What Is a Prep Room? (Body Preparation)

The preparation room (or "prep room") is the secure, specialized, and highly regulated area within a funeral home where the deceased person's body is managed, sanitized, and prepared for final disposition.

Security and Regulation

• Restricted Access: Access to the prep room is strictly controlled and limited to licensed funeral directors, embalmers, and their staff. It is not open to the public or the grieving family.
• Sanitation: Prep rooms are essentially medical/surgical environments. They feature non-porous surfaces, specialized drainage, and mandatory ventilation systems to protect staff from biohazards and chemical fumes (like formaldehyde).
• Dignity: The preparation process is done with professionalism and respect for the dignity of the deceased person at all times, as mandated by professional licensing boards.

Key Functions of the Prep Room

| Function | Description | | :--- | :--- | | Embalming | The arterial injection of preservative chemicals (if chosen by the family). This is the most complex task performed in the room. | | Restoration | Cosmetology, dressing, and applying hair styling to make the deceased look presentable for a viewing or open casket service. | | Sanitization | Cleaning and disinfecting the body before storage, transportation, or preparation for burial/cremation. | | Refrigeration | Maintaining a cool environment for bodies awaiting disposition that are not embalmed. | | Casketing/Shrouding | The final placement of the body into the chosen casket, cremation container, or shroud before the service. |

The prep room is a critical operational component of any funeral home, central to upholding both health standards and the family's wishes regarding presentation.