Ethanol Fireplaces

Bioethanol fireplace emissions are limited to heat, water vapour, and a small amount of carbon dioxide, with no carbon monoxide, smoke, soot, or ash produced during combustion. The CO2 released is roughly equivalent to two burning candles, which means correctly sized rooms maintain clean indoor air without a flue or chimney.

Clean combustion does depend on fuel purity. High-grade e-NRG bioethanol burns as a complete reaction, producing a steady orange flame from start to finish without the residues that lower-purity fuels leave behind. That's why EcoSmart Fire bioethanol fireplaces won't stain ceilings, dull nearby finishes, or leave ash to clean up between uses.

What the by-products look like in practice:

• Water vapour: a slight, imperceptible rise in humidity, not visible condensation in a correctly sized room
• Carbon dioxide: trace amounts, comparable to candlelight at the same output
• No particulates: no smoke, no soot, no ash, no odour

Ventilation is about keeping fresh oxygen available for combustion, not venting harmful gases. Each burner has a minimum room size, from the VB2 at 45 m3 [1,589 ft3] up to the AB8 at 116 m3 [4,097 ft3], so adequate air supply is a matter of considered installation

Ventless bioethanol fireplaces from EcoSmart Fire are designed as supplemental, not primary, heat sources, delivering 2–4 kW for zone-specific warmth.

An XL900 burner generates 4 kW and heats approximately 60 m² [646 ft²] effectively. EcoSmart Fire's closed-combustion design retains 100% of generated heat within the room, unlike vented gas systems that lose up to 30% through flues, making every kilowatt of output directly useful.

Because combustion draws on room oxygen, adequate room ventilation is required during operation; EcoSmart Fire specifies minimum room volumes for each fireplace to maintain indoor air quality. This design is intentionally optimised for room-scale supplemental heating rather than whole-home continuous output. For whole-home heating, a dedicated primary system remains essential. For creating focal-point warmth in a living room, study, or outdoor entertaining space, EcoSmart Fire fireplaces deliver meaningful, design-forward heat with a fuel consumption rate as low as 0.31 L/h for smaller burners.

Yes. EcoSmart Fire offers dedicated outdoor fireplace categories: fire tables, fire pits, and insert-style units, all rated for outdoor use. These are engineered with weather-resistant materials: mild steel with zinc-sealed high-temperature powder coating, 304-grade stainless steel burners, and toughened glass screens. Fire tables feature handcrafted Fluid Concrete surrounds or Grade A teak; fire pits use weather-resistant Fluid Concrete construction.

To install safely outdoors, follow these clearance guidelines:

• 2,000 mm [78.7 in] clearance overhead
• 600 mm [23.6 in] clearance from fixed objects (walls, fences, railings)
• Level, non-combustible surface (stone, concrete, pavers; not grass or artificial turf)
• 12.5 mm [0.5 in] air gap beneath the unit, typically via articulating feet

Because bioethanol produces no sparks, embers, or ash, the units are safe for timber decks when proper clearances are maintained. They're suitable for year-round entertaining. Simply keep burners clean every 50 litres of fuel, and use an All-Season Cover (600D Oxford fabric with UV coating) for storage.

Room-vented bioethanol fireplaces deliver multiple environmental benefits that begin with the fuel itself. Bioethanol's carbon profile is fundamentally different from fossil fuels: the CO2 released during combustion is equivalent to what the source plants absorbed during photosynthesis, cycling existing atmospheric carbon rather than releasing sequestered fossil carbon. The bioethanol used in EcoSmart Fire fireplaces is derived from agricultural by-products and surplus crop production, positioning it as a renewable resource rather than a dedicated energy crop.

Combustion produces only CO2 and water vapour, leaving zero particulates, soot, ash, or harmful gases. Unlike vented fireplaces that lose heat up a chimney, the room-vented design retains all combustion heat within the space, reducing the fuel needed to achieve the same comfort level compared to traditional wood or gas alternatives.

The absence of flue infrastructure eliminates ongoing environmental costs: no chimney maintenance, no structural engineering for venting systems, and no dependency on gas supply chains or electricity grids powered by fossil fuels. From production to operation to end of life, bioethanol fireplaces offer a resource-efficient alternative aligned with sustainable design principles.

As a room-vented design, ventless bioethanol fireplaces are regulated under product safety standards (UL 1370, EN 16647, ACCC) rather than traditional building codes that govern gas or wood-burning installations. EcoSmart Fire ventless fireplaces meet these safety standards and require no chimney, gas lines, or electrical hookups, which eliminates many code compliance complexities. Because bioethanol combustion produces no smoke or harmful emissions, ventless fireplaces bypass venting and structural requirements that apply to conventional fireplaces.

