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A crematorium is a facility for incinerating human remains, which can be attached to a cemetery or funeral home or separate. Cremation is popular due to environmental and financial reasons. Laws govern crematorium operations to ensure safety and respect for the deceased.
A crematorium is a structure built for the purpose of cremating human remains. It can be attached to a cemetery or funeral home, or it can be an entirely separate facility. The size of a crematorium can vary widely, from a single crematorium facility, also called a retort, to a building capable of handling high volumes of cremations. Cremations began to grow in popularity in the 20th century, especially after the publication of Jessica Mitford’s The American Way of Death, a searing denunciation of the American funeral industry.
When a body is taken to a crematorium, it is incinerated in a high-temperature oven to reduce much of the body to ash and large bone fragments. Many facilities grind these bone fragments to make cremated remains, sometimes called cremains, more uniform, while others leave the ashes flat for religious reasons. The ashes are packaged in a secure container for collection by survivors of the deceased, or they can be buried in a cemetery or vault.
Depending on the facilities, a crematorium may allow family members to be present during the cremation or at the start of the procedure. Some structures also include small chapels or meditation rooms and may host religious services as well. In other cases, a crematorium is closed to the public, usually because it handles a large volume of remains from a large surrounding area.
Many religions have practiced cremation for centuries, especially in Asia. The concept first spread to Europe and America, until cremation became one of the preferred methods of disposal for a body. People choose cremation for a variety of reasons, ranging from a belief that it’s more environmentally friendly to a desire to reduce the overall cost of a funeral. The increased demand for cremation has naturally led to an increase in crematoria.
As is the case with a funeral home or any other facility that handles human remains, operations in a crematorium are governed by a number of laws, and the crematorium may also be subject to inspection. These laws are designed to ensure that cremations are safe and hygienic while also promoting a respectful attitude towards the dead. Many regions of the world have banned multiple cremations, for example, and the law usually also specifies the temperature required for the oven. Regulation and regular inspection are designed to ensure that crematoria operate responsibly, within the bounds of the law and human decency.
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