By Jason Weir with Conner Patten · State rules and OSHA standards verified October 13, 2026
A funeral home floor plan should be built around its equipment. Each cot, cooler, embalming table, and lift sets door widths, clearances, and utility locations. Jason Weir is Vice President of Hilton Funeral Supply, a Michigan-licensed funeral director, and a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP).
Quick Answer
A funeral home floor plan needs five zones: a removal entrance, a preparation room, refrigerated holding, a dressing and casketing area, and public rooms. State rules set preparation room ventilation, water, surfaces, and privacy. In the six states compared below, required ventilation ranges from 5 air changes per hour in Texas to 15 in Ohio. OSHA's Formaldehyde Standard applies to funeral home employers in every state. Choose equipment for each zone before the architect finalizes walls, doors, and electrical.
What Rooms Does a Funeral Home Floor Plan Need?
Plan each zone in the order remains move through the building:
| Zone | Purpose | Equipment to Plan For |
|---|---|---|
| Removal entrance or garage | Receives remains from the removal vehicle | MOBI F650 PRO cot, MOBI F1200 PRO bariatric cot, MOBI F500-T high-loading cot, MOBI Standard Cot Cover, MOBI Oversized Cot Cover, MOBI Mortuary Cot Pouch with Zipper, MOBI Oversized Mortuary Cot Pouch with Zipper |
| Preparation room | Embalming, washing, and preparation | MOBI Oversized Hydraulic Embalming Table, MOBI HD Multi-Height Embalming Table, MOBI Flushing Embalming Station, PPE and prep room supplies |
| Refrigerated holding | Holds remains before services or cremation | MOBI mortuary coolers, roller racks, body trays |
| Dressing and casketing | Dressing, cosmetics, and placing remains in the casket | MOBI Folding Dressing Table, MOBI XL Electric Body & Casket Lift, MOBI Casket Trolley |
| Chapel and public rooms | Funerals, visitations, and arrangements | MOBI CT100 Church Truck, MOBI CT200 Cemetery Church Truck, MOBI Casket Showroom Truck |
Keep the removal entrance, preparation room, and cooler next to each other so remains never pass through public rooms. Store cot covers and cot pouches at the removal entrance. Use the oversized cover and pouch with oversized cots such as the MOBI F1200 PRO, and the standard versions with standard cots.
What Do State Rules Require in a Funeral Home Preparation Room?
State rules differ widely. This table summarizes the cited rules in six states, and each links to its source:
| State and Rule | Ventilation | Water and Sink | Surfaces | Other Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan (R 339.18931) | Exhaust fan and intake vent; 12 air changes per hour | Hot and cold water; hygiene sink | Waterproof, washable walls, floors, and ceilings | 9 sq ft separation from public areas; doors locked at all times |
| Ohio (OAC 4717-7-02) | Exhaust fan and intake vent; 15 air changes per hour | Hot and cold water; hygiene sink | Sanitary floor | Eyewash and first-aid kit; aspirator with air breaker; "private" sign on each door |
| Texas (22 TAC § 203.31) | Exhaust fan; 5 air exchanges per hour | Hot and cold water; free-draining sink | Glazed concrete or tile floor; tiled or washable painted walls | Table edges raised 3/4 inch; no passageway or public restroom in the room |
| New York (10 NYCRR § 77.5) | Exhaust fan or air conditioning that removes fumes; no rate set | Hot and cold water; utility sink | Tile or other hard, smooth, impervious, washable material | At least 120 sq ft; tight-closing doors; nonporous table |
| Illinois (68 IAC 1250.170) | "Necessary" ventilation; no rate set | Running water | Not specified | Privacy notice posted on or next to the room |
| Virginia (Va. Code § 54.1-2811; 18VAC65-20-540 and -580) | Working system suited to the room's size and use; no rate set | Hot and cold water; flush or slop sink | Water-impervious floors and floor-to-ceiling walls | Eyewash station and first-aid kit; one preparation room may serve multiple locations |
Other sections of a state's code may add requirements, and rules change. Confirm current requirements with your state board before plans are final. For a supply-by-supply list, see Hilton's prep room supplies checklist.
What Federal Rules Apply to Funeral Homes in Every State?
Two federal rules shape funeral home floor plans in every state:
- OSHA Formaldehyde Standard: 29 CFR 1910.1048 limits exposure to 0.75 ppm over 8 hours and 2 ppm over 15 minutes. It requires eyewash facilities in the immediate work area if eyes may be splashed with solutions of 0.1% formaldehyde or more. It requires quick drench showers if skin may be splashed with solutions of 1% or more.
- ADA: New construction and alterations of public rooms must meet the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design.
Ohio and Virginia also require an eyewash in the preparation room by state rule. An eyewash station is an available option on the MOBI Flushing Embalming Station.
What Utilities Does Each Piece of Mortuary Equipment Need?
