If you are planning to open a funeral home, then there are certain equipment you must have in place first. Before you can get approval to run a funeral home anywhere in the world, your facility must have the needed equipment and must be in top shape.
Several types of equipment are needed to carry out funeral services and some of them are optional while some are compulsory.
Apart from that, the specific equipment you need for your funeral home may vary depending on the size of the funeral home, the services offered, and regional regulations.
But whatever the case may be, the equipment that we will look at in this article is the equipment you need to run a funeral home effectively and efficiently.
Equipment Needed for a Funeral Home
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Embalming Equipment
One of the major pieces of equipment that is synonymous with a funeral home is embalming equipment. This is so because embalming equipment is used in a funeral home for preserving deceased bodies, allowing families to have more time for visitation and funeral arrangements.
It ensures a dignified presentation, facilitates open casket viewings, and contributes to the overall professionalism and compassionate care provided by the funeral home.
Some of the items that make up embalming equipment are an embalming machine, an autopsy table, and instruments for embalming procedures.
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Casket Display and Storage
You should make provisions for casket display racks, casket-lowering devices, and casket storage units. Casket display racks showcase available casket options, aiding families in selecting a suitable one.
Casket-lowering devices ensure a respectful and controlled descent during burial ceremonies. Casket storage units provide a secure and organized space for storing caskets, maintaining their integrity and accessibility.
Together, this equipment contributes to the funeral home’s ability to offer diverse choices, conduct seamless ceremonies, and uphold the dignity of the deceased and grieving families.
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Preparation Room Equipment
When we talk about preparation room equipment in a funeral home, we are talking about equipment such as gurneys and body lifts, body bags and shrouds, and of course personal protective equipment (PPE).
A funeral home typically cannot operate effectively without gurneys and body lifts, body bags and shrouds, and personal protective equipment (PPE). This equipment is essential for various aspects of funeral home operations:
Gurneys and Body Lifts:
- Purpose: Gurneys and body lifts are used to transport deceased individuals within the funeral home, between facilities, and during preparation procedures.
- Importance: They ensure the respectful and safe handling of bodies, making it more manageable for staff to move deceased individuals without compromising their dignity.
Body Bags and Shrouds:
- Purpose: Body bags and shrouds are used to contain and cover the deceased during transportation, storage, and preparation processes.
- Importance: They maintain the sanitary and professional handling of bodies, preventing exposure and providing a level of discretion and decorum.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
- Purpose: PPE, including gloves, masks, and other protective gear, is worn by funeral home staff during embalming and other preparation procedures.
- Importance: PPE safeguards staff from potential exposure to bodily fluids and pathogens, ensuring a hygienic and safe working environment. It also helps prevent the transmission of infectious diseases.
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Chapel Furniture
You will need seating arrangements (chairs, pews), a podium or lectern for services, and decorative elements such as flowers, candles et al.
People attending the funeral service of their loved ones will sit down, and also for the sermon to be conducted, you will need all the items listed in this category to be in place.
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Audio-Visual Equipment
You will need an audio system for playing appropriate music and also for making announcements. Also, you will need video equipment and projection screens for memorial presentations.
Interestingly, there are different types of audio systems and video equipment you can choose from. If you are operating on a low budget, you can go for used ones as a way of saving costs.
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Office Equipment
Apart from the essential equipment that is needed directly in executing a funeral service, you will also need office equipment.
You will need computers and software for record-keeping, office furniture such as desks, and chairs, for your staff and clients and also telephones and communication systems to keep in touch with your clients and for marketing purposes.
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Vehicles
Of course, you know you cannot operate a funeral home without having the needed vehicles in place. Different types of vehicles are used in funeral homes.
You will need a hearse for transporting the deceased, limousines for transporting mourners, and utility vehicles for various operational purposes
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Funeral Supplies
Funeral supplies such as urns and cremation containers, linens and drapery for caskets and displays, flags for military services, and grave markers and memorial plaques are also very important equipment that is needed in the operation of a funeral home.
Urns and cremation containers store cremated remains, offering families diverse choices for memorialization. Linens and drapery enhance the presentation of caskets and displays, adding a touch of elegance to funeral services. Flags are used to honor military service members during ceremonies.
Grave markers and memorial plaques serve as lasting tributes, providing a means for families to commemorate and remember their loved ones at burial sites, contributing to the personalization and meaningfulness of funeral arrangements.
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Facility Maintenance Equipment
You will need cleaning supplies and equipment, landscaping tools for maintaining the exterior of the funeral home facility, and HVAC systems for climate control in your facility.
Of course, you know that regular maintenance of a funeral home facility is crucial to ensure a professional and comforting environment.
Routine equipment maintenance also safeguards against potential disruptions, contributing to the smooth operation of services and the trust of grieving families.
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Storage Equipment
You will need storage equipment like refrigeration units for temporary body storage, shelving for inventory and supplies, and secure storage for the personal belongings of the deceased.
The truth is that storage equipment is indispensable in a funeral home, as it provides a secure and organized environment for temporary body storage, casket inventory, and other supplies.
Refrigeration units preserve bodies, enabling extended viewing periods for families. Also, shelving ensures efficient management of merchandise and supplies, facilitating smooth operations.
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Mortuary Cot or Stretcher
A mortuary cot or stretcher is an essential tool in a funeral home, used to respectfully and efficiently transport deceased individuals.
Its sturdy construction provides a dignified platform for moving bodies within the funeral home and during transfer to and from various locations.
This specialized equipment ensures a seamless and compassionate process, maintaining the integrity of the deceased and facilitating the necessary procedures involved in funeral home operations.