What Comes in the Box (and What Does Not)

Two tables can look identical in photographs and still arrive with very different things in the crate. One comes with its media, a hose and a lid; another needs its glass, its tank and its wind guard ordered separately. Knowing what is in the box, and what never is, lets you compare fairly, budget honestly and have everything on site the day your installer arrives.

The general rule: the feature, its burner system and often its base media

A finished fire feature from the brands we carry ships as the body, whether concrete, steel or stone, with the burner system you chose on the product page. Depending on the brand and model, that system may be a match lit key valve, a battery spark igniter or an electronic ignition package. Many models also include a base layer of media, such as lava rock or lava granules, because the burner needs it to work properly.

What changes from brand to brand is the rest: the decorative media, the cover or lid, the hose and regulator for propane, the wind guard. Each manufacturer's document is the final word, so treat the notes below as a map and confirm against the listing and the manual for your model.

What each brand says ships with the feature

Slick Rock Concrete lets you choose the media when you order, from black, amber, blue or clear glass to lava rock or none, and its electronic ignition burner option includes the media pan. Fire by Design builds each feature around its burner and ignition package, and its manuals list the parts in each kit, such as the control box, pilot assembly and transformer for the 24 volt system.

What is never in the box

Some things cannot ship in a crate because they belong to your property. Plan for them from the start.

• The gas supply. A natural gas line, a shut-off valve near the feature and the connection itself are site work for a qualified, licensed gas professional.
• The propane cylinder, on almost every model. Several manufacturers say so in writing, including Prism and American Fyre Designs.
• The electrical work. Transformers may be in the kit, but the circuit, outlet, switch and any conduit are work for a licensed electrician.
• Pool bonding and inspections, where the feature sits near water.
• Permits and installation labor.

Fire by Design's pre-installation checklist is a good reminder of how much happens on site: gas pipe sized for the distance and total load, a key valve or ball valve within 6 feet of the feature, 12 gauge wire on every run, and drainage in the enclosure. None of that is in the box, and all of it should be settled before the feature arrives.

Water features: the bowl connects, the site supplies

Fire and water bowls and water bowls add plumbing to the picture, and the line between what ships and what the site provides is worth drawing clearly. Slick Rock's Water Bowl Install Kit, for example, includes a flange, foam gasket, washer, nut and diffuser to connect a 1.5 inch PVC supply at the bowl. Prism's fire and water bowl instructions list a 3/4 inch NPT water connection and a 15 GPM flow. American Fyre Designs' water spout bowls bring water up from beneath the unit to a 3/4 inch garden hose thread fitting.

What those documents do not supply is the rest of the system: the pump, the basin or pool connection, the supply and return lines, and the electrical circuit for the pump. Those are designed and installed by your pool or water feature contractor, with pump wiring by a licensed electrician. Our guide to pumps and plumbing for water bowls explains the pieces in owner terms.

Covers, lids and burner covers

We include a weatherproof cover with most fire features, and the product page shows whether yours has one. That is separate from anything the manufacturer includes. A few manufacturers add their own: the flush GFRC covers on several American Fyre Designs tables sit over the burner so the table reads as a solid surface, and the Fire Pit Art Linear includes a steel cover that turns it into a table.

Lids are often an accessory. Prism sells a Tavola lid, American Fyre Designs sells round, square and rectangular GFRC burner covers, and Elementi sells stainless steel lids for several tables. Before you use any cover, turn the feature off and let it cool completely, as the American Fyre Designs manual instructs, and remove it before lighting.

Media: use what the maker specifies

Media is where owners are most tempted to improvise, and where manufacturers are most specific. American Fyre Designs approves only its own media options and requires the included lava granules to fill the burner area first. Prism asks owners to use only the recommended amount, the amount provided. Elementi warns that adding extra lava rock can cause the burner to soot and reduce flame height. If you want a different look, such as glass over rock or a log set, pick from the options your manufacturer lists and ask us to confirm quantities for your model.

