Before You Buy a Fire Feature: A Checklist

A fire feature is a piece of furniture, a gas appliance and a small construction project at the same time, and most regrets come from the second and third parts. Before you fall for a finish, settle where the piece will sit, what fuel will feed it, how it lights, what the ground can carry and how the pallet will reach the patio. Get those answers in order and the design choices become the easy, enjoyable part.

Start with the spot, and the space around it

Walk the space with a tape measure before you open a single product page. Mark where the feature will sit and note everything within a few feet of it: walls, railings, a pergola, an umbrella, a tree canopy, the roof overhang. Every gas fire feature we carry is built for outdoor use, and most manufacturers publish a clearance from the flame to anything that can burn or trap heat.

Those clearances are not the same from brand to brand, which is why we never quote one number for all of them. Prism Hardscapes manuals call for 4 feet at the sides and 6 feet above. The American Fyre Designs fire table manual calls for 3 feet from the unit edge to any construction and 6 feet above the top. Elementi manuals ask for 48 inches from the sides and back, with the overhead figure set model by model. Once you have a shortlist, open the manual for each model and check the spot against it. Outdoor furniture and cushions burn, so treat them as part of the picture even though the manuals speak of construction and combustibles.

A covered patio deserves extra care. Elementi manuals say plainly not to locate their tables under an overhead enclosure, and the American Fyre Designs manual says not to install under overhead construction less than 6 feet above the top of the unit. If your favorite spot is under a roof, ask us before you buy rather than after.

Choose the fuel before the finish

Natural gas or propane is a practical decision that shapes everything else. A natural gas line gives you a feature that is always ready, with no tank to refill, but it means a trench and a licensed gas professional. Propane lets you place the feature almost anywhere with a tank beside it, inside it or in a separate enclosure.

Some models are built for one fuel only. The American Fyre Designs L.P. Select tables are propane models with a tank drawer, and they are not on either of that brand's conversion kit lists. Elementi bar and column models are sold as propane only. Where a model can be converted, do it only with the manufacturer's kit for that exact model, installed by a qualified technician. Elementi, for example, sells conversion kits matched to the BTU rating of each fire pit. If you want propane and a clean look, read our guide to fire tables with hidden propane tank storage.

Decide how you want to light it

Ignition is where daily enjoyment is won or lost. There are three broad approaches in our collection. Match lit or key valve features are simple and need no power. Battery spark systems, such as the push button spark on Elementi tables or Prism's Battery Spark option for propane, add convenience without wiring. Electronic ignition turns the feature on with a switch, a timer or an app.

Electronic systems need power planned from day one. Prism's PH-Ignite runs from 120 volts through a transformer and requires a switch on the 120 volt side, such as a wall switch, timer or emergency shut-off. The American Fyre Designs FyreStarter system needs a 120 volt GFCI outlet and adds smartphone control. The All Weather Electronic Ignition System used by Fire by Design and Slick Rock runs from a 24 volt transformer in its standard form. Any of these means a licensed electrician, so decide before the patio is poured and conduit can still go in the ground.

Check the ground it will sit on

Luxury fire features are heavy. The Prism Porto 68 weighs 450 pounds, the Embarcadero 60 about 350 pounds, and Waterstone says its stone tables range from 150 to 550 pounds. Set them on a hard, level, non-combustible surface. Elementi's manuals ask for exactly that, and Fire Pit Art warns in capitals never to place a wood-burning fire pit on any wood surface.

Decks and rooftops need a real answer, not a guess. The American Wood Council's prescriptive deck guide is written around a 40 pound per square foot live load and says decks carrying large concentrated loads such as hot tubs are beyond its scope. A concrete table sitting on a small footprint is that kind of load. Have a structural engineer or your builder confirm the deck or roof can carry it.

Plan the path from the truck to the patio

Most of our fire features travel by freight on a pallet. Walk the route from the street: gate widths, steps, slopes, soft lawn, the turn around the side of the house. Decide who will move the piece from the curb and how. Some items can be moved by two people once they are off the pallet; a large concrete table or a stone slab needs a crew or equipment. Our guide to lead times, freight delivery and inspection covers delivery options and what to check before you sign.

If the feature will sit near a pool

Pool edges bring electrical rules that do not apply on an ordinary patio. A few systems are designed for it. Prism states that PH-Ignite complies with NEC Article 680 and can be installed within 5 feet of pool water. Fire by Design requires its 30 volt DC setup, a certified power supply kept at least 10 feet from the pool, and a bonded gas line at each feature for anything within 5 feet of a pool or spa. Final approval rests with your electrician and inspector. Start with our pool planning checklist if water is part of the plan.

