Superior VRE4648 48" Outdoor See-Through Linear Vent Free Gas Fireplace
One outdoor fireplace, open on both sides — the Superior VRE4648 is the 48" VRE4600 linear firebox with the see-through conversion kit included in every variant. It is vent-free and outdoor-rated, so there is no vent or chimney to build; natural gas runs 43,500 BTU/hr high / 24,500 low with HI/LO control, full-spectrum adjustable LED interior lighting is standard, and 20 lb of Diamond Crystal crushed glass ships in the box. from $7,244.
Choose this build if the fireplace sits in a wall between two outdoor spaces — a patio partition, an outdoor-kitchen divider — and you want both sides to get the full 48-inch flame view. Everything structural arrives together: the firebox, the conversion kit, the glass media, the windshields and the cross-ventilation vents.
It is not right for any indoor wall. This is an outdoor-only vent-free appliance — it can produce carbon monoxide, and the manual bars buildings and enclosed spaces outright. For a see-through wall between two indoor rooms, Superior's DRT63ST direct-vent see-through is the one to look at. And if your outdoor wall shows only one side, the one-sided Superior VRE4648 linear firebox skips the conversion-kit cost.
Specifications
Frame with metal studs — wood studs are not permitted — to 52-1/2" wide by 33-3/4" high by 15" deep for the see-through application, and set the fireplace on a flat, level, stable non-combustible surface (one layer of 1/2" cement board makes a combustible surface acceptable), never below grade. Keep a combustible side wall 36" away and the ceiling 46-1/2" clear, and let only non-combustible materials touch the fireplace. The enclosure needs at least 18 square inches of cross ventilation per side — the two stainless vents are supplied — and drainage underneath. Listed by PFS TECO to ANSI Z21.97 / CSA 2.41 as an outdoor decorative gas appliance, report 20-024, at elevations to 4,500 feet.
How the VRE4648 compares to the other VRE4600 sizes — and the one-sided build
The four VRE4600 see-through sizes share the same equipment — LED lighting, Diamond Crystal media, electronic ignition and the conversion kit; they differ in width and output. This 48" runs 43,500 BTU/hr high on natural gas at from $7,244, against the 36" at from $6,187, the 60" at from $8,144 and the 72" at from $9,815. The same firebox in its factory one-sided form — the Superior VRE4648 linear at from $6,379 — keeps the back panel in place and skips the conversion kit.
Features
- The see-through build — the VRE4648 firebox and Superior's 48" See-Through Conversion Kit together, one outdoor fireplace open on both sides
- Vent-free and outdoor-rated: no vent or chimney to build — the enclosure just needs 18 square inches of cross ventilation per side, and the two stainless vents are in the box
- 43,500 BTU/hr high / 24,500 low on natural gas, switched HI/LO from the wall-mounted control
- Full-spectrum adjustable LED interior lighting standard, on RGB dimmers — it runs with or without the fire
- 20 lb of Diamond Crystal crushed glass ships in the fireplace — the standard media bed, visible from both sides
- Tempered glass windshields at each open side, with electronic IPI/CPI ignition and a continuous-pilot mode
Answers to common questions
Does it need a vent, a chimney, or electricity?
No vent and no chimney, on every configuration — the VRE4648 is an outdoor vent-free fireplace, so there is no flue to build at all. It does need electricity: a 120 VAC GFCI outlet in a weatherproof double-gang box powers the 7.5-volt ignition adaptor and the 12-volt LED adaptor. The enclosure you build around it also needs cross ventilation — at least 18 square inches per side, and the two stainless vents ship in the parts box. The only other connection is the gas line, run by a qualified installer.
Where can it go — does a covered patio count?
Any location that qualifies as outdoors under ANSI Z21.97, whichever configuration you order — walls on all sides with no overhead cover, a roof with no more than two side walls, or a roof with three side walls where at least 30% of the perimeter stays permanently open. It can never go indoors — in a building, garage or any enclosed area — and never below grade. Set it on a flat, level non-combustible surface (or one layer of 1/2" cement board over a combustible one), not directly on grass, dirt or rocks, with drainage underneath. Send us a photo of the spot and we will check it with you.
What’s included, what’s required, and what’s optional?
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Included in the box: 43,500 BTU/hr high / 24,500 low on natural gas (42,500 / 29,000 on propane with the conversion kit); Electronic ignition (IPI/CPI) with Hi/Lo control from the wall-mounted RGB control box; Full-spectrum RGB LED interior lighting with dimmer; 48" See-Through Conversion Kit — ships with every variant; (4) 5-lb bags of Diamond Crystal crushed glass media — the standard burner-pan media; Tempered-glass windshields with supports at each open side — 7 inches tall, required whenever the fireplace is running; Stainless hood, RGB control box, 7.5V/12V adaptors, cross-ventilation vents, shut-off valve with flex line, pilot hood and screen; ANSI Z21.97 outdoor-listed (PFS TECO Report 20-024); 20-year limited warranty on body, firebox, and barrier.
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Required to complete the installation, purchased separately: Gas Line - 3/4" black iron pipe recommended, run by a qualified installer; the shutoff valve and flex connector are supplied; Electrical - a 120 VAC GFCI outlet in a double-gang weatherproof box, placed per the manual; it powers the ignition and LED adaptors; Enclosure - metal-stud framing with cement board (wood studs are not permitted) on a flat, level non-combustible surface with drainage, or one layer of 1/2" cement board over a combustible surface.
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Optional: A remote control or wireless wall switch and the stainless outdoor weather cover — the fireplace operates fully without them.
How does the see-through conversion work?
The fireplace ships from the factory as a single-sided unit on every variant, and the conversion is part of installation: the installer removes the back panel (it comes off as one piece and is discarded), and the conversion kit included on this page supplies the see-through parts — including the extra glass clips, four for each open side. All four glass windshield panels must be installed when the fireplace operates, and the framing depth changes to 15" so the faces sit flush on both sides of the wall.
Natural gas or propane — what changes?
Both fuels are on this page, whichever media you choose: every VRE4648 ships from the factory configured for natural gas, and choosing Propane adds Superior's LPK2 conversion kit to your order — a new burner orifice, low-rate set screw, conversion label and instructions, installed by a qualified service agency. On propane the burner runs 42,500 BTU/hr high / 29,000 low, and the supply tank must sit outdoors, carry a step-down regulator, and be at least 100 lb capacity.
What do the LED lights do?
Every model on this page has the LED lighting standard — full-spectrum adjustable interior lights on RGB dimmer knobs, with effectively infinite color combinations. They run on their own 12-volt adaptor and switch independently of the burner, so you can run the lights without the fire or the fire without the lights. Plan them early: the LED lighting must be installed and tested before the finish materials go on.
What about rain and weather?
It is built to live outdoors on every configuration, but plan for two things. First, moisture in the media: after heavy rain or high humidity, light the fireplace and monitor it from a distance for at least 30 minutes while the heat dries the glass — some popping during dry-out is expected. Second, drainage and covering: the manual requires drainage under the enclosure, and recommends a weatherproof cover when the fireplace is not in use — Superior's stainless weather shield below the cart is that cover. Heated stainless parts can take on a golden or brown hue over time; that is normal.
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 product body, firebox and barrier carry a 20-year limited warranty; the burner and gas components carry one year. Keep your invoice and the model number; we hold the rest on file.
