Care and Disposition of Remains - Army Publishing Directorate ...

Appendix F
Armed Services Specification for Solid Hardwood Urns
The paragraph numbers in parentheses generally show the original paragraph numbers of the Federal Acquisition
Regulation armed services specification.
F–1. Scope
This specification establishes the standards for hardwood urns.
F–2. (2) Classification
a. (2.1) Standard size solid American Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) urn. The design shall be cube—like with flared
base. It shall have no single dimension being less than one-half the length, width or depth. It shall have at least one
dimension being no less than 6 inches. Inside capacity shall be not less than 200 cubic inches.
b. (2.2) Oversize solid American Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) urn. The design shall be cube—like with flared base.
It shall have no single dimension being less than one-half the length, width or depth. It shall have at least one
dimension being no less than 7 1 ⁄ 2 inches. Inside capacity shall be not less than 300 cubic inches.
F–3. (3) Requirements
a. (3.1) Sample urn. A sample completed urn shall be made available to the contracting officer or authorized
representative for quality assurance inspection in accordance with paragraph 5. The approval of the sample is
acceptance of the urn but does not relieve the manufacturer of responsibility for compliance with all applicable
provisions of this specification. The pre-furnished samples shall be manufactured in the same facilities to be used for
the manufacture of urns to be furnished under contract.
b. (3.2) Materials. Materials shall, as a minimum, conform to the applicable specifications and requirements
specified hereinafter. Unless otherwise specified herein, tolerances for materials shall, as a minimum, conform to this
specification.
c. (3.2.1) Woods. The entire urn shall be crafted exclusively from kiln-dried solid American Black Walnut (Juglans
nigra), graded FAS using National Hardwood Lumber Association standards.
d. (3.2.1.1) Thickness. The thickness of all lumber used in the urns shall be not less than three-quarters of 1-inch
stock.
e. (3.2.2) Inner container. The inner container that shall receive the cremated remains (cremains) for a standard size
urn shall be a polyethylene bag, 4 mm in thickness, with gusset, and of sufficient size (dimensions) to accommodate
not less than 200 cubic inches of cremains and proper closure. The closure device shall be a plastic pull-through tie.
The same provisions apply for the oversize urn with the exception that the bag shall accommodate not less than 300
cubic inches of cremains and proper closure.
f. (3.2.3) Inner surfaces. All inner surfaces of the urns shall be thoroughly sanded removing all mill, machine, and
cross-grain sanding marks. A filler stain, walnut in color, shall be evenly applied to all interior surfaces followed by an
adequate coat of lacquer.
g. (3.2.4) Hardware. Any component other than wood specified in paragraph 3.2.1 that is used in assembling the urn
shall be of solid brass metal.
h. (3.2.5) Engraving plate. The urn shall be provided with an engraving plate as described below. It shall have a 2 1 ⁄ 2
inch by 5 inch under brass nameplate with a 2 inch by 4 1 ⁄ 2 inch black brass nameplate (the black brass nameplate
engraves brass color). The black brass nameplate shall have brass mounting screws in each corner of this plate. The
plate shall be affixed as follows. It shall be centered from left to right on the lower portion of the face side of the urn.
i. (3.2.6) Military emblem. The urn shall have affixed a cast bronze military emblem. The emblem’s finish shall be
satin for the raised portion while the background shall be a contrasting darker color. The emblem shall be 3 inches in
diameter. The emblem shall be affixed to the face side of the urn with two threaded brass studs, nuts, and washers. The
portion of the studs extending beyond the nuts inside the urn shall be covered to prevent penetration and perforation of
the urn’s inner container. The emblem shall be centered from left to right on the upper portion of the face side of the
urn to allow a balanced space below for the engraving plate. The military emblems to be provided are U.S. Air Force,
U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army, and U.S. Coast Guard, as called for by the contracting officer or designated
representative. Specific emblems to be provided are illustrated in figure F–1.
j. (3.2.7) Finish. The urn’s exterior finish shall be satin. A filler stain, walnut in color, shall be applied to all exterior
surfaces, inner base edge, and bottom panel edges prior to finishing.
k. (3.2.7.1) Nitrocellulose lacquer. Not less than four coats of clear nitrocellulose lacquer, either air dried or flash
dried, shall be applied to all exterior surfaces, the inner base edge of body, and edge of bottom panel. The finish coat
shall level out to produce a smooth and uniform flow without orange peel, runs, wrinkles, drops, streaks or areas of
104 AR 638–2 • 22 December 2000