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GENERAL INFORMATION FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS OR FIRMS CONSIDERING ESTABLISHING OR ADDING A CREMATORY TO THEIR EXISTING OPERATIONS. What About Zoning? It is extremely important to determine if the property to be used for a crematory is zoned properly. Although most communities allow crematories in business, commercial and industrial zones the Zoning and/or Planning Department in the township, city or county where the property is located should be contacted for a ruling. There may local regulations governing crematories, but in many communities this type of activity may not have been addressed. Most cremator manufacturers will assist you in obtaining zoning approval. What Do I Need To Know About Environmental Permitting? In most sates new crematories must be approved by the Air Quality Division of the Department of Environment or similar agency. An application to construct, install and operate must be filed with this Division and a permit granted before a unit can be installed and placed in operation. We prepare the application and documents for submission. Our equipment complies with air quality and environmental requirements and regulations in all 50 states. What About Licensing & Inspection? In some states crematories must be licensed by the Board of Funeral or Cemetery Service or other state agency. The Board may inspect the premises, structure and cremation equipment to confirm that the crematory manager and crematory technicians have educational certificates that are valid. This same Board may require an annual renewable license for the crematory. U.S. Cremation Equipment has certified trainers that will train crematory personnel in the operation of the cremator and issue Certificates of Training. What About Construction & Delivery? Once an order with the initial deposit is made construction of the equipment can begin. Generally the build time is approximately 14 weeks. Following testing the unit can be shipped from our Florida plant and the transit time can range from one to five days depending on the location of the installation site. The equipment is shipped on a flat bed truck and a crane is required to off load the equipment. The cremators are equipped with lifting lugs for easy offloading from the truck by a crane. Offloading & Placement: Once off loaded the cremator can be rolled into place inside the building. This will require a rigger to place rollers or “skates” at each corner of the cremator. The Door Hood of the cremator can be removed if the height of the opening into the building is not sufficient. What About Stack Installation? A 44” opening in the roof must be made to accommodate the exhaust stack for a human cremator while the smaller animal cremator will need a 38” opening. Once the cremator is in place the stack sections can be connected on the ground and lifted by the same crane that off loaded the unit. The base of the stack is then bolted to the unit. The top of the stack should be at least three feet above the roof. A Roofer will be needed to seal the opening and install a rain collar. What Types Of Fuel Can I Use? Once the cremator is in place and the stack connected the fuel and connections can be made. The unit can operate on Natural Gas or LP Gas (propane). The unit requires a specific volume and operating pressure and this is outlined in the Installation Manual we supply. If using LP Gas we require a 1000 gallon tank and for Natural Gas the unit will need a high pressure line and a low pressure regulator. The installation can be accomplished by a local Plumber. What About Electrical Service? The unit is designed to operate on 220 Volts, 60 Cycles, Single or Three Phase service. Single phase will pull 70 amps at start while three phase will draw around 40 amps. A local Electrician can easily wire the unit. The manual contains complete instructions with photos on how to connect fuel and electric. Do You Have Start Up & Training? Upon notification from the customer that the installation is complete a technician will travel to the facility to place the unit in operation. The technician will spend up to three days at the site curing the refractory lining of the cremator, starting up the unit, adjusting air and gas settings and proving all systems. To complete the start up the technician will perform a cremation and train crematory personnel in the simple operation. It is important that a cremation be available for training at start up. What Do You Provide For Warranty & Service : We warrant our equipment to be free of defects in workmanship for two years and our Staff is available around the clock to provide technical assistance and operating support. We also supply an Operating & Maintenance Manual describing the function of all components and trouble shooting. We also stock a complete line of parts and major components and our Service Department offers service and repairs on all makes of cremation equipment. Why Does Your System Require No Cool Down Period? Virtually every manufacturer of standard size human cremators recommend a 20 to 30 minute cool-down between cremations to prevent overheating and visible emissions (smoke) from the stack. U.S. Cremation Equipment’s “Classic” model with its advanced operating system automatically controls the rate of combustion so that extended cool-down between consecutive cremations is not necessary. Eliminating cool-down results in faster cremation cycles, longer refractory life and can reduce fuel usage by up to 50% on the second and successive cremations of the day.
Can We Run 24 Hour Continuous Operation?
Extra-heavy duty insulation, an improved drafting system along with an operating system that monitors and controls chamber temperatures by continuously adjusting firing rate of the burners and combustion air supply enables the “Classic” to operate around the clock in emergency situations or during periods of peak demand without generating visible emissions or odor.
How Many Animals Can You Cremate In A Day?
. Is Your Operating System Automatic?
Standard to the “Classic” is a proven and tested automatic operating system with color touch screen control as standard. Load the body and container in the primary chamber, set the timer and press the Start button to begin the cycle. The system is programmed to begin a 45 second purge cycle before igniting the secondary chamber burner to start the preheat cycle. Once the proper temperature is reached in the pollution control chamber the primary burner is ignited to begin the cremation cycle. Upon completion of the cremation the system advances to the cool down cycle at which time the burners shut down and clean out of the cremated remains can be made. Do We Have To Worry About Any Visible Emissions?
Complete combustion is achieved in the “Classic’s” temperature controlled large secondary chamber. Greater than 99% of volatilized carbon created in the combustion process is converted to carbon dioxide. In addition an Opacity Sensor is located at the base of the stack to monitor the clarity of the exhaust gases. Once the exhaust gases reach 20% opacity the PLC automatically shuts down the primary burner and adjusts combustion air supply to slow the combustion rate and prevent visible emissions from exiting the stack. Are Your Machines Noisy?
