What is inside a burial vault?

A burial vault encloses a coffin on all four sides, the top, and the bottom. Modern burial vaults are lowered into the grave, and the coffin lowered into the vault. A lid is then lowered to cover the coffin and seal the vault. Modern burial vaults may be made of concrete, metal, or plastic.

Are bodies buried in vaults?

Though most cemetery rules and regulations require outer burial vaults for caskets, opting for these containers and vaults is not necessary as per the federal law. A burial vault is used to line the grave before placing the casket or coffin in it, so as to prevent the ground above the casket from sinking in.

How do they bury in a vault?

Burial vaults and grave liners are usually made from copper, steel or concrete and go around the casket or coffin. Burial vaults completely line the grave (i.e. sides top and bottom) whereas liners only line the sides and top.

What happens to a body buried in a vault?

If the coffin is sealed in a very wet, heavy clay ground, the body tends to last longer because the air is not getting to the deceased. If the ground is light, dry soil, decomposition is quicker. As those coffins decompose, the remains will gradually sink to the bottom of the grave and merge.

Why put a casket in a vault?

A burial vault is a lined and sealed outer receptacle that houses the casket. It protects the casket from the weight of the earth and heavy maintenance equipment that will pass over the grave. It also helps resist water and preserves the beauty of the cemetery or memorial park by preventing the ground from settling.

Why are caskets placed in a burial vault?

Unlike some types of casket materials, they don’t degrade over time. At least, not quickly. These are placed within the grave before the casket. The casket is placed inside the burial vault, as the name implies, as a way to protect against the elements.

What’s the difference between a grave liner and a burial vault?

Burial Vaults (also called Outer Burial Containers) are boxes that are made to encase the casket. They are commonly made of reinforced concrete but you may also find them made of plastic or metal. The casket is placed inside the vault and sealed. A grave liner is similar to a vault but it is almost always made of concrete, is unlined, and unsealed.

Can a urn be buried in a vault?

VAULTS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR BURIAL OF URNS. It is unlawful under Federal law for a funeral provider to tell a customer that outer burial containers are required by state or local laws, or by particular cemeteries if such is not the case.

What kind of material are burial vaults made out of?

When they were first developed, vaults were typically made out of brick or wood. Today, burial vaults can be made of many materials including metal and plastic, but they are more likely to be made out of concrete which works better at preventing both the casket and the grave from sinking into the soil once buried.

What is inside a burial vault? A burial vault encloses a coffin on all four sides, the top, and the bottom. Modern burial vaults are lowered into the grave, and the coffin lowered into the vault. A lid is then lowered to cover the coffin and seal the vault. Modern burial vaults may be made…