B.V.C.C. POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS
The cremation, processing and disposition of the remains of the deceased shall be performed in accordance with all governing laws, and the policies, procedures and requirements of B.V.C.C. and the designated funeral home. This document describes many of the policies and requirements of B.V.C.C. and is incorporated in our Cremation Authorization Form. We suggest you take the time to read this document carefully before executing the Cremation Authorization Form.
B.V.C.C. REQUIREMENTS FOR CREMATION
Cremation will take place only after all the following conditions have been met.
1. Any scheduled ceremonies or viewings have been completed.
2. Civil and medical authorities have issued all required permits.
3. All necessary authorizations have been obtained, and no objections have been raised.
CASKETS/CONTAINERS
B.V.C.C. does not accept metal caskets. In the interest of providing appropriate sanitation for staff, and respect for the deceased, all wooden caskets and alternative containers must meet the following standard; (1) be composed of materials suitable for cremation; (2) be able to be closed to provide a complete covering of the human remains; (3) be sufficient for handling with ease; and (4) be able to provide protection for the health and safety of crematory personnel.
Many caskets that are comprised primarily of combustible material also contain some exterior parts, e.g., decorative handles or rails, that are not combustible and that may cause damage to the cremation equipment. B.V.C.C., at its sole discretion, reserves the right to remove these non-combustible materials prior to cremation and to discard them with similar materials from other cremations ans other refuse in a non-recoverable manner.
PACEMAKERS, PROSTHESES AND RADIOACTIVE DEVICES
Pacemakers and prosthesis, as well as any other mechanical or radioactive devices or implants in the decedent, may create a hazardous condition when placed in the cremation chamber. It is imperative that pacemakers and radioactive devices be removed prior to cremation. If the funeral home is not notified about such devices and implants, and not instructed to remove them, then the person(s) authorizing the cremation will be responsible for any damages caused to B.V.C.C. or crematory personnel by such devices or implants.
THE CREMATION PROCESS
All cremations are performed individually. Exceptions are only made in the case of close relatives, and then only with the prior express written instructions of the Authorizing Agent(s).
The cremation of a human being is a process whereby the body is prepared for its ultimate and final disposition by earth burial, entombment, placement into a niche or in a garden within a cemetery, burial at sea, or holding and safekeeping by a family member or their designated representative
The body is placed into a cremation casket or rigid container. This container with the body enclosed in it is placed inside a cremation chamber. The body is totally consumed (incinerated) by open flames and intense heat. The temperature will generally range between 1500 to 2200 degrees Fahrenheit. The soft tissues of the body are vaporized. The skeletal framework is reduced to bone fragments and particles (not ashes). These fragments and particles are called cremated remains. The process of cremation may take from three (3) to five (5) hours. During the cremation, the contents of the chamber may be moved to facilitate incineration. The chamber is composed of ceramic or other material which disintegrates slightly during each cremation. The product of that disintegration is commingled with the cremated remains.
The cremated remains are collected from the cremation chamber by using technical and speciallzed equipment. Among these are a hoe, brooms and brushes, and a receiving pan. This equipment is solely used for the collection of cremated remains. The remains are cleaned of any metal or other foreign matter. The bone particles removed vary in size and need to be processed. This is done by pulverization in a specialized machine used only for this purpose, to render them to a size for placement in an urn.
It is beyond anyone's capability to conserve or to collect every particle of crematied remains and dust. Inadvertent and unintentional commingling of cremated remains may occur. Due to the nature of the cremation process any personal possessions or valuable materials, such as dental gold or jewelry (as well as amy body prosthesis or dental bridgework), that are left with the decedent and not removed from the casket or container prior to cremation will be destroyed or if not destroyed, will be disposed of by B.V.C.C.
Following the cooling period, the cremated remains, which will normally weigh several pounds in the case of an average size adult, are then swept from the cremation chamber. After the cremated remains are removed from the cremation chamber, all non-combustible materials (insofar as possible) such as bridgework, and materials from the casket or container, such as hinges, latches, nails, etc., will be separated and removed from the human bone fragments by visible or magnetic selection and will be disposed of by B.V.C.C. with similar materials from other cremations in a non-recoverable manner.
When the cremated remains are removed from the cremation chamber, the skeletal reamins often contain recognizable bone fragments. After the bone fragments have been separated from the other material, they will then be mechanically processed (pulverized). This process of crushing may cause incidental commingling of the remains with the residue from the processing of previously cremated remains. These granulated particles of unidentifiable dimensions will be virtually unrecognizable as human remains.
URNS/CONTAINERS
After the cremated remains have been processed, they will be placed in the designated urn or container. B.V.C.C. will make a reasonable effort to put all of the cremated remains in the urn or container, with the exception of dust or other residue that may remain on the processing equipment. In the event the client provided urn or container is insufficient to accommodate all of the cremated remains, the excess will be placed in a separate receptacle. The separate receptacle will be kept with the primary receptacle and handled according to the disposition instructions on the Cremation Authorization Form.
FINAL DISPOSITION
Cremation is NOT final disposition, nor is placing the cremated remains in storage at a funeral home final disposition. The cremation process simply reduces the decedent's body to cremated remains. Some provision must be made for the final disposition of these cremated remains. Therefore, B.V.C.C. strongly suggests that arrangements for final disposition be made at the time the cremation arrangements are made and that the Cremation Authorization Form is completed.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
The obligations of B.V.C.C. shall be limited to the cremation of the decedent and the disposition of the decedent's cremated remains as authorized on the Cremation Authorization Form. No Warranties, Express or Implied are made, and damages shall be limited to the amount of the cremation fee paid.