Funeral industry body launches UK coffin testing scheme

The funeral industry body, The Funeral Furnishing Manufacturer’s Association (FFMA) has this month launched a UK coffin and casket certification scheme, working in partnership with Intertek, a leading Total Quality Assurance provider.

Following an increase in reports from crematoria about incidents of coffins not behaving as expected when auto-charged or cremated, the FFMA contracted with Intertek to set up a Coffin Certification Standard.  This will ensure that all coffins presented for cremation are of a desired standard and deemed to be fit for purpose. The initiative has been fully endorsed and the scheme supported throughout by the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities (FBCA), Institute of Cemetery & Crematorium Management (ICCM), The Association of Private Crematoria & Cemeteries (ACCP) and The Cremation Society of Great Britain.

UKAS-accredited international market leader, Intertek has been contracted by the FFMA to conduct the tests and Intertek’s results have provided the required evidence to ensure the FFMA only accredits coffins and caskets which meet the required level of quality.

FFMA coffin manufacturers are the market leaders in the UK funeral industry both in quality and initiative. Also many non-FFMA members in the funeral manufacturing industry have agreed to participate in the initiative.

David Crampton, President of the FFMA, said: “The launch of the Coffin Certification Standard is a major step forward to ensuring that high standards are maintained across the trade. The cremation sector will be providing guidance to all of their members both in relation to recognising the FFMA trademark standard, as a standard of quality, ensuring a coffin or casket bearing the mark is fit for cremation and the more detailed implementation of the scheme.

For more information, please visit the FFMA website: www.FFMA.co.uk.