Read the warranty and the care guide before you choose

Warranty terms differ more than most buyers expect, from one year on some concrete to decades on some steel, and many split the shell from the burner and the electronics. Our warranties by brand guide lays each one out. Care differs too: concrete makers ask for periodic resealing, and Fire Pit Art asks owners not to tarp a new steel pit while its patina matures. We include a weatherproof cover with most fire features; check the product page for the one you are considering.

Finally, confirm local rules with your local authority having jurisdiction, usually the building or fire department, and your HOA where one applies. Some cities restrict gas appliances on balconies or near structures, and many restrict wood burning on certain days.

The checklist in one place

1. Measure the spot and check each shortlisted model's manual clearances, sides and overhead.
2. Choose natural gas or propane, and confirm the model is built for it.
3. Choose match lit, battery spark or electronic ignition, and plan power with an electrician.
4. Confirm the surface is hard, level and non-combustible, and that a deck or roof can carry the weight.
5. Walk the delivery path and line up help for delivery day.
6. For pool edges, confirm the ignition and power setup meets the manufacturer's pool requirements.
7. Read the warranty and care guide for the exact model.
8. Check local code, fire department and HOA rules.

When the list is done, the fun begins. These are the pieces our clients choose most often, a good place to start comparing size and form.

If you would like a second pair of eyes on your plan, call us at 888-887-1870, Monday to Saturday, 9 to 5 Eastern, or send us a note. You can also start from the Style Finder if you are still choosing a look.

Common questions

How much space do I need around a gas fire table?

It depends on the manufacturer and the model, so always use the figures in the manual for the piece you choose. As examples, Prism Hardscapes manuals call for 4 feet at the sides and 6 feet above, American Fyre Designs calls for 3 feet from the unit edge to any construction and 6 feet above, and Elementi asks for 48 inches at the sides and back. Treat cushions and outdoor furniture as combustible when you plan the layout.

Can I switch a fire feature from propane to natural gas later?

Some models can be converted and some cannot. Where a manufacturer offers conversion, it is done with that manufacturer's kit for the exact model and installed by a qualified gas technician. Some models, such as the American Fyre Designs L.P. Select tables, are propane only. If there is any chance you will switch fuels, tell us before you order so we can confirm the options for the model you like.

Do I need an electrician for electronic ignition?

Yes. Electronic ignition systems need a power source, usually a transformer fed from a 120 volt circuit or a GFCI outlet, and a switch, timer or controller. That wiring should be done by a licensed electrician, and it is far easier to run conduit before a patio or deck is finished. Near a pool, the manufacturer's pool requirements and your local inspector set the rules.

Can I put a concrete fire table on my wood deck?

Only if the deck can carry the load and the manufacturer allows it. Concrete tables can weigh several hundred pounds on a small footprint, and prescriptive deck guides do not cover large concentrated loads. Ask a structural engineer or your builder to confirm the framing, and check the manual for surface requirements. Fire Pit Art specifically says never to place a wood-burning fire pit on a wood surface.

Sources

1. Prism Hardscapes, Moderno Series Installation, Operation and Maintenance Manual, page 10 (clearances)
2. Prism Hardscapes, PH-Ignite Installation Guide REV 05312022, power, switch and pool statements
3. Prism Hardscapes, 2025 Product Guide, ignition options and Porto series
4. Prism Hardscapes, Embarcadero 60 Manual, weight
5. Prism Hardscapes, Porto 68 spec and install options sheet, weight
6. American Fyre Designs, Fire Tables Installation and Owner's Manual L-H2-058, clearances, overhead, FyreStarter power, L.P. Select
7. American Fyre Designs, Gas Conversion Kit L-H2-059 and L-H2-068, model lists
8. Elementi, OFG103NG Manhattan Fire Table Owner's Manual, page 4 (clearances, overhead enclosure)
9. Elementi, Conversion Kits, BTU-specific kits and qualified installer
10. Elementi, Service FAQ, push button spark ignition; Elementi, Montreal OFG221 product page, propane only bar model
11. Slick Rock Concrete, Resources, Burner Options (24 volt AC transformer)
12. Waterstone, FAQ, table weights
13. Fire Pit Art, Delivery Method, wood surface warning
14. Fire by Design, Pre-Installation Checklist REV 090226 r5, features within 5 ft of a pool or spa
15. Fire by Design, PS Series 30 VDC Power Supply Instructions, 10 ft from pool
16. Fire by Design, FBD-0001 AWEIS Ignition System REV 090826, voltage options
17. American Wood Council, DCA 6 Prescriptive Residential Wood Deck Construction Guide, pages 2 and 3
18. Fire Pit Art, Warranty and product pages, care of patina