Superior VRT2536 36" Traditional Vent Free Gas Firebox — Pick Your Own Log Set
A 36" wide, 24" tall open-front firebox that needs no flue and no chimney. The Superior VRT2536 is the enclosure half of a vent-free fireplace: it accepts all ANSI Z21.11.2 approved decorative vent-free gas log heaters up to 40,000 BTU/h — most 24" log sets fit — so you choose the burner and log set yourself. White Stacked refractory panels and a black metal floor line the firebox, the heat-circulating cabinet returns warmed room air above the opening, and the required hood comes standard. from $809.
Choose the VRT2536 if you want to build a vent-free fireplace around a log set you pick — the tall 24" opening and 17-3/8" interior depth are printed in the manual precisely to help you match a compatible set.
It is not right if you want a fireplace that burns out of the box — this is the firebox only, and the burner and logs are a separate vent-free log set purchase. Superior's VCM3026 compact vent-free fireplace ships complete with its burner and ceramic fiber logs. And like every vent-free appliance, it may not go in a sleeping room or a bathroom — for those rooms, look at a sealed direct-vent model instead.
Specifications
Frame an opening 42-1/4" wide by 40-1/4" high, with a framed depth of 20-1/2" to the back wall of the chase including finishing materials. Ceiling and combustible side clearances are read off the manual's clearance drawings — see Figures 2, 2a and 3 on page 6 of the installation manual — and combustible mantel and trim clearance comes off Figure 4 on page 7. It may sit directly on a combustible floor; carpeting or vinyl tile needs a metal or wood barrier under the entire bottom. The gas line runs 1/2" to 1-1/2" inside diameter through either side wall with a sediment trap. Listed by PFS to ANSI Z21.91, Report F14-168.
How the VRT2536 compares to the 42" VRT2542
The two VRT2500 fireboxes share the 24" tall opening, the 17-3/8" interior depth, the White Stacked refractory lining and the same accessory set; they differ in width. This 36" takes most 24" vent-free log sets at from $809, against the 42" at from $949. Frame to the size you pick — the framed opening is six inches wider on the 42".
Features
- A 36" wide, 24" tall open-front vent-free firebox — no flue, no chimney, no venting path needed
- Takes any ANSI Z21.11.2 listed vent-free log heater up to 40,000 BTU/h — most 24" log sets fit, so you pick the fire
- White Stacked refractory panels and a black metal floor line the firebox
- Heat-circulating cabinet pulls room air through the side slots and returns it heated above the opening
- The required hood comes standard, and it is what earns the shallow mantel clearances
Answers to common questions
What’s included, what’s required, and what’s optional?
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Included in the box: 36" x 24" front opening; Three-piece White Stacked refractory panel set with black metal floor; Two firescreens, fitted to the opening; Hood (canopy) — must be installed in every installation; ANSI Z21.91-listed firebox enclosure (PFS Report F14-168); 20-year limited warranty on body and firebox.
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Required to complete the installation, purchased separately: Vent Free Burner/Log Set - accepts most 24" vent-free burners and log sets; any ANSI Z21.11.2-listed decorative vent-free heater up to 40,000 BTU/h — the firebox ships without a burner or logs; Gas Line - 1/2" to 1-1/2" inside diameter with a sediment trap, run by a qualified installer; propane systems add an external regulator.
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Optional: The FBK-100 or FBK-200 blower kit with its junction box / electrical kit — the firebox operates fully without a blower; The ASD3624-TI arched screen door in textured iron, and the OAK-UVFRC outside air kit.
Which log sets fit it?
Any ANSI Z21.11.2 listed decorative vent-free gas log heater not exceeding 40,000 BTU/h — most 24" vent-free log sets are compatible. Check your set against the interior firebox dimensions the manual prints for exactly this purpose: 35" front width, 23-1/4" rear width, 17-3/8" depth, 24" height. Send us the log set you have in mind and we will confirm the fit with you.
Does it need a vent or a chimney?
No — this is a vent-free firebox and nothing vents outdoors. The room heater installed in it uses air from the room, so the combustion-and-ventilation air worksheet in the manual must be satisfied, and vent-free appliances may never be installed in a sleeping room or a bathroom — Massachusetts restricts them further.
How close can a mantel or the ceiling be?
Ceiling and combustible side clearances are read off the manual's clearance drawings — see Figures 2, 2a and 3 on page 6 of the installation manual. Combustible mantel and trim clearance depends on how deep the mantel is — see Figure 4 on page 7 — and the required hood must be in place for those clearances to apply; noncombustible materials are unrestricted. You can also send us your mantel depth. We're here to help!
How does the warranty work if something goes wrong?
Superior warrants the firebox, and The Torch Guys handles it for you — we register the appliance and, if you ever need to claim, we deal with the manufacturer on your behalf rather than handing you a phone number. Keep your invoice and the model number; we hold the rest on file.
