The National Concrete Burial Vault Association (NCBVA) was chartered in 1930 as a voluntary nonprofit organization of concrete burial vault manufacturers throughout the United States and Canada. As of January, 2012 it consisted of approximately 350 independently owned and operated concrete burial vault companies.

The purpose of the organization is to provide a unified voice for the concrete burial vault industry, regardless of product affiliation, brand recognition or location. Every major brand affiliation of concrete vault manufacturer is represented as a member of the organization. As an association, the NCBVA represents groups that provide in 90 percent of all outer burial receptacles interred within the boundaries of its membership.

The NCBVA recognizes its leadership role in the area of funeral service to continually research and develop, then specify and promote minimum performance standards for the burial vault industry. This publication will serve as the standard whereby burial vault producers, customers, and all interested parties may judge the structural integrity of outer burial receptacles being brought to the marketplace. The procedures outlined in this report are designed to demonstrate performance under the wide variety of soil and vehicle loads that the typical concrete burial vault and graveliner must withstand. The NCBVA intends to establish testing procedures that will demonstrate whether or not the units manufactured meet minimum performance specifications and criteria.