Superior WRT4550 50" Wood Burning Fireplace — White Stacked or Herringbone Refractory
A 50" wood-burning fireplace with a 30" tall opening and white refractory running to the front edge. The Superior WRT4550 is a UL 127 factory-built firebox: it frames into a wall or corner with 1-1/2" of airspace, sits directly on the floor, and vents on IHP 12" double-wall snap-lock chimney — 16 feet of system height minimum. The interior is a full white refractory set in your choice of stacked or herringbone pattern, and the grate, screens and ember protector are in the carton. from $4,359.
Choose the WRT4550 if you want a real wood fire in new construction or a remodel without building a masonry fireplace — it frames like a factory-built firebox, burns seasoned cordwood on a steel grate, and the white brick interior is a pattern you pick rather than a fixed look.
It is not right if there is no route for 16 feet of vertical chimney to the roof, or if you are counting on it to heat the whole house — this is a natural-draft wood firebox rated for supplemental heat. For a room with no chimney path, look at a sealed direct-vent gas fireplace such as Superior's DRT3500 series, or a vent-free firebox like the VRT4500, instead.
Specifications
Frame an opening 59-3/4" wide, 67-1/8" high and 30-1/8" deep, holding 1-1/2" of airspace at the back and sides — not required at the nailing flanges — with 42" to the ceiling and 18" from a perpendicular wall to the opening. The chimney runs 12" IHP snap-lock double-wall pipe, 16 to 50 feet of system height with up to two offsets, terminated with a listed round or square chase-top cap. In front, a noncombustible hearth extension sized as the manual sets out — see Figure 6 on page 8 of the installation manual — protects a combustible floor, with the provided ember protector under the front edge. Listed to UL 127 / CAN/ULC-S610, PFS Report F09-095.
How the WRT4550 compares to the other WRT4500 sizes
The three WRT4500 sizes share the same 30" tall opening, the same white stacked or herringbone interiors and the same chimney system; they differ in width and hearth size. This 50" starts at from $4,359, against the 36" at from $3,769 and the 42" at from $3,889. The hearth extension size is set by the manual — see Figure 6 on page 8 of the installation manual — and the 36" alone drops the perpendicular-wall clearance to 12".
Features
- 50" wood-burning firebox with a 30" tall opening and white refractory running to the front edge
- White refractory interior in a stacked or herringbone brick pattern — the bottom panel arrives factory-installed
- UL 127 factory-built fireplace that also accepts vented or vent-free gas log sets
- Vents on IHP 12" double-wall snap-lock chimney — 16 to 50 feet of system height, up to two offsets
- Factory-installed barometric dampers on both sides, ready for up to two AK4 outside air kits
- Ships with the log grate, two mesh fire screens and the ember protector
Answers to common questions
What’s included, what’s required, and what’s optional?
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Included in the box: 50" x 30" fireplace opening, refractory to the front edge; Full white refractory interior panel set — White Stacked or White Herringbone (bottom panel pre-installed); Log grate, two mesh fire screens with rods, and ember protector; Gas-line knockouts 12" from each side; UL 127 / CAN/ULC-S610 listed (PFS); IHP 20-year limited warranty.
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Required to complete the installation, purchased separately: Venting - IHP 12DM double-wall snap-lock chimney with firestop spacers, flashing and a listed termination, 16 feet of system height minimum (12HT stainless and the cold-air kit in Canada); Floor Protection - a site-built noncombustible hearth extension in front of the opening, sized as the manual sets out — see Figure 6 on page 8 of the installation manual.
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Optional: Bi-fold glass doors (BD50, black), outside air kits (AK4 sidewall / AK4F floor — two recommended), refractory stain kits, and a gas line with a vented or vent-free gas log set — the fireplace burns wood fully without them.
What chimney does it need, and is it in the box?
No — the chimney is sold separately. It runs IHP 12" snap-lock double-wall wood-burning pipe (12DM; the stainless 12HT is required in Canada along with the cold-air kit): 16 feet of system height minimum for a straight flue or one elbow set, 22 feet with two, 50 feet maximum, capped with a listed round or square chase-top termination at least 3 feet above the roof. Send us your ceiling heights and roof pitch and we will lay out the run with you.
Can I burn gas logs in it instead of wood?
Yes — the fireplace is approved for a vented gas log set (ANSI Z21.60 or Z21.84) with the damper removed or locked fully open and the doors fully open, or for a vent-free set listed to ANSI Z21.11.2. A 1/2" black iron gas line runs in through knockouts on either side. Superior's own Dual-Burner vented sets come in 24", 30" and 36" sizes; the brochure's selection guide matches the set to this model.
How close can a mantel sit above it?
Combustible trim or a mantel projecting from the front face must stay clear of the opening by the distance the manual sets, and anything projecting further must sit higher still — see Figure 7 on page 8 of the installation manual. Noncombustible material — brick, tile, stone — may overlap the front face as long as it does not block the louvers. You can also send us your mantel depth. We're here to help!
What does it need for the floor?
The firebox itself sits at 0" on the floor — over carpet or tile it goes on a metal or wood panel its full width and depth. In front, build a noncombustible hearth extension sized as the manual sets out — see Figure 6 on page 8 of the installation manual — and set the provided ember protector between it and the fireplace.
How does the warranty work if something goes wrong?
Superior warrants the fireplace, 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. The body, firebox and ceramic glass carry a 20-year limited warranty. Keep your invoice and the model number; we hold the rest on file.
