the primary chamber between the refractory and the cremation container. 5. Do not open the door for the first hour of cremation. Instead monitor the temperature readings to ensure it remains below the 2000 degree mark. 6. Utilize two rollers instead of one. 7. Because the body fat can serve as fuel for the combustion, note that the primary burner may be turned off during the cremation process, and the body's fat serve as a fuel supply to continue the cremation process. 8. If the temperature of the secondary chamber is too high, it could cause the gases and particulates to evacuate through the stack more quickly causing a visible emission from the stack.

basic cremation steps

1. Insert the metal disc into the retort 2. Purge the system 3. Preheat the retort 4. Load body into retort 5. Engage the primary burner 6. Cool down period

load body into retort

1. To load the body into the retort, raise the door and engage the safety pins that prevent the door from falling. Notice the pins on the image in the Lesson folder. 2. Place a cardboard cylinder / roller that will aid the cremation container in being positioned within the primary chamber.

2 phases of combustion:

1. primary combustion in ignition chamber (primary chamber) 2. secondary combustion where products of combustion settle and are further combusted and remaining gases discharge from the stack