Fire Features for Restaurants, Hotels and Resorts

A row of torches catches the eye from the street, a long fire table anchors the lounge, and guests who meant to stay for one drink order a second. In restaurants, hotels and resorts, fire is part of the experience you are selling. It also runs every night, gets operated by staff rather than owners, and faces inspectors, insurers and warranty terms written for homes. This guide covers how to design fire into a venue and what to confirm before you specify it.

Design around the guest's evening

Think about the path a guest takes. They arrive, wait, settle into a lounge or a table, and linger. Fire can mark each stage. Torches or tall bowls along the approach announce the venue after dark. A long fire table or a large bowl anchors the lounge where people wait for a table or finish the night. Smaller bowls or tables at the edges of a dining terrace warm the space without crowding the service.

Keep the fire where guests gather, not where staff move. Servers carrying trays need clear, direct routes from the kitchen door to every table, and they should never have to pass between a guest and a flame. Plan service paths first, then place fire features in the pockets between them.

Scale fire to the venue

Commercial terraces are bigger than backyards, and pieces sized for homes can look lost in them. Prism Hardscapes groups several pieces as a hospitality line in its 2025 product guide: the Embarcadero 60, Moderno 70, Rotondo 80, Largo and Tavola 110. The Embarcadero 60 weighs 350 pounds and ships with 150 pounds of tumbled lava rock, per its manual, and Prism rates the Tavola 110 burner at 90,000 BTU per hour. Pieces like these hold their own in a large lounge and seat a crowd.

Repetition works as well as size. Three identical bowls down the length of a terrace, or a pair of tables flanking a pool bar, feel intentional and are easier to maintain than one oversized custom piece. Match finishes across all pieces so the terrace reads as one design. For rooftop bars, weight and wind become the leading questions; see our guide to rooftop and terrace fire features.

Torches that mark the way

Gas torches are the classic hospitality gesture, from resort pool decks to restaurant entries. Fire by Design makes automated tiki torches in several head styles, from the Black Cone and Copper Cone to the Bamboo and Plumeria. Its automated torch is certified by LabTest to ANSI Z21.97 and CSA 2.41 for outdoor decorative gas appliances.

A few details matter in planning. Fire by Design's torches run on 24 volts AC only, and its manual says a 100VA transformer powers three torch heads. The torches are not offered in a 30 volt DC version, so under Fire by Design's own pre-installation rules they are not for use within 5 feet of a pool or spa. The manual also includes wiring diagrams for pool automation controllers, which lets a resort switch its torches with the rest of the pool lighting.

Make the fire easy for staff to run

At home, the owner lights the fire. In a venue, a host lights ten of them at 5 p.m. and a closing manager turns them off at midnight. Design the controls for that routine.

• Put switches where staff can reach them and guests cannot. Fire by Design says its AWEIS control box can be installed up to 150 feet from the burner, and the feature is turned off by switching off its power.
• Add a timer so a forgotten feature shuts itself off. Prism's PH IGNITE installation guide requires a switch on its 120 volt supply and lists a light switch, emergency switch, relay contact or mechanical timer as options. Prism sells a 2 Hour Timer and an Emergency Shut-Off, and Fire by Design sells a keyed switch, an emergency shutoff and a wind-up timer, each in an exterior-grade box.
• Use flame-sensing electronic ignition on exposed terraces. Prism's PH IGNITE shuts down for seven seconds and restarts if wind blows the flame out.
• Train staff on the manual, including the attended-use rules. American Fyre Designs' urn and lantern manuals say not to leave the appliance burning when unattended.

Warranty terms for commercial use

This is the detail most often missed. Several warranties in our category are written for homes, and a commercial installation may not be covered in the same way. Here is what the documents we reviewed say:

Terms change, and documents sometimes differ from each other. Before you specify a feature for a commercial property, ask us to confirm the current warranty terms with the manufacturer in writing, and keep the paperwork that ships with each unit.

Durability and care in a busy venue

Venues are cleaned hard. Slick Rock warns against pressure washers, harsh chemicals and chemical cleaners on its concrete, and most GFRC makers ask for gentle cleaning and periodic resealing on the schedule in their care guides. Put that in the housekeeping instructions, not just the owner's binder.

