Empire Breckenridge 36" Vent-Free Firebox, Flush Front

The Empire Breckenridge VFD36FB0F is a 36-inch vent-free firebox with a clean flush-front profile, a 40,000 BTU/H maximum output, and zero clearance to combustibles — meaning it can be framed directly against standard wall materials without the buffer zones that masonry fireplaces demand. At 96 pounds and ANSI Z21.91 certified, it arrives ready to become the structural heart of a custom fireplace surround, whether that's a built-in living room centerpiece or a bedroom accent wall.

The firebox opening measures 36 inches wide by 24.25 inches tall by 16.5 inches deep, giving log sets plenty of room to make a visual impression. Framing dimensions run 40.5 inches wide, 38.125 inches tall, and 18.75 inches deep, with an overall depth of 19 inches — specific numbers worth having on hand before your contractor picks up a tape measure.

This is a universal firebox shell, which means it's compatible with all certified vent-free log sets and burners (neither is included — they're sold separately). That flexibility is genuinely useful: you're not locked into a single manufacturer's burner ecosystem, and you can match the log set style to the room rather than the other way around. The firebox is also blower-compatible, so you can add a blower later once the installation is complete and you decide you'd like a little more heat distribution.

The customization options extend well beyond the burner. Optional liner styles include ceramic fiber, refractory, stainless steel, and black reflective panels, each producing a noticeably different visual effect behind the flame. Decorative arched doors, louvers, frames, and a full range of mantels — traditional cabinet styles in oak or hardwood, corner configurations, and matte black finishes — are available separately, allowing the finished fireplace to look intentionally designed rather than assembled from whatever was in stock. An ember kit and fresh air kit round out the accessory lineup for those who want to fine-tune the installation.

It runs on natural gas or liquid propane (specify at time of purchase), and it carries approval for use in manufactured homes — a certification that matters and isn't universal across vent-free products. If a louvered front is preferred over the flush face, the sibling model VFD36FB0L covers that option.

The VFD36FB0F is the starting point, not the finished product. What it becomes depends on the liner, the log set, the surround, and the mantel you pair with it — which, frankly, is most of the fun.

• 36-inch flush-front vent-free firebox with 40,000 BTU/H maximum output
• Zero clearance to combustibles — no masonry buffer required
• Opening dimensions: 36"W x 24.25"H x 16.5"D
• Framing dimensions: 40.5"W x 38.125"H x 18.75"D; overall depth 19"
• Universal compatibility with all certified vent-free log sets and burners (sold separately)
• Blower-compatible for optional heat distribution upgrade
• Available in natural gas or liquid propane
• ANSI Z21.91 certified; approved for manufactured homes
• Optional liners available: ceramic fiber, refractory, stainless steel, black reflective
• Compatible with optional arched doors, louvers, frames, ember kits, and fresh air kits
• Wide mantel selection available separately: oak, hardwood, matte black, corner styles
• Louvered-front variant available as VFD36FB0L
• Weight: 96 lbs