It happens every couple of years.
A funeral home transfer vehicle pulls up at our factory to collect the extra large coffin they’ve ordered.
The person opens the back of their vehicle and realises it’s not wide enough to fit the coffin inside!
This is an awkward situation, but it can be easily avoided.
These 6 points will seem obvious for an experienced funeral director like yourself, however they may be helpful for your less experienced colleagues…
- Size of vehicle. Make sure the 100cm wide (or any width) coffin you order will fit into your transfer vehicle. Note: You may need to check your hearse opening size too.
- Measuring the deceased. Ensure you measure horizontally across the width of the deceased (not up and over the deceased). Note: Be careful when relying on another funeral home, the coroner or some other third-party for sizes. They can sometimes be inaccurate with their measurements of the deceased – which can lead to you ordering the wrong size coffin.
- Size of cremator opening. Ensure the cremator you’re using is wide enough to take the coffin. Note: we, as a manufacturer, usually refer to a coffin’s internal measurements when talking with funeral directors (i.e. “80cm wide”). However, the external width of this ‘80cm wide’ coffin, plus the handles, may be more like 95cm wide.
- Measuring the deceased. Ensure you measure horizontally across the width of the deceased (not up and over the deceased). Note: Be careful when relying on another funeral home, the coroner or some other third-party for sizes. They can sometimes be inaccurate with their measurements of the deceased – which can lead to you ordering the wrong size coffin.
- Size of cremator opening. Ensure the cremator you’re using is wide enough to take the coffin. Note: we, as a manufacturer, usually refer to a coffin’s internal measurements when talking with funeral directors (i.e. “80cm wide”). However, the external width of this ‘80cm wide’ coffin, plus the handles, may be more like 95cm wide.
- Capacity of lowering device. For burial: can the lowering device carry the weight of the coffin plus the deceased? Is the lowering device capable of carrying a coffin of this width? Note: A large MDF coffin alone can weigh 50kg.
- Extra handles. If there are going to be pallbearers, consider requesting 8 handles (4 on each side). You could even request a handle at each end of the coffin too (10 handles in total). Note: You can request the handles to be bolted on rather than just screwed.
- Extra time for special orders. Allow yourself some extra time if you need to order a special customised size. Note: You’re welcome to call us during an arrangement to confirm a lead time for production of your extra large coffin.
If you’d like to discuss ordering a special, oversize coffin, please call us on 1300 263 346.