Burners need regular attention too. Fire by Design's manuals call for a check for debris before each use, a twice-yearly inspection of the pilot and burner holes for debris and insects, and an annual inspection by a qualified technician. A service contract with a local gas professional is a sensible line in the operating budget. Linens, cushions and umbrellas get moved around by guests all night, so train staff to keep them outside the clearance in each manual.

Approvals and the project team

Commercial fire features usually go through more review than residential ones. Expect your local fire marshal and building department to weigh in on placement, fuel and shutoffs, and expect them to ask for product documentation. Manufacturers state different things: American Fyre Designs' manuals say its units are certified to ANSI Z21.97 and CSA 2.41, Elementi lists CSA, CE and UKCA certification on its product pages, and Prism says its PH IGNITE system is designed and assembled to comply with ANSI Z21.97. Ask us for the documents your inspector will want before you commit to a model.

Gas work is done by a qualified, licensed gas professional, and any electrical work for ignition, torches, timers or pool bonding by a licensed electrician. Pool-side features have their own rules; see pool fire features: bonding, permits and who does what. Designers and architects will find more in our resources for designers and landscape architects.

Working with us on a commercial project

Our Professional Program is set up for contractors, designers and builders working on larger projects, with project support and custom quotes for large installations. You can also call us at 888-887-1870, Monday to Saturday, 9 to 5 Eastern, to talk through a venue plan.

Pieces built for a crowd

These picks include Prism's hospitality-scale pieces, automated torches for the approach, and the controls that make daily operation simple. Browse the full torch collection and Prism Hardscapes collection for more.

Common questions

Are fire pit warranties valid for restaurants and hotels?

Not always. Some manufacturers limit their warranty to single family residential or non-commercial use, and others give a shorter term for commercial installations on parts such as electronic ignition. Read the warranty for each model before you specify it for a venue, and ask us to confirm the current commercial terms with the manufacturer in writing.

How do staff turn commercial fire features on and off?

Electronic ignition features are usually switched from a wall switch, a keyed switch, a timer or a relay tied to the building or pool controls. Put the switch where staff can reach it and guests cannot, add a timer so nothing runs all night by mistake, and train staff on the manual for each feature.

Can gas torches go next to a hotel pool?

It depends on the torch and on local code. The automated torches we carry run on 24 volts AC, and their maker's own rules keep them out of the area within 5 feet of a pool or spa. Your electrician and local inspector make the final call on placement, bonding and wiring near the water.

What size fire table suits a restaurant patio?

Size it to the seating group and the space, then check it against service paths. Large lounges can take long hospitality-scale tables, while dining terraces often work better with several smaller bowls or tables repeated at the edges. Keep every piece's manual clearances free of chairs, cushions and umbrellas.

Sources

1. Prism Hardscapes, 2025 Product Guide, hospitality series
2. Prism Hardscapes, Embarcadero 60 Installation, Operation and Maintenance Manual, pp. 3 and 5
3. Prism Hardscapes, Tavola Series Installation Guide, Tavola 110 BTU rating
4. Prism Hardscapes, PH-Ignite Installation Guide, switch requirement, ignition sequence, standards
5. Prism Hardscapes, Warranty
6. American Fyre Designs, 2026 Product Catalog, p. 31 warranty
7. American Fyre Designs, Fire Urns Manual L-H2-065, attended use and certification
8. Elementi, Warranty and Return Policy
9. Elementi, Manhattan OFG103 product page, certification
10. Fire by Design, Limited Warranty
11. Fire by Design, Manual and Automated Tiki Torches FBD-0005, power and transformers
12. Fire by Design, LabTest Certificate of Conformity 14059-2G, Tiki Torches
13. Fire by Design, Pre-Installation Checklist, pool and spa rules
14. Fire by Design, AWEIS Ignition System Instructions FBD-0001, control box distance and maintenance
15. Slick Rock Concrete, AWEIS Ignition System Instructions 2024, p. 17 warranty
16. Slick Rock Concrete, Proper Care and Maintenance
17. Fire Pit Art, Warranty
18. Waterstone, FAQ, warranty