Superior DRC3040 40" Contemporary Direct Vent Gas Fireplace
A 40" contemporary direct-vent gas fireplace with a 34-1/4" by 24-1/2" view of the fire over a crushed-glass media floor — a 5 lb bag of Reflective Black glass ships standard. The Superior DRC3040 is sealed combustion: it takes its air from outside and vents straight back out, top or rear, so it can go on an outside wall without a chimney. Natural gas runs 24,000 BTU/hr high / 18,000 low at 63.9% P4 efficiency, on an electronic intermittent pilot with four AA batteries backing up fireplace operation through an outage. from $2,629.
Choose the DRC3040 if you want a contemporary glass-media firebox in a 40" opening and you would rather pick the front yourself — the facade is a separate choice, not a fixed look.
It is not right if there is no route to an outside wall or roof, or if you need primary heat for the room. This is a sealed direct-vent firebox — it draws combustion air from outside and has to vent back out — and Superior designs it as a supplemental heater, with an alternate primary heat source advised. For an interior room with no venting path, a vent-free or an electric model is the one to look at instead.
Specifications
Frame an opening 40-7/8" wide and 18-1/2" deep, allowing 43-3/4" of height for a top-vent run or 28-1/4" for a rear-vent one. Combustible mantel and side-wall clearances are read off drawings — see Figure 6 and Figure 5 on page 16 of the installation manual. It vents on 4.5"/7.5" Secure Vent rigid, Secure Flex or Z-Flex Model GA components, and the SV4.5HT-2 horizontal termination fits every model in the series. Tested and listed by PFS TECO to ANSI Z21.88-2019, report F13-094.
How the DRC3040 compares to the other DRC3000 sizes
The three DRC3000 sizes share the same contemporary firebox design, electronic ignition and facade range; they differ in width and output. This 40" runs 24,000 BTU/hr high on natural gas at from $2,629, against the 35" at from $2,319 and the 45" at from $3,099. Frame to the size you pick — this one needs a 40-7/8" wide opening.
Features
- A 34-1/4" by 24-1/2" view of the fire in a 40" cabinet
- A contemporary glass-media floor — a 5 lb bag of Reflective Black crushed glass ships standard
- Sealed direct vent, top or rear, on 4.5"/7.5" Secure Vent rigid, Secure Flex or Z-Flex Model GA components
- Electronic intermittent pilot ignition, with four AA batteries backing up fireplace operation during an outage
- 24,000 BTU/hr high / 18,000 low on natural gas at 63.9% P4 efficiency
- Listed for installation in bedrooms and manufactured homes
Answers to common questions
What’s included, what’s required, and what’s optional?
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Included in the box: 24,000 BTU/hr high on natural gas / 23,000 BTU/hr high on propane; Electronic Ignition System with battery backup (four AA); 34-1/4" x 24-1/2" glass viewing area; 5 lb bag of Reflective Black crushed glass media (the standard floor media); Vent restrictors, header shield, non-combustible board, front ramp and hookup wire; ANSI Z21.88 certified (PFS TECO listed).
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Required to complete the installation, purchased separately: Front - a decorative facade with a protective mesh barrier screen; the fireplace ships without one, and the screen is part of the front; Venting - Secure Vent, Secure Flex or Z-Flex pipe and a termination sized for your run; Gas line and electrical - a gas line run by a qualified installer, and 120 VAC for the electronic ignition.
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Optional: A driftwood log set, a porcelain liner kit, a 3- or 4-sided decorative surround for the Vista facade, a blower, and a remote or wall control — the fireplace operates fully without them.
What comes in the firebox, and can I change the look?
Every DRC3040 ships with a 5 lb bag of Reflective Black crushed glass media as the standard firebox floor — no more than 4 lbs should be used in the 40" unit. The Burning Display choice on this page swaps that look for Reflective Blue or Platinum crushed glass or the 25-piece River Rock kit, and selecting No Thanks keeps the standard black media with nothing missing from the box.
Will it work if the power goes out?
Yes. The electronic ignition uses external power, but four AA batteries in the battery holder provide backup power and keep the fireplace operating through an outage. The optional blower is the exception — it needs mains power and will not run without it.
How do I vent it?
Top or rear, on Superior's 4.5"/7.5" Secure Vent rigid pipe, Secure Flex, or the listed Z-Flex Model GA components. Allow 43-3/4" of framing height for a top-vent run and 28-1/4" for a rear-vent one. The SV4.5HT-2 horizontal termination suits every model in the series. Send us your wall build-up and we will size the run with you.
How close can a mantel or shelf sit above it?
Combustible mantel clearance depends on how deep the mantel is — see Figure 6 on page 16 of the installation manual, and Figure 5 on the same page for combustible side walls. You can also send us your mantel depth. We're here to help! For a utility shelf above the fireplace (the manual notes shelves like these are commonly used for locating television sets), the minimum height from the base of the 40" fireplace to the underside of a combustible shelf is 52" top-vented with a rigid elbow, 54" with a flex elbow, or 46" rear-vented — and the space between the fireplace and the area above it must not be insulated.
Can it go in a bedroom or a manufactured home?
Yes — it is listed for installation in bedrooms and manufactured homes, and may be installed in an aftermarket, permanently located, manufactured home (USA only) or mobile home where not prohibited by local codes. In a manufactured home the appliance must be grounded to the chassis per local codes or the National Electrical Code.
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. Keep your invoice and the model number; we hold the rest on file.