Utilities are the costliest items to move after construction, so place them for specific equipment:
| Equipment | Power | Water and Drain | Plan For |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOBI Flushing Embalming Station | GFCI receptacle built in | Hot and cold supply; flushing toilet drain | Wall mounting; includes hydro aspirator, mixing faucet, and 8-foot spray hose |
| MOBI 2 Body and 4 Body coolers | Standard 110V; 230V for the upgraded 6,620 BTU compressor | No drain required | Non-climate-controlled spaces above 90°F need the 230V compressor |
| MOBI battery-powered scissor lifts | Outlet for battery charging | None | A parking spot near the cooler |
| Exhaust fan and intake vent | Per your engineer | None | Size to your state's air change rate |
Where Should the Mortuary Cooler Go in a Funeral Home?
Place the mortuary cooler between the removal entrance and the preparation room, in a climate-controlled space. Michigan's R 339.18932, for example, requires the following:
- Off the floor: Remains may not be stored on any floor, including a refrigeration unit's floor.
- One per container: Only one decedent per container unless the authorizing agent approves otherwise.
- Face up, never stacked: Remains are stored face up and never placed on other remains.
MOBI roller racks and stainless steel body trays keep remains off the floor and give each decedent a separate tier, so remains are never stacked. A MOBI lift moves remains to upper tiers.
Measure doors before you order. The MOBI 2 Body Roll-In Cooler is 38 inches wide and 94 inches deep, so it will not pass through a standard 36-inch door. The MOBI 4 Body Upright Cooler is 44 inches wide and 81 inches high on casters. See Hilton's mortuary cooler buyer's guide to size capacity.
How Much Space Does a Preparation Room Need?
Of the six states compared above, only New York sets a numeric minimum: 120 square feet. Elsewhere, size the room from the equipment plan. These are best practices, not code requirements:
- Embalming table: Leave walking space on every side and the widest clearance on the embalmer's working side.
- Roll-in cooler: Leave a full cot length of clear floor in front of the door.
- Station and sink: Keep the hygiene sink and embalming station within a few steps of the table.
- Storage: Keep chemicals and supplies on a wall away from the table and walkways.
- Future growth: Rough in power and water for a second table if case volume may grow.
How Does the Hilton Prep Room Readiness Standard Apply to a Floor Plan?
Hilton Funeral Supply's Prep Room Readiness Standard rates preparation room equipment on four criteria: Load Integrity, Sanitation Access, Workflow Fit, and Service Continuity. It is Hilton's own internal framework, not a professional or regulatory standard.
| Criterion | Floor Plan Question |
|---|---|
| Load Integrity | Are tables, racks, trays, and lifts rated for your heaviest cases, including bariatric remains? |
| Sanitation Access | Can every surface, drain, and piece of equipment be cleaned fully between cases? |
| Workflow Fit | Do remains move from removal to cooler to table to casket without crossing public space? |
| Service Continuity | Will the cooler hold temperature in summer heat, and is there space to grow? |
See the full equipment breakdown in Hilton's prep room equipment guide.
What Should You Confirm Before Ordering Mortuary Equipment?
- Delivery path: Compare each item's crated size with every door, hallway, and turn.
- Power: Confirm voltage and dedicated circuits, especially for coolers in hot rooms.
- Lead time: Some MOBI items are built to order. The MOBI Flushing Embalming Station has a typical production lead time of 3 to 5 weeks.
- State rules: Get your state board's current preparation room rule in writing.
Browse every item in one place on Hilton's MOBI Medical equipment page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a funeral home preparation room need a floor drain?
None of the six state rules compared here names a floor drain specifically. New York, Illinois, and Virginia require drainage in general terms. Texas 22 TAC § 203.31 requires a drain opening on the operating table and a sink that drains freely. Local plumbing codes may require a floor drain, so confirm with your plumber and building department.
Does a funeral home have to have a mortuary cooler?
Not always on site. The preparation room rules compared here do not list a cooler as required equipment. However, many states require refrigeration once remains are held past a set time. Virginia 18VAC65-20-581 requires mechanical refrigeration after 48 hours and allows the unit to be on site or provided under an agreement with another licensed entity.
How many air changes per hour does a preparation room need?
Among the six states compared here, Texas requires 5, Michigan 12, and Ohio 15 air changes per hour. New York, Illinois, and Virginia require adequate ventilation without a set rate. OSHA sets no air change rate, but 29 CFR 1910.1048 limits formaldehyde exposure, so ventilation should keep levels below those limits.
Can a preparation room open directly into the chapel?
Not in Michigan. Michigan R 339.18931 bars any direct connection to the chapel or public areas and requires at least 9 square feet of separation. Texas 22 TAC § 203.31 bars any general passageway through the room and requires doors, windows, and walls that keep odors from other parts of the building. Plan a private corridor to the dressing area.
Does every funeral home location need its own preparation room?
Not in every state. Virginia Code § 54.1-2811 lets an establishment with multiple locations operate one preparation room. Illinois 68 IAC 1250.170 exempts a branch if the same owner has a preparation room elsewhere in Illinois. Check your state's rule before omitting a preparation room from a new location's floor plan.
