This process can take between two and ten days, or sometimes longer depending upon the circumstances surrounding the death and the State and County in which the death has occurred. It is then subjected to intense heat and flame that reach temperatures of around 1,800 to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit. During the cremation process, it may be necessary for the technician to open the cremation chamber and slightly reposition the deceased in order to facilitate a complete and thorough cremation. The time for completion varies with the size and weight but usually takes between one and three hours. Following a cooling period of the chamber, the cremated remains are swept from the cremation chamber by the technician.
Every effort is made to remove all human remains.
However, it is common for a small amount of residue to remain in the cremation chamber, possibly resulting in slight incidental commingling with other cremated remains. Once the bone fragments have been separated from the other materials, they are further processed with specialized equipment to reduce the size of the bone fragments to small uniform particles. The crematory will then place the cremated remains into the selected urn or temporary container for transport. They also may be scattered per each individual request. Although not required, scattering at sea is common for many Neptune Society Members.