Empire Boulevard 48" Vent-Free Linear Gas Fireplace
Talk to a fireplace expert
Compare models, check installation requirements and plan what else you need. We can help before you choose your options.
Help from NFI-certified specialists
Configurator · Step-by-step
Configure Your Fireplace
Pick your fuel, ignition & options — total updates as you go.
Sizes depend on the viewing style. Each choice opens that model with its own price and options. Choose fuel and equipment after selecting your model.
Fireplace Guide · Find Your Match
Not sure about color? Order finish samples
$10 each · Free shipping · Auto-emailed $10 promo code per sample (max $50) for your fireplace door order
Hold the actual finish in your hand before you commit. We ship physical swatches the same business day — and our system auto-emails you a unique $10-off code per sample, valid 30 days on your door order. Stack 'em: order 5 samples, get $50 off your doors.
This is a vent-free model — check your local code first
Vent-free fireplaces are excellent in the right home and not permitted in others. It takes about ten minutes to confirm, and it is much cheaper to do it now than after installation.
What “vent-free” means
This unit burns gas with no chimney or flue, so all combustion products stay in the room. It is built and listed to ANSI Z21.11.2 and carries an oxygen-depletion sensor (ODS) that shuts off the gas if the oxygen level in the room falls.
Model fuel-gas code caps a vent-free heater at 40,000 BTU/h, limits the combined input of all unvented appliances to 20 BTU/h per cubic foot of room volume, and does not allow it to be the sole source of heat for a home. Your room size genuinely matters here.
Where it is restricted
- California — state law prohibits the sale of unvented heaters designed for use inside a dwelling. Vented decorative gas logs are expressly exempt.
- Minnesota — unvented room heaters and unvented decorative appliances may not be installed in any dwelling or occupancy. No exceptions in the rule.
- Wisconsin — permanently installed gas-fired unvented heating appliances may not be installed; unvented space heaters are separately prohibited in one- and two-family dwellings.
- Massachusetts — allowed only with a permit from the head of the fire department, inspection by the fire department and the gas inspector, a 40,000 BTU cap per room, a CO detector in the room, and never as the primary heat source.
- Manufactured (HUD-code) homes, anywhere in the US — federal rule requires fuel-burning heating appliances to be vented to the outside.
How to confirm for your address
Your city or county can be stricter than your state, and these rules change. That is why we do not publish a state-by-state map — the decision is made locally, by a person, not nationally. Call in this order:
- Local building department. Ask: is a vent-free gas fireplace permitted here, and do I need a permit? They know the adopted code edition and any local amendments.
- Fire department or fire marshal. Required in Massachusetts before the unit may be operated, and commonly the deciding authority elsewhere.
- Local or state gas / plumbing inspector. This is who signs off on the final inspection.
- Your gas utility. Some will not set or upgrade a meter for an unvented appliance.
We cannot give legal advice and we cannot approve an installation — only your local authority can. If you tell us what they say, we will help you match the right unit to it.
Based on primary sources: Cal. Health & Safety Code §19881 · Minn. R. 1346.5621 & 1346.5602 · Wis. Admin. Code SPS 365.0621 & SPS 323.04(2)(b) · M.G.L. c.148 §25A with 248 CMR 5.10 and 527 CMR 1.05 · 24 CFR 3280.707(b) · IFGC §621 and §303.3. Last reviewed August 2026.
Shipping & warranty
Ships in 4–12 days · Freight shipping
The details
Product details
The Empire Boulevard 48" Vent-Free Linear Gas Fireplace is a vent-free gas fireplace. No chimney or flue — combustion products discharge into the room, so room volume and local code both apply. Vent-free appliances are prohibited or restricted in several states — confirm with your local building department before ordering.
Options & Features
- 32,000 BTU input, 99.9% efficient — no venting required
- Only 11-1/2" deep; clean face or flush mount finishing options
- Millivolt (works without electricity, remote included) or Proflame electronic ignition with battery backup
- ODS oxygen depletion safety system and barrier screen standard
- Style with crushed glass, glass droplets, pebbles, porcelain liners or the 22-piece Driftwood log set
Needed to complete your installation
- Choose approved fire media: Crushed Glass Clear Frost; Crushed Glass Black Polished; Crushed Glass Blue Clear; Crushed Glass Bronze Reflective; Crushed Glass Copper Reflective.
Optional additions
- Driftwood with Rocks; Decorative Pebbles; Decorative Rocks; Glass Droplets Glacier Ice.
- White Porcelain; Stainless Steel; Black Porcelain liner choices.
