The R520ST from Montigo
One fire, two rooms — and because the venting on this one runs up to 100 ft with as many as six 90° elbows, the wall it opens through does not have to be the wall nearest a chimney chase. That is what the power vent buys, and it is the thing to settle before your drawings go out: every Exemplar is power-vent designated, so the Montigo power vent and its control box are required equipment, not an option. The Montigo Exemplar R520ST (R520STN natural gas / R520STL propane) is a 60" see-through direct-vent gas fireplace: a 61-1/4" x 18-1/8" view of the same fire from both rooms, 80,000 BTU/h on natural gas (80,000 on propane), into a 80-13/16" W x 47" H x 23-3/4" D framing cavity. $13,899, with a 15-year firebox and burner warranty.
Choose the R520ST if a wall is going to separate two rooms anyway, and you would rather it join them. The unit can sit on the floor or on a raised platform — up to 24" high under an 8-ft ceiling, or 48" under a 10-ft ceiling — with the glass bottom landing 15-1/8" above the platform, so you can set the flame at eye level from a sofa or a kitchen island. It ships with the contemporary linear burner, firestone media, high-temperature glass, 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. Both sides need finished wall treatment, the cavity runs a full 23-3/4" deep, and the pipe must be Montigo-brand: Exemplar is power-vent designated, and Montigo requires its own pipe on any power-vented installation.
Specifications
The R520ST frames at 80-13/16" W x 47" H x 23-3/4" D with 0" floor clearance; combustible framing keeps 26" above the unit and 3" at the sides. Venting is 5" inner / 10" outer Montigo pipe: straight roof runs reach 120 ft, through-wall runs reach 100 ft with up to six 90° elbows, and downward-run configurations are limited to 40 ft. Fuel is natural gas (5.5" WC minimum inlet) or propane (11" WC). Ignition is hot-surface electronic ignition (the model table labels it HSI/SIT electronic ignition, IPI) on a Honeywell smart valve. The power vent runs on 120V/60Hz and draws under 12 A; a 20-ft low-voltage wall-switch wire is supplied, extendable to 100 ft. The rating plate approves altitudes from 0 to 4,500 ft.
Other see-through sizes — and the one-sided option
The 48" R420ST saves $1,140 at $12,759 with shorter 16-1/8" glass; the 72" R620ST adds a foot of width for $15,029. Single-sided, the R520 covers the same 60" format for $11,769. 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). Straight roof runs reach 120 ft; through-wall runs 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 R520ST be installed?
Indoors, per the rating plate, at altitudes from 0 to 4,500 ft. It is not approved for mobile or manufactured homes. Montigo’s see-through spec sheet lists an indoor/outdoor kit (IOSK) option — if your second side faces a covered outdoor room, ask our team about it before you order rather than assuming approval. For a fully outdoor-certified see-through, 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?
It is rated as a vented decorative gas appliance — “not a source of heat” per the rating plate. The 80,000 BTU/h input feeds the flame view on both sides; treat any warmth as 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 R520ST: 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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