Refrigerated coffin units - how they work and what the hire includes
A refrigerated coffin is a special cooling unit with a transparent lid that holds the whole coffin inside. It keeps a steady temperature of minus five to minus ten degrees, which slows down biological processes and preserves the appearance of the deceased unchanged for three to seven days. Thanks to the clear lid, mourners can see their loved one and say goodbye without opening the coffin or disturbing the temperature.
The unit consists of an insulated metal body, one or two compressors, a digital thermostat and a glass lid that opens from above. From the outside it is a neat, dark-coloured structure that does not spoil the atmosphere of the mourning room, and it is often draped with black or white cloth.
Our service is about far more than dropping off equipment. The full package includes:
- choosing the model to suit the size of the coffin, the size of the room and the season;
- delivery to any district of Tbilisi, and to the regions and villages within four hours;
- carrying the unit up by lift or by the stairs, installing it, levelling it and plugging it in;
- placing the deceased in the coffin and the coffin in the unit, done by our staff;
- a daily technical visit to check the temperature and, if needed, replace the unit;
- removal on the morning of the funeral, tidying the room and disinfecting the equipment.
Five models and the situations each one suits
No single model fits every situation. A narrow stairwell calls for a compact design, summer heat for twin compressors, and an oversized coffin for an enlarged chamber. These are exactly the three questions the operator asks during your call.
| Model | Inner size and temperature | Recommended when |
|---|---|---|
| Standard, single compressor | 210 x 75 cm, minus five degrees | A Tbilisi flat, a standard coffin, winter and spring, a farewell of two to four days |
| Enlarged XL | 230 x 90 cm, minus five degrees | A large coffin or one with a double lid, carved premium models |
| Summer model, twin compressors | 210 x 75 cm, minus ten degrees | June to September, a room without air conditioning, a farewell longer than five days |
| Compact sectional | 205 x 70 cm, minus five degrees, splits into two parts | A narrow staircase, a Soviet-era block, a village house with a narrow door |
| Self-powered with UPS battery | 210 x 75 cm, minus five degrees, 8 hours without mains power | Regions and villages where the electricity supply is unreliable |
All models run from an ordinary 220-volt socket, use around two to three kilowatt-hours a day and operate at below 35 decibels - about the level of a whisper. The glass lid is double-glazed and does not mist up, even in a warm room.
Delivery to removal: the process in six steps
- Your call and choice of model: the operator checks the floor, whether there is a lift, the width of the door, the size of the coffin and how long the farewell is expected to go on. Based on this the model is chosen and the daily rate is quoted.
- Delivery within an hour: a crew of two or three arrives in a dedicated vehicle in which the unit travels upright and undamaged. The crew leader phones you before driving into the courtyard.
- Carrying up and installation: the equipment goes up by lift or, if there is none, by the stairs on special straps. In the room it is placed where you want it, levelled and connected to the mains. It reaches working temperature in 20-30 minutes.
- Placing the deceased: our staff lay the coffin inside the unit, check that the lid seals properly and set the right mode on the thermostat. The family is shown how to open the lid for a brief farewell.
- Daily check: a technician calls once a day to check the temperature, the compressor and the condensation drain. At the slightest doubt the unit is swapped for a reserve one within two hours.
- Removal on the funeral day: in the morning the crew lifts out the coffin, switches off and carries out the unit and tidies the room. Back at our base, the equipment is disinfected before it is used again.
Daily rates for a refrigerated coffin and what they cover
You pay a daily rate that takes care of everything: delivery, carrying up, installation, the daily visit and removal. A day is counted from the moment the unit is switched on, and a part-day is not charged as a full one if the unit leaves in the morning. The family pays only for the days actually used, even if more were planned at first.
| Service | Price | Included |
|---|---|---|
| Standard model | 80 GEL per day | Delivery within Tbilisi, carrying up, installation, daily check, removal, disinfection |
| Enlarged XL | 100 GEL per day | The same package for a large coffin, two extra staff for the lift-up |
| Summer model with twin compressors | 110 GEL per day | Boosted cooling, a back-up compressor that switches on automatically |
| Self-powered with UPS battery | 130 GEL per day | Eight hours of running without electricity, suitable for villages and the regions |
| Three-day package | from 550 GEL | A standard unit for three days, plus coffin, shroud, cross and candle holders for one price |
| Regional delivery | 1.5 GEL/km | Both ways from Tbilisi; the daily visit is replaced by monitoring over the phone |
| Generator during power cuts | 60 GEL per day | Petrol generator with fuel, switching over automatically when the mains supply fails |
Three things set the price: the model, since twin-compressor and self-powered units cost more to maintain; the number of days, with the daily rate falling by ten per cent from the third day; and the location, because mileage is added for delivery to the regions. Carrying the unit up to a tenth floor with no lift does not raise the price - that is simply part of our job.
