The R520 from Montigo
Most direct-vent fireplaces go where the vent can reach. The Montigo Exemplar R520 goes where you want it, and the venting comes to it — up to 100 ft of run with as many as six 90° elbows. That freedom is what the power vent buys, and it is the first thing to know about this fireplace, because it changes both your drawings and your budget: every Exemplar is power-vent designated, so the Montigo power vent and its control box are required equipment, not an upgrade. The R520 (R520N natural gas / R520L propane) is a 60" single-sided direct-vent gas fireplace with a 61-1/4" x 18-1/8" run of flame, 80,000 BTU/h on natural gas (65,000 on propane), into a 77" W x 45" H x 23-3/4" D framing cavity. $11,769, with a 15-year firebox and burner warranty.
Choose the R520 if you have picked the wall first and refuse to move it. That is what the power vent buys you: runs up to 100 ft with as many as six 90° elbows, terminating at the roof, an outside wall, or flush to the wall. Most direct-vent fireplaces put the flame where the vent can go. This one goes on a 60" wall, with the taller 18-1/8" glass the big Exemplars use, and the venting works around it. It ships with the contemporary linear burner, firestone media, a high-temperature glass front, and a mesh barrier screen that must be installed.
It is not right if you cannot supply 120V power and the Montigo power vent — there is no non-powered configuration. It is certified as a vented decorative appliance, not a heating appliance — it will warm the room it sits in, but do not buy it to replace a furnace or to zone-heat a space. It is not approved for mobile or manufactured homes. And your wall must swallow the full 23-3/4" framing depth with Montigo-brand pipe throughout: Exemplar is power-vent designated, and Montigo requires its own pipe on any power-vented installation.
Specifications
The R520 frames at 77" W x 45" H x 23-3/4" D and sits directly on the floor (0" clearance). Combustible framing keeps 24" above the unit (top or rear vent), 6" at the sides, and 2" behind. Above the opening you need 15-1/2" of non-combustible facing — the cement board is supplied — and the first combustible header sits at least 14-3/4" up; combustible mantels are allowed only inside the mantel-projection zone. Venting is 5" inner / 10" outer Montigo pipe. Fuel is natural gas (5.5" WC minimum inlet) or propane (11" WC). Ignition is a Honeywell smart valve with hot-surface ignition. The power vent runs on 120V/60Hz and draws under 12 A; a 20-ft low-voltage wall-switch wire is supplied and can be extended to 100 ft. The rating plate approves altitudes from 0 to 4,500 ft.
Other sizes — and the see-through option
Below the R520 sits the 48" R420 (49-1/4" viewing width, 16-1/8" tall glass) at $10,779. Above it, the 84" R720 is $13,759 and the 96" R820 is $15,459 — both share the R520’s 18-1/8" glass height. The see-through version of this size, the R520ST, is $13,899. All share the same power-vent requirement.
Answers to common questions
What venting does it need, and is it included?
5" inner / 10" outer Montigo direct-vent pipe, sold separately, plus the required Montigo power vent termination: roof (PVVEX510-300), exterior wall (PVHEX510-300), or flush wall (PVHFL510-300). Runs can reach 100 ft with up to six 90° elbows. Use Montigo components only: Exemplar is power-vent designated, and Montigo requires its own pipe on any power-vented installation, so the alternate vent brands approved elsewhere in the Montigo line do not apply here.
Will it run during a power outage?
No. The required power vent and the hot-surface ignition both run on 120V household power. If the power is out, the fireplace is out.
Where can the R520 be installed?
Indoors, per the rating plate, at altitudes from 0 to 4,500 ft. It is not approved for mobile or manufactured homes. If you are planning a covered outdoor room, ask our team before you order — do not assume approval. For a true outdoor-certified Exemplar, look at the R324 STIO.
What’s included, what’s required, and what’s optional?
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Included in the box: the contemporary linear burner, firestone media, the high-temperature glass front, the mesh barrier screen (installing it is mandatory), the power vent control box, glass lifting tools, a steel header with non-combustible cement board, and 20 ft of low-voltage wall-switch wire.
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Required to complete the installation, purchased separately: the Montigo power vent termination and the vent pipe run — Montigo pipe only, because every Exemplar is power-vent designated.
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Optional: fireglass, speckled stones, river rocks, driftwood log sets, and a remote on/off.
Does it heat the room?
Treat it as a fireplace, not a furnace. The rating plate classifies it as a vented decorative gas appliance — “not a source of heat” — so the 80,000 BTU/h input buys you flame presence, and any warmth is a bonus, not a heating plan.
Does buying online void the Montigo warranty?
It can. Montigo’s published warranty excludes equipment “sold direct to the consumer via internet or auction websites” unless the seller is an authorized dealer, and it requires professional installation and annual service. The Torch Guys is 1 of only 3 authorized Montigo e-commerce dealers in the United States, so the full residential warranty applies to your R520: 15 years on the firebox and main burner, 15 on venting, 10 on terminations, and 1 year on controls, electrical, media, glass, screens, and labor. Keep records of your install and annual service. If you ever need a claim, we file it on your behalf — call (410) 324-6322.
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