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Building a Coffin
It is legal and possible to build a coffin, either for yourself or a loved one. If you can build a bookshelf, you can build a coffin, it's all about weight dispersal.
It is a current legal requirement that a coffin is needed for burial and cremation.
If you want to make a coffin to be used, then it must fit in the grave or the cremator.
As a guideline these are the minimum standards that must be adhered to for use at the Lismore Crematorium.
1. No larger than 6OOmm wide, 4OOmm high and 2100mm long.
2. Total weight of casket, including deceased, should not exceed 200kg.
3. Casket must be constructed of a readily combustible material of timber origin with sufficient strength to allow unsupported handling.
4. Casket must be lined with a waterproof or >4cm thick absorbent liner
i.e. PVA film or cotton wadding.
5. Casket lids must be able to be securely fixed in place, preferably with nails, screws, clips, etc.
6. Casket must have a smooth base with no projections.
7. Casket must be supplied with multiple hand-holds (4X or 6X). These are to be readily removable if constructed of non combustible materials.
8. Casket must include a fixed but readily removable name plate, placed at the head end of the casket. This will be retained by the crematorium for identification of remains.
Caskets failing to meet this standard will be refused.