Paperwork for the hire and for keeping the deceased at home
Hiring a refrigerated coffin is legally straightforward, but two documents are still needed: one for the equipment hire, and one so that keeping the deceased at home is lawful. The other documents required for the funeral we prepare in parallel.
- the hirer's ID, whose details go into the handover record;
- the handover record - our simple one-page form noting the model, the time it was switched on and the daily rate;
- the medical certificate of death, which should be kept at home, as the local police officer or the ambulance service is entitled to ask for it;
- for the cemetery permit you will need the death certificate, which our representative collects from the Public Service Hall (in everyday speech, the House of Justice) on the day the unit is installed.
No deposit and no advance payment are needed. You settle up on the day of removal for the actual number of days - cash, a card payment or a bank transfer all work.
Practical requirements and tips for the family
What the room needs
For installation you need just 2.4 x 1.2 metres of free floor space and one socket within three metres. An extension lead is fine, but only an earthed one without a surge-protector strip, so that the compressor does not cut out when the voltage fluctuates. Ideally the unit should stand away from radiators, stoves and direct sunlight.
Temperature and ventilation
The room should preferably be below 22 degrees. In summer, air conditioning or a window left open overnight makes the compressor's work easier. Leave 15 centimetres of free space between the wall and the unit so warm air can escape. Candles and icons should not be placed on the glass lid, because the heat passes inside.
Opening the lid
For farewells the lid can be opened several times a day, for two or three minutes each time. Keeping it open for long raises the temperature by several degrees, and the unit then needs about half an hour to recover. The technician checks this on every visit.
Power cuts
With the lid closed, the insulated chamber holds its temperature for two to three hours. If the cut lasts longer, we will bring a generator or a self-powered model within an hour. Because of this risk, for the regions we offer the unit with a UPS battery from the outset.
Reasons families rent from us
- Available 24/7: a refrigerated coffin tends to be requested after midnight or around sunrise, right after the ambulance has left. Our warehouse and crew work exactly to that rhythm, and the one-hour delivery holds even at three in the morning.
- Experience with difficult access: we have installed units on a fourteenth floor with no lift, in an old wooden house and in a village where the vehicle could not reach the yard. There are few entrances we have not already dealt with.
- Transparency: the daily rate includes everything, and you pay only for the days used. Delivery, carrying up, checks and removal are never charged separately.
- Technical back-up: spare units, generators and UPS batteries are always in stock. If something fails, it is replaced within two hours at no extra cost to the family.
- Care for your home: our staff work quietly, wear shoe covers and leave the room as they found it. The unit is draped in white or black cloth to keep the look of the mourning room.
Frequently asked questions
How many days can the deceased stay at home in a refrigerated coffin?
Without embalming, three to five days, and up to seven in winter. Combined with embalming the period extends to two weeks, which is enough time to wait for relatives coming from distant countries.
Do we need embalming if we use a refrigerated coffin?
For a two- or three-day farewell in winter the unit is quite enough on its own. In summer, for longer than five days, or after a long illness we advise combining both: refrigeration slows the processes down, while embalming stops them.
Is the unit noisy - will it disturb the panikhida?
The compressor makes less than 35 decibels, the level of a whisper, and it cannot be heard in the mourning room during the panikhida (the memorial service). Late at night, in an empty room, you may notice a faint hum - a sign that it is working normally.
How much electricity does it use, and who pays for it?
Two to three kilowatt-hours a day, the same as an ordinary household fridge. This comes from the family's own supply and over three days costs no more than two GEL.
Can you carry the unit to a high floor without a lift?
Yes. A crew of three with special straps can reach any floor, and for narrow staircases there is a sectional model that splits into two parts. There is no extra charge for carrying it up.
What if the village has frequent power cuts?
For the regions we bring the self-powered model straight away, which runs for eight hours on its UPS battery. For longer outages we add a petrol generator with automatic switchover, so the family has nothing to keep an eye on.
A farewell at home is a tradition that deserves to be carried out with dignity, and we make sure everything is in place for it. Dial +995 568 33 03 18 morning, noon or midnight: the refrigerated coffin will be installed within the hour, a technician will look in on it daily, and your family can give its whole attention to saying goodbye.