The Tempest Torch from Travis Industries
20,000 BTU/hr of open, spiraling flame on natural gas or propane — the Tempest Torch by Travis Industries is an outdoor-only, fixed-gas-line torch in stainless steel with tempered glass, a removable rain cap, and an automatic gas shutoff valve, from $1,150. Piezo models light by push-button with no electricity and are built for one fuel; the 24V electronic model switches on and off from a wall switch, ships configured for natural gas, and converts to propane with the #55 orifice included in the box.
Choose it if you want a listed, permanent flame feature on a wall, post, or pillar — and pick the ignition to match the site: piezo where there's no power and you want dead-simple manual lighting, electronic where you want switch control and may need to change fuel later.
It is not right if you wanted a portable patio torch — this is a fixed-gas-line appliance, outdoor only, and it cannot run from a propane cylinder. Plan on 7 ft of clearance to the torch top within 2 ft of a public walkway, and in Massachusetts a licensed plumber or gas fitter must do the install.
Specifications
Input is 20,000 BTU/hr on either fuel — orifice #50 at 7" wc on natural gas, #55 at 11" wc on propane. The electronic model draws 24 VAC at 1.6 A (40 W) on startup and requires the separately sold 24V transformer; one 94800830 transformer powers up to six torches. It is listed to ANSI Z21.97-2017 / CSA 2.41-2017 as an outdoor decorative gas appliance.
Tempest Torch vs. Tempest Lantern 20K
Both run the same 20,000 BTU/hr burner, the same piezo-or-electronic ignition choice, the same fuel behavior, and the same wall/post/pillar mounts. The difference is the form: the Torch is the open spiral flame, the Lantern encloses it in a lantern body. The Torch starts at from $1,150; the Lantern 20K at from $1,526.
Features
- A patented venturi design spins the 20,000 BTU/hr flame into its signature spiral — no electricity and no fan involved in the flame itself
- The electronic-ignition model ships configured for natural gas with the #55 LP orifice in the box, so one unit covers either fuel after a qualified conversion
- Stainless steel body with removable tempered glass, a removable rain cap, and an automatic gas shutoff valve
- Three mounting systems — wall, post (deck or in-ground), or pillar — cover railings, patios, and masonry columns
- One 94800830 transformer runs up to six torches, and one 15-amp circuit runs up to 24 — practical for perimeter and driveway runs
Answers to common questions
Can I choose the fuel, and can it be converted later?
It depends on the ignition. Piezo (manual) torches are dedicated single-fuel units — 94900743 for natural gas, 94900753 for propane — and cannot be converted. The electronic-ignition torch (94900782) ships configured for natural gas and includes the #55 LP orifice for conversion to propane, which must be done by a qualified service agency.
Does the electronic-ignition torch need anything else to run?
Yes — a separately sold 24V transformer. Use the single-appliance 94800833 for one torch, or the 94800830, which powers up to six 24V Fire Garden appliances. It draws 1.6 A / 40 W on startup, and up to 24 torches can share one 15-amp 120 VAC circuit.
Can it run off a portable propane tank?
No. The manual limits the torch to fixed gas line installations only, outdoors only. A propane install means a plumbed LP line, not a cylinder under the torch.
What do I need to mount it?
One base assembly, sold separately: the wall mount, a deck post + deck mount (with an optional square post cover), an in-ground post, or the pillar mount for masonry columns. The torch head does not stand on its own.
Are there placement rules I should plan around?
Keep the torch top at least 7 ft above grade wherever it sits within 2 ft of a public walkway — lower only where your local authority explicitly allows it. In Massachusetts, installation must be done by a licensed plumber or gas fitter with a flexible connector no longer than 36".
What’s included, what’s required, and what’s optional?
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Included in the box: Torch head with tempered glass, removable rain cap and automatic gas shut off; 20,000 BTUs.
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Required to complete the installation, purchased separately: Mount - wall, deck, in-ground, or pillar mount; the torch cannot stand on its own; 24V Transformer (only needed for electronic ignition); Gas Line - a fixed natural gas or propane line run by a qualified installer per the manual's requirements — never a portable propane cylinder.
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Optional: The square black post cover (deck installs), replacement tempered glass, and service parts — the torch runs complete without them; the electronic model ships with the #55 LP conversion orifice in the box.
What warranty does Travis Industries give it?
A limited 7-year warranty on the burner assembly (parts, residential use) with 2 years of labor; firebox and electrical assemblies carry 2 years. Register at traviswarranty.com.