Regulations do vary by jurisdiction, so we recommend consulting your local building authority during the design phase to confirm any region-specific requirements for your project. Key installation specifications, such as 600 mm [23.6 in] clearance from combustibles and adequate room volume (typically 40–110 m³ for most residential models), are designed to ensure safe operation and are integrated into all EcoSmart Fire product documentation.

The ventless design simplifies the approval process because it eliminates the need for multiple trades (gas fitting, electrical, ventilation) and their associated code pathways. This makes ventless fireplaces particularly practical for retrofits, multi-residential applications, and properties where traditional fireplaces aren't viable.

No, never refuel your EcoSmart Fire bioethanol fireplace while it's running or hot. Bioethanol requires careful handling: even if the flame isn't visible, a common occurrence in daylight, the burner remains dangerously hot and volatile vapours persist long after the flame appears extinguished. Contact with any ignition source at this stage can cause serious injury.

Always allow the fireplace to cool completely for at least 60 minutes after shutting off before refuelling. The cool-down is part of the rhythm of responsible ownership. When refuelling, use only the approved Safety Nozzle adapter or Jerry Can with Safety Spout, never pour directly from a bottle over or near the burner. If you spill fuel, remove all ignition sources, open windows and doors for ventilation, wipe the area dry, and wait until it's completely dry before relighting.

UL 1370-certified EcoSmart Fire bioethanol fireplaces are designed for safe indoor use when operated correctly. Pairing the correct cool-down protocol with e-NRG bioethanol fuel ensures consistent performance and safety.

Like all fireplace solutions, bioethanol fireplaces can be safe with proper precautions around children and pets. EcoSmart Fire recommends installing certified fire screens, maintaining safe distances from hot surfaces, and never leaving the fire unattended. Children should always be supervised, and pets kept away from the unit during operation due to high surface temperatures.

Ventless bioethanol fireplaces deliver room-vented performance without any of the infrastructure traditional installations require. There is no chimney, flue, or gas line, and combustion is clean, producing no smoke, soot, or ash. The gains are real: heat stays in the room rather than escaping through a flue, and the fireplace can be positioned almost anywhere, from apartments to open-plan living spaces. Managing the trade-offs is equally clear. Bioethanol combustion consumes oxygen, so the room must meet manufacturer-specified minimum volumes, and ventilation needs to remain adequate during use. These fireplaces are designed for supplemental heating, not as a primary heat source, and they require ongoing refuelling since no fuel line connects them. For spaces where a traditional fireplace is impractical, the room-vented ventless format offers genuine design freedom. The cost of that freedom is active fuel management and attention to room conditions during operation, both of which are clearly outlined in EcoSmart Fire's product documentation and third-party certified safety standards.

Ethanol fireplaces typically don't require building permits in most jurisdictions because the ventless design avoids the restrictions that apply to traditional fireplaces. Since there's no chimney, gas line, or flue to regulate, ethanol fireplaces fall outside the strict building codes created for wood and gas systems. EcoSmart Fire products carry UL 1370 and EN 16647 certification, meeting the safety standards most building authorities reference, which often results in automatic exemption from permit requirements.

Where to verify for your location:

• Contact your local building authority directly with your address and installation plan. Most can confirm permit status in one conversation.
• If you're in an apartment, managed community, or strata scheme, notify your body corporate or residents' committee. Whilst permits may not be required, the organisation may want advance notice of the addition.
• Check with your home insurer. Most policies cover ethanol fireplaces without additional riders, but confirming coverage beforehand simplifies the process should a claim arise.

Jurisdictional variation is minimal. With over 150,000 EcoSmart Fire installations across North America, Europe, the UK, and Australia since 2004, the regulatory picture is consistent: ethanol fireplaces gain approval where they're assessed against safety standards rather than traditional fireplace codes. If your jurisdiction does impose conditions, they're typically straightforward ventilation or room-volume requirements, not permit blockers.

Room-vented ethanol fireplace running costs depend on burner size and flame height, since combustion directly controls fuel consumption. Smaller burners consume around 0.31 litres per hour at minimum flame, mid-range around 0.5 L/h, and larger burners up to 1.1 L/h at full flame. At current bioethanol fuel pricing (typically USD $4-6 per litre retail), this translates to roughly $1.24-$6.60 per hour depending on the model and flame setting you choose.

The room-vented design gives you a real cost advantage: because there is no flue, 100 per cent of the combustion heat stays in the room. Every litre of fuel delivers its full thermal output directly into your space, with no heat loss up a chimney. This means lower fuel bills compared to traditional fireplaces at the same comfort level.

To minimise running costs, simply lower the flame height. Flame control is your cost control: it directly reduces consumption. For bulk fuel purchasing (200 litres or more), per-litre pricing drops significantly. Check e-nrg.com for current pricing and bulk rates.