Outer Burial Containers

OUTER BURIAL CONTAINERS
Outer burial container: any container which is designed for placement in the grave around the casket, including, but not limited to containers commonly known as burial vaults, grave boxes and grave liners. Provides ground support and may or may not limit the intrusion of outside elements. o Materials: Metal, Concrete, Plastic

• Burial Vault: an outer enclosure which offers protection from the earth load as well as possessing sealing qualities. o Purposes:
 Support the load of the earth
 Limit intrusion of outside elements o Construction Materials
 Concrete:
• With a steel reinforcement
• Without a steel reinforcement o Interior Lining
 A plastic derivative
 Polystyrene
 ABS Material
 Stainless Steel
 Copper
 Bronze
 Asphalt
 Metal:
• Made so that the casket is placed on the bottom portion and the dome is secured to the bottom
• Measured in Gauge
• Types: o Steel (7, 10 and 12 gauge) o Stainless Steel (10 and 12 gauge) o Copper (10 or 12 gauge)
 Dome:
• The top of an air seal burial vault that entraps air as it is put in position. It also supports the weight of the earth above.
Other Construction Materials include Polypropylene and Fiberglass
Methods of Closure o Air Seal: a method of sealing a vault that utilizes the air pressure created by placing dome of the vault onto the base of the vault. Uses a diving bell or inverted glass under water principle. The trapped air ensures that the casket remains dry. See in metal and plastic vaults. o Top Seal: in concrete burial vaults, a method of sealing that utilizes an epoxy compound in conjunction with a tongue-in-groove closure at the top of the vault. Utilizes a gasket/sealing tape inside of the groove to make a good seal. o Double Seal: a method of sealing burial vaults that utilizes the principle of the air seal in conjunction with an epoxy material at the junction of the dome and the base of the vault. Seen mainly in plastic derivative