The combustion air blower and motor assembly are shrouded with an acoustic sound deadening material that substantially reduces the nose level of the cremator when it is in full operation. This allows placement of the cremator adjacent to high traffic areas without disrupting normal operations.
What Is An Advanced Combustion Air Distribution System?
The number and size of the air ports in the primary chamber have been increased to supply more combustion air when operating in a production mode. While fresh air is necessary for combustion it also can act as a cooling effect to control the rate of combustion. Moreover, the “Classic is equipped with a refractory lined draft inducer. Air injected into the Inducer creates a constant negative pressure in the primary chamber to improve air flow into the secondary chamber and on into the stack. This enables the operator to remove the cremated remains from the primary chamber following the cremation cycle as the hot air flows away from the open Charging Door to the rear of the cremator. An added benefit is as the hot exhaust gases pass through the secondary chamber into the draft inducer they are cooled reducing the exit temperatures of the hot gases into the atmosphere in half.
Are Your Power Doors Manual Or Hydraulic?
Most manufacturers use a single hydraulic cylinder and a series of chains and sprockets to raise and lower the door. Unfortunately, a low fluid level, leak in the hydraulic fluid line, or a brake in the chain during operation can lead to an unsafe condition where the heavy door would fall. To reduce this risk these same manufacturers have installed a manual door stop that is engaged when the door is in the fully open position. Despite this safety measure it will not prevent an accident when the door is being raised or lowered.
U.S. Cremation utilizes two hydraulic cylinders to raise and lower the door. Since no chains or used the heavy door will not fall but lower very slowing if any fluid leaks develop or there is a failure of either or both cylinders. Do You Have A Primary View Port?
Yes...standard to all our models is a view port located in the power charging door. This enables the operator to visually check the status of the cremation without opening the door. Since the cremation cycle is based on a time setting the operator has the option of shutting down or adding time to the cycle depending on the stage of the process. Raising the power door to check on the status exposing to radiant heat or flashback with the door open. What Is A ‘HOT HEARTH’?
In hot hearth design units the primary or cremation chamber is located directly above the secondary or pollution control chamber. The floor or hearth of the cremation chamber serves as the roof of the secondary chamber. Environmental regulations usually require the secondary chamber be maintained at 1600 degrees F and the exhaust gases retained for at least one second to assure complete combustion before they pass through the stack (chimney) to the outside atmosphere.
During the preheating of the secondary chamber as well as during the cremation process heat transfers through the roof of the secondary chamber to the floor and walls of the cremation chamber creating a “hot hearth effect”. There are two distinct advantages to this fuel efficient design. One is that it lowers fuel consumption by utilizing heat generated in the hotter secondary chamber to enhance the combustion process in the cremation chamber. Secondly a hot hearth vaporizes fluids released from the body during the cremation process more quickly so they burn off rapidly and do not collect on the floor. This is particularly important when cremating large and obese cases that contain
large amounts of body fats and fluids.
In a cold hearth design the secondary chamber is located at the rear of the cremation chamber. None of the heat generated in this chamber is efficiently utilized to heat the cremation chamber. Moreover, a too rapid release of fluids, particularly in large and obese cases can result in a fluid build up on the floor. Since the fluids cannot vaporize or burn off fast enough there is a potential for the hot excess fluids to flow through the loading door creating a fire hazard. Do You Have A PLC Control System?
Yes...the proven and field tested PLC Operating System monitors and controls chamber temperatures, combustion air supply and timing cycles for purging, preheating the pollution control chamber, cremation and cool-down cycles. The system is fully automatic requiring the operator to simply select the time for the cremation cycle and press the Start button to begin the cycle. Once activated each stage of the process from preheat to cremation to cool down to shut down automatically advances to the next stage.
While the PLC is programmed at the factory the standard program does allow for changes to be made in temperature set points, timing of cycles and combustion air adjustments if necessary. The automatic system limits operator involvement while enabling the operator to visually check each stage and status of the process along with chamber temperatures, combustion air, elapsed time and burner operation through the touch screen control panel. Do You Have A Color Touch Screen Control?
Yes...standard to all our cremator models is a color touch screen that displays the status of the process through various screens available to the operator. Door, Start and Stop Controls are on the main screen. Other screens display burner operation, chamber temperature, temperature set points, elapsed time as well as other functions.
The touch screen is mounted on a swivel at eye level and can be positioned from zero to 180 degrees for easy viewing. Through the various screens the operator can monitor many more functions as well as exercise more control over the process. Are Your Machines Design and Appearance OK For Family Viewing?
Yes...as viewing of the body being placed in the cremator has become more popular and families are requesting to see the equipment and premises prior to cremation the overall appearance of the facility and the equipment is important. The “Classic” has been designed to resemble a modern appliance. The exterior wall and front panels are finished in a dark gray powder coat and trimmed in stainless steel. The Power Door and Ash Compartment Drawer are clad in stainless steel. All major components are housed in the rear compartment away from view.
Are Your Components Easily Accessible For Repair And Maintenance?
A rear compartment houses nearly all the major components such as the Power Door Hydraulic Motor and Pump, Secondary Burner, Fuel & Air Train, Combustion Air Blower and Motor and Rear Electrical Panel. All components are easily accessible for routine service and/or maintenance and the rear location mitigates noise levels during operation. How Do You Clean Out The Machine?
The “Classic” cremator is a front load- front clean out unit. Upon completion of the cremation the Power Door can be partially raised and with clean out rakes and brushes the cremated remains are pulled through the door opening where they fall through a chute integral to the unit and deposited into the slide-out Clean Out Tray. The Tray is large enough to collect all the cremated remains. Fabricated of heavy duty aluminum and clad in stainless steel the Tray can also be used as a cooling area for the hot cremated remains while the next cremation is in progress |
