Napoleon Riverside 36" Clean Face Vent-Free Outdoor Gas Fireplace - Model GSS36CFN
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The Napoleon Riverside 36" Clean Face Vent-Free Outdoor Gas Fireplace is a vent-free gas fireplace, rated 40,000 BTU/hr. No flue is required — it is an outdoor appliance and vents to open air. This model is listed for outdoor use only and must not be installed inside a building, garage or any enclosed area. Venting components are sold separately; the configurator lists what your run needs.
Options & Features
- 40,000 BTU/hr on natural gas (propane conversion kit available)
- 100% stainless steel construction for all-weather durability
- No venting required - simple zero-clearance outdoor installation
- Choice of Birch or Oak premium log set
- 100% SAFE GUARD gas control system with automatic shutoff
Napoleon Riverside 36" Clean Face Vent-Free Outdoor Gas Fireplace
| Brand | Napoleon |
| Model | GSS36CFN |
| Fireplace type | Vent-free (unvented) |
| Configuration | Front-facing (single-sided) |
| Installation | Outdoor only |
| Nominal size | 36" |
| Heat output | 40,000 BTU/hr |
| Fuel | Natural gas (propane conversion available) |
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.
Not sure which model fits your space? Take the 60-second Fireplace Finder quiz, or talk to a fireplace expert — free help 7 days a week.
Official documents from Napoleon. These are the drawings to check before you frame the opening — they are the manufacturer's current revision, hosted on their own site.
Documents are published by the manufacturer and can be revised without notice. If anything in them conflicts with what you see here, the manufacturer's document is the one that governs the install.
Buying online and hiring a local installer is standard practice — the manufacturer’s warranty applies in full. Line up your installer before you order: send them this model’s spec sheet, agree the venting route, then add the exact venting and accessories they specify in the configurator so everything arrives together.
Typical professional installation runs $800–$2,000 for inserts and simple direct-vent runs, up to $3,500+ for complex venting (labor and permits vary by region). Vent-free models with an existing gas line run less.
How to find an NFI-certified installer, the questions to ask, permits, and what to do if a local dealer won’t touch online-bought equipment: read the installation guide.
Free freight shipping within the contiguous US (Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada by quote). Fireplaces ship factory-new via FedEx, UPS, or AIT freight — you’ll receive tracking by email, and for freight deliveries the carrier calls ahead to schedule. Typical transit is 3–6 business days once shipped.
At delivery: inspect before you sign. Note any damage on the delivery receipt and contact us within 24 hours with photos — confirmed transit damage is repaired or replaced at no cost to you. Full walkthrough: how freight delivery works.
Returns: fireplaces and their configured accessories (log sets, liners, venting) are ordered from the manufacturer to your specification. You can change or cancel within 48 hours of ordering; after shipment, returns are handled with the manufacturer case by case — contact us first and we’ll make it right. Full details in our refund policy.
Every fireplace we sell is factory-new from an authorized dealer and covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. Napoleon warrants key components like the firebox and heat exchanger for extended periods — many with limited lifetime coverage on the combustion chamber — with shorter terms on burners, glass, electronics, and finishes (see the owner’s manual for this model’s exact schedule).
Keep your order confirmation as proof of purchase and register your unit with the manufacturer after installation. Need help with a claim? Contact us — we’ll coordinate with the manufacturer for you.
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Frequently Asked
Does this fireplace need a chimney?
No. This is an outdoor fireplace, so it vents to open air and needs no chimney or flue. It is certified to ANSI Z21.97/CSA 2.41 as an Outdoor Decorative Gas Appliance, which is a different listing from any indoor fireplace. What it does need is a permanent outdoor location with the clearances in its manual kept clear at all times.
Can I use this outdoor fireplace indoors, like in a garage or a screened porch?
No, and this one is absolute. Outdoor gas fireplaces are certified to a different standard from indoor units — ANSI Z21.97/CSA 2.41, "Outdoor Decorative Gas Appliance" — and the manufacturers say so directly. Montigo's manual reads: "This appliance shall be used ONLY outdoors in a well-ventilated space and shall NOT be used inside a building, garage, or any other enclosed area." American Fyre Designs uses the same language and adds recreational vehicles and boats. A covered patio may or may not count as enclosed; that is a question for your local inspector.
Can I install this myself?
Plan on a licensed professional for the gas work. In most jurisdictions connecting gas is permitted work that has to be done by a licensed gas fitter and signed off at a final inspection, and doing it yourself can void both the manufacturer warranty and your homeowner insurance. Manufacturers say the same thing — FireRock, for example, instructs installers to "consult with local building and zoning authorities regarding the need for proper permitting" before construction starts. Framing and finish work is often owner-supplied; the gas connection and the final inspection are not.
How do I know it will fit the space I have?
Work from the framed opening rather than the finished wall. Manufacturers publish a framing dimension and a minimum enclosure height, and both have to be right before the finish material goes on — Napoleon, for example, specifies a framing depth range and a minimum unobstructed enclosure height for its multi-view units. If you send us your rough opening we will check it against the manual for that model.
What else do I need to buy to make this work?
A gas supply line run to the location by a licensed gas fitter, and the correct fuel type — natural gas and propane are not interchangeable without the matching conversion kit. Most outdoor fireplaces ship without a log set or media, so confirm what is included. Any log set you add must itself be listed for outdoor use.