According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), nearly 90 percent of the funeral homes in the United States are privately owned by individuals or families. The average funeral business serves 113 families per year and has three full-time and four part-time employees.
Mortuaries and funeral homes both provide services to the loved ones of a recently-deceased person. Although both facilities offer similar services, a mortuary is more likely to provide cremation services than a funeral home. According to NFDA’s current Cremation and Burial Report, the industry’s cremation rate is about 57.5 percent, and its burial rate is about 36.6 percent.
The ability to deal empathetically with people who have suffered the recent loss of a loved one is an essential part of the funeral business. However, if you run a mortuary, you also know that a quality mortuary storage system is necessary for your operation. This article will discuss storage considerations and solutions for mortuaries.
Special Considerations for Mortuary Storage
The handling of human remains is a delicate procedure that must be done with safe, hygienic, and respectful practices. In addition, mortuary workers must follow strict state and local guidelines in their work.
Some of the factors that are involved with this mortuary work include:
- The careful handling of large, heavy objects, such as caskets and the bodies themselves
- Short-term cold storage
- Preparation of the body if viewing is part of the funeral
- Transportation of the body
- Sliding and mobile storage
Mortuary Storage Solutions
Speedrack West offers a variety of storage solutions for funeral homes and mortuaries.
Portable Mortuary Storage Racks
Our portable mobile mortuary storage racks can serve multiple purposes. They can be used as the following:
- morgue rack
- funeral home rack
- mobile mortuary rack
- mortuary cooler rack
- cremation rack.
The rack is built to hold body trays or boards up to 26″W and 79″L and up to 300 pounds. We also can custom-design these racks to accommodate larger sizes and heavier weights.
You can increase your storage capacity by as much as 400 percent with these mobile carts that
feature swivel casters allow for easy movement as well as a secure locking mechanism for stability when you need it.
Mobile Pallet Racking
We also offer Mobile Pallet Racks with conveyor rollers. These racks, which have room for a 60” deep pallet rack with 16” clear space between levels, make use of conveyor rollers for the movement of the deceased,
We offer the option of ordering these racks in galvanized steel, which makes them well-suited for cold storage. Caster wheels are another option for enhanced mobility.
Plastic Storage Containers
For the storage of equipment and smaller items, plastic storage containers can help streamline your operation. Our plastic storage bins can stack within your racks or hang onto the racks, depending on your preference.
Cantilever Racking for Casket Storage
Cantilever racking is an excellent option for the storage of caskets. We can custom design cantilever systems to fit your exact specifications. The primary components of a cantilever storage system include:
- Uprights. Uprights can be single- or double-sided and between six and 30 feet tall.
- Arms. The arms can be up to 72 inches long.
- Bracing. The braces serve to support and space the uprights at two to six feet apart.
Mezzanine Work Platforms
If you need more space or a different use of your existing space, you might want to consider the addition of a mezzanine to your mortuary.
A mezzanine work platform adds a second level of storage to your business without adding an attachment to your building. That way, you gain a new workspace without the hassle of having to file for a building permit.
An added bonus is that you can take the platform with you if you ever move to a new location. We can custom design a work platform to fit your specific needs as well as your budget.
Talk With A Mortuary Storage Expert
If you run a mortuary, you know that keeping up-to-date with the latest rules and regulations can be time-consuming and even a bit exhausting. Allow us to take some of the burden off of you when to comes to the permit process.
Our team of experts at Speedrack West will help guide you through the pallet rack permit process so that you can spend more time helping bereaved families.
Please give us a call with any questions you may have on mortuary storage options. We also offer CAD warehouse layouts that focus on efficiency and flexibility for your operation. We’ll be happy to schedule an appointment for a free consultation.
