You may figure that the cremation process entails burning a body over an open flame to where it becomes nothing but ashes. But the process involves many materials and a device necessary for respectfully processing someone’s body.

We at Arlington Cremation Services want to help you understand how your loved one’s body will be processed while in the cremation chamber. You will find that the person’s body will be treated with the utmost care and dignity while in the chamber.

What Does the Chamber Feature?

The cremation chamber or retort is a furnace that has room for a human body. The chamber will produce intense heat at up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. It is lined with fire-resistant bricks to ensure the intense heat from the room doesn’t escape the inside.

The chamber uses a fuel source to operate. Natural gas and diesel fuel are the most common fuels, although propane can also work. All efforts can work with minimal impact on the environment.

What Container Works?

The deceased person’s body will stay in a casket made for cremation purposes. The casket must be nontoxic and combustible. It should also handle the body’s weight without breaking apart.

What Does the Body Experience?

The person’s body will not be burned, but rather it will go through combustion. While a flame works alongside the heat, the body will go through two processes:

  1. Primary Combustion: Tissues, organs, and body fat will burn off as gases. The gases are mainly carbon dioxide and water vapor.
  2. Secondary Combustion: Inorganic particles are burned off at this point. These include particles from the cremation container.

The body will not experience any movement during the cremation process. The dissolution process starts almost immediately after the person enters the chamber and the heat becomes active.

How the Bone Fragments Appear

The final result will produce bone fragments or ashes. The pieces appear following the discharge of the gases.

An operator will remove whatever pieces of metal are leftover at this point. These include items left behind in the cremation process or anything remaining on the person’s body. An operator will then grind the remaining pieces into ashes that can be stored in an urn.

The cremation effort will ensure your loved one’s body will receive the care and respect it deserves. We at Arlington Cremation Services provide this solution as a dignified way to pay your respects to someone you love.