Superior WRT3920 20" EPA Certified Traditional Wood Burning Fireplace

Superior WRT3920 20" EPA Certified Traditional Wood Burning Fireplace

The Superior WRT3920-B is a compact, EPA-certified wood-burning fireplace with a clean face: it ships with its own heavy-duty black steel door and 20" x 13-1/4" of ceramic glass, so no facade or door has to be ordered. Behind the glass, an insulated 2.0 cu ft firebox lined with white stacked textured refractory and fitted with cast iron log retainers takes logs up to 18", and a 175 CFM blower moves the warm air into the room.

An air control with an air boost runs it from a hot, fast fire of up to 53,300 Btu an hour down to a slow burn that lasts six to eight hours, and it is rated at 1.7 grams of particulate an hour. For a finished frame around the face, add the optional PTK-BLK black perimeter trim or the CSK black cast surround.

It vents through Superior's 6" Snap-Pak stainless chimney in the US, at least 12 feet above the fireplace, and comes with the outside air kit it has to have. For a larger 2.19 cu ft firebox behind a facade and door you choose, see the WCT4920WSS or the WCT6920WSS; the WCT6940WS is the catalytic model for 30" logs.

Key Features

• EPA certified to the 2020 standard at 1.7 grams of particulate an hour
• Up to 53,300 Btu an hour; heats up to about 1,500 sq ft
• Insulated 2.0 cu ft firebox for logs up to 18"
• Clean face with a heavy-duty black steel door and cool-touch handle, included
• 20" x 13-1/4" ceramic glass viewing area
• White stacked textured refractory panels with an integrated ash lip and decorative cast iron log retainers
• Air control with an air boost for quick starts, long low burns and overnight fires
• Air wash that keeps the glass clean
• 175 CFM heat-activated blower with a variable speed wall control
• Insulated outside air kit and coupler included, as required
• Optional black perimeter trim or cast surround
• Optional forced air kit for up to three more rooms
• High-temperature paint finish
• Uses Superior's 6" Snap-Pak stainless chimney in the US
• 20 year limited warranty on the fireplace body and firebox

What's Included

• Fireplace with white stacked textured refractory panels and cast iron log retainers
• Heavy-duty black steel door with ceramic glass, fitted and adjusted at the factory
• 175 CFM heat-activated blower
• Variable speed wall control, wall plate, junction box and strain relief
• Outside air kit: intake vent, 4" insulated duct that stretches up to 10 feet, and the coupler that connects it to the fireplace
• Air control rod and handle
• Safety metal strip for the hearth extension, and four Tek screws
• Installation and operation manual

What to Order With It

Required – Chimney (US):

• 6" Snap-Pak Stainless Steel Chimney Length, 6" to 48" (6SPS), enough to reach the minimum height
• 6" Snap-Pak Round Cap with Spark Arrester (6SPC), required on every chimney

As your chimney run needs:

• 6" Snap-Pak 15° Elbow, 2-pack (6SPSE15-2) or 6" Snap-Pak 30° Elbow, 2-pack (6SPE30-2), for an offset (two offsets at most, no more than 30° from vertical)
• 6" Snap-Pak Firestop Spacer (6SPFS), at every ceiling the chimney passes through
• 6" Snap-Pak Insulation Shield (6SPIS), where the chimney runs through an attic that isn't enclosed
• 6" Snap-Pak Flat Flashing (6SPFF), 6" Snap-Pak 2/12-5/12 Flashing (6SPF5) or 6" Snap-Pak 6/12-10/12 Flashing (6SPF10), to match the roof pitch
• 6" Snap-Pak Storm Collar (6SPSC)
• 6" Snap-Pak Adjustable Support (6SPAS); every chimney needs at least one support
• 6" Snap-Pak Support Band (6SPSB), required at the upper elbow of each offset and used with guy wires above the roof
• 6" Snap-Pak Roof Brace (6SPRB), for a chimney more than 4 feet above the roof
• 6" Snap-Pak Non-Insulated Wall Firestop (6SPWF) and 6" Snap-Pak Wall Band (6SPWB), for a chimney that runs out through a wall and up the outside (bands every 8 feet)

Optional:

• Perimeter Trim Kit, Black (PTK-BLK), covers facing 1/2" to 1" thick
• Cast Surround Kit, Black (CSK), plan the framing with its own installation sheet
• Forced Air Kit, Starter Kit for Wall or Floor Installations (BISFWK-1), with a 250 CFM blower, speed control, thermo-disc and backdraft damper
• Flex 5" I.D. x 15' long (5FLEX15) or Flex 5" I.D. x 25' long (5FLEX25), duct for the forced air kit
• Heating/Cooling Thermostat, 120 volt (HCTW), to run the forced air blower automatically

Specifications

Superior designs its EPA fireplaces as supplemental heat for the area around them, not as a home's only heat source. The heat output and emissions are from Superior's EPA testing; the heating area is Superior's estimate.

