Traditional Burial
American Wilbert has been part of the Chicagoland burial tradition for over 125 years. Burials are steeped in tradition and are personal decisions that may be unique as the individual. However, we beleive that the only true means of properly paying respect to the deceased is through burial in consecrated soil. The celebration of a loved one's life will also provide closure to those who remain.
American Wilbert offers a line of burial vaults and burial containers that offer different grades of protection for the remains, the community and the cemetery.
Burial Vault
For a container to be classified as a Wilbert burial vault it must meet certain these minimum criterion, 
it must be a sealed container,
it must have a patented Wilbert liner and
the vault must adhere to design specifications. The concrete must cure and exhibit at minimum 4,500 psi at 28 days. This level of tolerance is source of protection that ensures the preservation of the remains and the cemetery grounds.
This is referred to as single reinforced protection.
For the Wilbert Vault to be considered double reinforced, a metal (Bronze, Copper or Stainless Steel) is adhered to the plastic interior and carapace for superior protection.
For the Wilbert Vault to be considered triple reinforced, a bronze metal is adhered to the interior the the box and cover, the exterior of the cover and a heavy guage plastic is adhered to the exterior of the box offering maximum protection.
Grave Liner (Outer Container)
Outer containers are unlined and unsealed burial containers that offer little protection to the deceased but provide a level of support for cemeterians. Concrete is pourous when introduced to hyrdostatic pressure of underground water which may result in seepage into the units or the export of fluids to the soil or water table. Since the concrete containers generally do not have reinforced walls, the possiblity of collapse is greater.
What is legally required?
In most areas of the country, state or local law does not require that you buy a container to surround the casket in the grave. However, many cemeteries require that you have such a container so that the grave will not sink in. Either a grave liner or a burial vault will satisfy these requirements.