Our team can confirm the exact parts, what your selected package includes, and the complete price. Plan your fireplace with a specialist →
| Brand | Empire |
|---|---|
| Configuration | Linear |
| Nominal size | 48" |
| Unit Type | Fireplace |
| Viewing Area | 11 7/8" x 47 7/8" |
| Shape | Linear |
| Style | Contemporary |
| Vent Type | Vent-Free |
| Indoor/Outdoor | Indoor |
| Ignition Type | Standing Pilot, Electronic Ignition |
| Maximum input | 32,000 BTU/hr (natural gas or propane) |
Use the installation manual for final framing, venting and clearances. Requirements depend on the model and installation.
A built-in gas fireplace is sized by the manufacturer’s framing (rough opening) spec — the exact framing drawing for this model is in the manufacturer’s installation manual — see the Manufacturer Documents tab.
- New installs (direct-vent & vent-free) — confirm your wall or chase has the width, height, and depth the framing spec calls for, and plan the vent route for direct-vent models (through an exterior wall or the roof). Vent-free models need no vent at all.
- Inserts — measure your existing firebox in four places: front width, rear width, height, and depth, plus your chimney height. Compare against the insert’s minimum opening in Specifications.
- See-through & corner models — check the required wall depth between finished faces on both sides.
Find a fireplace for your space with our Fireplace Finder, or talk through your project with our team.
Documents from the manufacturer. Review them with your installer and confirm they cover your exact model and revision before using the specifications.
NFPA codes & standardsInstallation planning resourcesManufacturers may revise their documents. If a document conflicts with this listing or another document, ask our team and your installer to confirm the correct model-specific instructions before installation.
Plan your new fireplace with your installer. Share this model’s installation manual, confirm the framing and venting requirements, then choose the components your project needs. Check the manufacturer’s warranty for any installation or dealer requirements.
Ask your installer for a written estimate covering labor, venting, gas or electrical work, and any permits required for your project.
For help preparing for installation and finding a professional, read our installation guide.
Freight shipping. Ships in 4–12 days. Carrier transit is additional.
See our shipping policy for delivery arrangements and any freight charges. Oversized or crated orders may have additional charges.
Inspect your shipment on arrival and note visible damage on the delivery receipt. Read our freight delivery guide before arrival, and our return policy for order terms.
Changes and returns: custom and made-to-order items are final sale. Eligibility for other items depends on the order and condition. Contact us before returning anything and review our refund policy for the applicable terms.
Your fireplace is covered by its manufacturer’s limited warranty. Coverage for the firebox, glass and controls is specified in the warranty document supplied with this model.
Request the written warranty for this model or contact us with your order number and photos for help with a claim.
In real homes
Reviews from our customers
No reviews on this product yet. Read customer reviews of other ExceptionalFire purchases below.
Reviews are taking a little longer to load. You can read them directly on Loox.
More to explore
Explore more fireplaces
Compare models and installation requirements before choosing.
Empire Loft Vent-Free Gas Fireplace - Model VFL20
Empire Loft 31" Vent-Free Gas Fireplace Insert - Model VFLC31IN
Empire Innsbrook 20" Vent-Free Gas Fireplace Insert - Model VFPC20IN
Empire Boulevard 60" See-Through Vent-Free Linear Indoor/Outdoor Gas Fireplace - Model VFLB60SP90-OUT
Frequently Asked
Does the Boulevard 48 Vent-Free really need no chimney?
Correct — it burns so cleanly that no flue or vent is required. That also means 99.9% of the heat stays in the room instead of escaping up a chimney.
Is a vent-free fireplace legal where I live?
It depends on your address, so confirm before you order. California bans the sale of unvented heaters designed for indoor use (Health & Safety Code 19881). Minnesota prohibits unvented room heaters and unvented decorative appliances in any dwelling, and Wisconsin prohibits gas-fired unvented heating appliances. New York City prohibits them as well. Massachusetts does allow vent-free, but only with a fire department permit, an inspection before you operate it, a carbon monoxide alarm in the room, and never as the primary heat source. Federal rules also bar unvented appliances in HUD-code manufactured homes anywhere in the country. Local codes can be stricter than the state, so call your building department and fire marshal first.
How big does the room need to be?
Code requires at least 50 cubic feet of room volume per 1,000 BTU/hr of input — for this 32,000 BTU unit that's a room of roughly 1,600 cu ft (for example, 15' x 14' with 8' ceilings) unless additional ventilation air is provided.
What keeps it safe without a vent?
An ODS (oxygen depletion sensor) pilot continuously samples room air and shuts off the gas before oxygen levels drop below the safe threshold. The glass panels and fine-mesh barrier screen must be in place during operation.
What goes in the firebox?
Your choice of decorative media, ordered separately: crushed glass in five colors, glass droplets, ceramic rocks or pebbles, or the 22-piece Driftwood log set (LS60SHF). Porcelain and stainless liners are optional.