Dimensions and Framing

Fireplace dimensions

Framing

Frame with 2x3 or larger lumber, with studs running floor to ceiling at the sides and headers only where they carry the facing and mantel. Nothing combustible can go in the space directly above the fireplace, up to 6'8" from its base, except those framing members, and the fireplace can't touch insulation: cover insulation around it with drywall. The framing dimensions include sheathing. The top heat shields and nailing flanges adjust 1/2" for a flush (as shipped) or a proud installation, and four floor flanges and the side flanges fasten it in place. The perimeter trim covers facing 1/2" to 1" thick; with thicker facing, leave room for it to sit inside the facing. The cast surround comes with its own installation sheet, so plan the framing with it.

Installation Requirements

• Clearances: 0" to the floor and at the back and side standoffs, a side wall at least 24" from the firebox opening, a ceiling at least 6'8" above the base of the fireplace, and 2" around the chimney. Don't fill the space above the fireplace with anything except the wood framing. Keep furniture and other combustibles 48" from the front.
• Hearth extension: it can sit directly on a combustible floor. In front, build a non-combustible hearth extension at least 1/2" thick, reaching 16" out in the US or 18" in Canada and 8" past each side of the firebox opening (at least 36" wide, centered). Half the supplied safety metal strip goes under the front of the fireplace and half under the hearth, and the gap is sealed with non-combustible material such as sand-cement grout. A raised fireplace needs field-made Z-shaped metal strips across its full width and the same size hearth.
• Mantel: only a non-combustible mantel, at least 39-1/2" above the base of the fireplace and no more than 16" deep.
• Facing: drywall and other combustible materials have to finish flush with the fireplace and can't overlap its steel face. Brick, stone and tile can overlap the face. Whatever covers the face, the trim or surround must stay removable for service.
• Outside air: the outside air kit is mandatory and comes with the fireplace. Run its 4" insulated duct no more than 20 feet (5" duct for up to 30 feet, 6" for up to 40), with the intake no more than 10 feet above the base of the fireplace. It has to draw from outdoors, never from an attic, basement or garage, in a spot where snow, wind, car exhaust, gas meters and other vents won't interfere. Leave 8" beside the fireplace for the duct when framing.
• Electrical: the blower needs a 3-wire, 120 VAC, 60 Hz unswitched supply to the junction box on the right side of the fireplace, with the included speed control wired in line, installed by a qualified electrician before the face is finished.
• Chimney: in the US, use only Superior's (IHP) 6" Snap-Pak stainless chimney; in Canada, use 6" Security Chimneys Secure Temp ASHT+ or S2100+, or DuraVent DuraTech Canada or DuraTech Premium. The chimney can't vent any other appliance. If possible, run it inside the house: an outside chimney in a place that stays below 0°F draws poorly and builds up more creosote.
• Chimney height: at least 12 feet above the fireplace, or 15 feet with offsets, plus 18" for every 2,000 feet of elevation. The cap has to be at least 3 feet above where the chimney leaves the roof and 2 feet higher than any wall, roof or building within 10 feet, and a rain cap is required.
• Chimney run: two offsets at most (four elbows), no more than 30° from vertical, and the pipe has to run straight up where it passes through a floor or ceiling. Every chimney needs at least one support; the fireplace itself can carry only 9 feet of chimney. A chimney more than 4 feet above the roof needs a roof brace or a support band with guy wires.
• Clearances around the chimney: frame square openings that leave 2" of air space all around the pipe, never filled with insulation, with a firestop spacer at every ceiling and an insulation shield in an open attic. Enclose any part that passes through a floor people use or another accessible space.
• Masonry chimney: it can connect to an existing or new masonry chimney with a stainless steel liner rated to 2,100°F (UL 1777 in the US), after a chimney sweep inspects and cleans the chimney.
• Cold climates: where it drops below 32°F, seal every gap around the fireplace with non-combustible material and wrap the outside air duct in non-combustible insulation to keep condensation down.
• Gas logs and inserts: don't install gas logs (it hasn't been tested with unvented gas logs), a fireplace insert or any other product IHP hasn't specified for it.
• Smoke and CO detectors: Superior recommends a smoke detector, ideally in a hallway next to the room, and a carbon monoxide monitor, or whatever your local code requires.
• Installation: check local codes and permits before you start, and have a qualified installer follow the installation manual.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it need a facade or door?
No. The heavy-duty steel door comes on the fireplace, adjusted at the factory, and the clean face can be finished with tile, stone or drywall on its own. The PTK-BLK black perimeter trim and the CSK black cast surround are optional frames. The fireplace can't be used without its door, and it has to burn with the door closed.