Controls and upgrades worth planning for

Electronic ignition turns the fire into something you switch on like a light, and the controls around it are usually separate purchases. Prism's PH-Ignite requires a switch on the 120 volt side, and Prism lists a wall switch, emergency switch, relay contact or mechanical timer as options. A timer is a sensible safeguard for a feature near seating. Slick Rock lists remote, Bluetooth and timer options for its electronic ignition, and we carry remote kits for several brands.

These are the add-ons our clients order most often with a new feature.

On delivery day: count before you celebrate

When the crate is open, lay out every part and check it against the parts list in the manual before your installer comes. Look for the small things that hold up an installation: the orifice for the other fuel, hardware bags, the battery, the transformer. Note any damage on the delivery receipt, as we explain in our freight and inspection guide. If something seems missing, call us at 888-887-1870 before anyone starts cutting or connecting. Keep the manual, the warranty card and your invoice together; our warranties by brand guide explains why the paperwork matters, and the before you buy checklist covers the site questions to settle first.

Common questions

Does a propane fire table come with the propane tank?

Almost never. Prism and American Fyre Designs both state that the propane cylinder is not included, and most other brands follow the same practice. One exception in our collection is the Prism Porto 60, which Prism lists with a small tank included. Buy a tank that fits the size limits in your model's documents, and have it filled before your installer arrives.

Is fire glass or lava rock included?

It depends on the brand. Many models include a base layer of lava rock or lava granules because the burner needs it, while decorative glass or stones are often an add-on. Elementi Plus porcelain tables include fire glass, Waterstone includes fire glass with the burner, and American Fyre Designs sells its primary media separately for most models. Use only the media type and amount your manufacturer specifies.

Is installation included when I buy a fire feature?

No. The feature arrives ready for installation, but connecting gas, running power and any pool bonding are site work. Gas connections should be made by a qualified, licensed gas professional, and electrical work for electronic ignition by a licensed electrician. Plan and schedule both before delivery so the feature is not waiting on the patio for weeks.

Does my fire feature come with a cover?

Most do. We include a weatherproof cover with most fire features, and the product page shows whether the piece you are considering has one. Some manufacturers add their own as well, such as the flush GFRC covers on several American Fyre Designs tables and the canvas or PVC covers in Elementi and Modeno boxes. Let the feature cool completely before covering it, and remove the cover before lighting.

Sources

1. Prism Hardscapes, Moderno Series Manual, page 10 (media included)
2. Prism Hardscapes, Embarcadero 60 Manual, pages 5 and 11 (media included, recommended amount)
3. Prism Hardscapes, Lombard Series Manual, page 10 (propane cylinder not included)
4. Prism Hardscapes, 2025 Product Guide, pages 10 to 11 (Porto tanks)
5. Prism Hardscapes, PH-Ignite Learn More sheet, burner not included
6. Prism Hardscapes, PH-Ignite Installation Guide REV 05312022, switch requirement
7. American Fyre Designs, 2026 Product Catalog L-H1-00126 Rev. 1, covers included, Fiesta tank cover
8. American Fyre Designs, Fire Tables Manual L-H2-058, pages 15 and 20 to 23 (lava granules, approved media)
9. American Fyre Designs, Fire Bowl Manual L-H2-064, page 38 (cover use); propane cylinder not included
10. Elementi, product pages (for example Lunar OFG101 and Sofia OFP103BB), in the box
11. Elementi, Service FAQ, extra lava rock
12. Fire Pit Art, Manta Ray product page, gas package; Linear Fire Pits, included cover and casters
13. Fire Pit Art, Saturn product page, do not tarp
14. Waterstone, home page and FAQ, what tables include, natural gas orifice
15. Slick Rock Concrete, Resources, media and burner options
16. Fire by Design, FBD-0001 AWEIS Ignition System REV 090826, kit contents
17. Slick Rock Concrete, Water Bowl Install Kit Instructions
18. Prism Hardscapes, Fire and Water Bowls Instructions, water connection and flow
19. Fire by Design, Pre-Installation Checklist REV 090226 r5