How much heat does it put out?
Up to about 53,000 Btu an hour with the air control wide open and the air boost pulled out, though it then needs wood every hour or two. Superior recommends a medium fire: three medium pieces on a bed of coals give about 20,000 Btu an hour and last three to four hours, with the least creosote on the glass and in the chimney. Turned down after the fireplace is hot, it burns six to eight hours. Superior puts its heating area at up to about 1,500 sq ft. It is built as supplemental heat, so keep another heat source in the house.

How do the air controls work?
The lever under the door on the left sets the combustion air: slide it left to open it and right to close it. Pull it out for the air boost, which helps a new fire or a fresh load catch, and push it in for a longer burn. After reloading, run it with the air fully open for 10 to 20 minutes, then close the boost and set the air to medium. Open the air before you open the door so smoke doesn't roll into the room.

What chimney does it need?
In the US, Superior's 6" Snap-Pak chimney: 430 stainless steel inside and out, 1-1/2" of ceramic fiber insulation, 9" outside diameter and 2" clearance to combustibles, listed to UL 103HT. It must rise at least 12 feet above the fireplace (15 with offsets) and needs the round cap. In Canada it takes Security Chimneys Secure Temp ASHT+ or S2100+, or DuraVent DuraTech Canada or DuraTech Premium.

Can it heat other rooms?
Yes, with the optional forced air kit: a 250 CFM blower pushes heat through 5" duct to as many as three rooms, including rooms on a lower floor, up to 50 feet away, and the HCTW thermostat can run it automatically. The forced air kit was not part of the fireplace's EPA emissions testing, so a fireplace installed with it can't be sold as EPA certified.

Can I burn gas logs in it?
No. It's made for wood only, and IHP hasn't tested it with unvented gas logs. Don't put a gas log set, a fireplace insert or any other product IHP hasn't specified into it; doing so voids the certification and the warranty.

What should I burn?
Only dry, seasoned natural wood, ideally at 15% to 20% moisture; split wood dried under cover for about a year usually gets there, and hardwoods burn longer than softwoods. Never burn treated wood, plywood or particleboard, driftwood, coal, charcoal, cardboard, trash or Christmas tree branches, and never start or freshen a fire with gasoline, kerosene or lighter fluid. Fire starters made of paper, sawdust or wax are fine. Wet wood smolders, coats the glass and chimney with creosote and lowers the heat you get.

What upkeep does it need?
The first five or six fires should be small and short, 30 to 60 minutes, to cure the refractory; the paint may smell and smoke a little at first, so keep the room well ventilated. Have the fireplace inspected at least once a year by a qualified technician, and have the chimney cleaned before creosote builds up past 1/16". Remove ashes when they reach 3 to 4" deep, leaving about 1" on the floor of the firebox, and only once they are cold (24 to 48 hours after the fire is out), into a metal container with a tight lid.

How do I keep the glass clean?
The air wash keeps it clear when the fire burns hot with dry wood; long low burns with the air shut down will dirty it. Clean it with a cleaner made for creosote, never abrasives, steel wool or oven cleaner, and keep the cleaner off the door gasket and the painted face. Replace cracked glass only with Superior's 5 mm ceramic glass, and don't run the fireplace until it's fixed.

Warranty

Superior's 20 Year Limited Warranty covers the WRT3920-B against defects in materials and workmanship:

• Fireplace body and firebox: 20 years
• Ceramic glass: 20 years, against thermal breakage only
• Refractory: 2 years, repair or replacement (hairline cracks excluded)
• Removable air tubes: 7 years
• Other air tubes, baffles and brick retainers: 1 year
• Cast iron parts, gaskets and electrical parts such as the blower: 1 year
• Parts not listed: 90 days
• Labor: paid at IHP rates for the covered part's warranty period, up to five years

Vent components, trim, paint and applied stains are not covered, and neither is damage from overfiring or from burning anything other than dry, seasoned wood. Using chimney parts other than those named in the installation manual voids the warranty. The warranty is for the original owner of a fireplace installed in the US or Canada. Full terms are in the warranty certificate.

Documents and Downloads

• Installation and Operation Manual
• Specification Sheet
• Smart Sheet
• Brochure
• Snap-Pak Chimney Smart Sheet
• Warranty Certificate