Outdoor Gas Fireplace in a Screened Lanai? | Wood Fire Home

Yes, in many cases. Majestic's outdoor-listed Lanai and Courtyard gas fireplaces can go in a screened lanai or pool cage, as long as the space still counts as "outdoors" under the installation manual. If it has a roof and three walls, at least 30% of the enclosure's perimeter has to stay permanently open. Any screen on the open sides has to be 14x18 or 16x18 mesh (no solar screen, no no-see-um). And the unit has to sit far enough below the ceiling or overhang. Below are the rules from the manuals, with a worked example for a typical Florida pool cage.

This comes up a lot in Florida. Homeowners want to know whether an outdoor gas fireplace can go inside their screened-in lanai or pool cage, or has to sit outside it, and whether the heat could hurt the ceiling or melt the screen if it sits too close. The answers online are mostly guesses, so here's what the manufacturer's paperwork actually says. Fire pits are a different product with their own manuals; if that's what you're weighing, see our post on hurricane- and salt-air-rated fire pits for South Florida.

The short answer

• A screened lanai or pool cage can count as an outdoor space. With a roof and three walls, at least 30% of the perimeter must stay permanently open.
• Screen is allowed on the open sides, but only 14x18 or 16x18 mesh. Both manuals say: "DO NOT use solar screen or no-see-um screen."
• Ceiling and overhang clearances differ by model. The Lanai needs 39" to the ceiling and the Courtyard 36". Both need 60" below a vinyl soffit and 72" below a vinyl or composite overhang.
• Neither manual gives a separate distance to a screen wall. Keep 3 ft clear in front of the unit and keep vinyl siding out of the zone between the fireplace opening and the ceiling.
• A fire pit is a different appliance with its own manual. Nothing below carries over to fire pits automatically.

When a screened enclosure counts as "outdoors"

Both the Majestic Lanai installation manual (4111-901, section 2.A) and the Majestic Courtyard installation manual (4150-901, section 2.A) use the same definition. The appliance counts as outdoors if its shelter is no more enclosed than one of these three layouts:

1. Walls on all sides, but no overhead cover.
2. An overhead cover and no more than two side walls. The two walls can be parallel, like a breezeway, or at right angles to each other.
3. An overhead cover and three side walls, "as long as 30% or more of the horizontal periphery of the enclosure is permanently open."

Both manuals then add: "Screen may be used on the open sides of the shelter."

Two points matter for Florida enclosures. First, Majestic's manuals allow approved screen on the open sides, but they don't say whether a screened side counts toward the 30%. Before you rely on a screened side, confirm with Majestic (through us) and your local building department. A solid wall, glass, or a panel you can close is not open. Second, the word is permanently open. Our reading is that roll-down shades, vinyl or acrylic storm panels, and sliding glass don't count as open, because they can be closed. The manuals don't cover knee walls or partial-height walls. Your inspector makes the final call on both points.

Approved screen mesh

Here's the line in both installation manuals, word for word: "14x18 and 16x18 screen mesh is approved for use. DO NOT use solar screen or no-see-um screen." (Lanai manual p. 5; Courtyard manual p. 7.)

A lot of Florida cages are rescreened with no-see-um mesh for the bugs, or with solar screen for shade. If yours has either, rescreen the open sides with 14x18 or 16x18 before installing. The Courtyard owner's manual also says: "If the appliance is installed on a screened porch, ensure the screen is kept clean to maintain proper airflow." (p. 13.)

Worked example: a 20 x 16 ft pool cage

The manuals show the math in an addendum: add up the side lengths, then divide the open length by the total. You need 0.30 or more. Majestic's own failing example is a 16 x 20 ft space with 20 ft open: 20 ÷ 72 = 0.28, "not approved." Their passing example is 12 x 20 ft with 20 ft open: 20 ÷ 64 = 0.31, "approved."

For a 20 x 16 ft lanai under a solid roof, the perimeter is 20 + 16 + 20 + 16 = 72 ft. So at least 0.30 × 72 = 21.6 ft must stay permanently open. Here are three ways that plays out, with the house wall along one 20 ft side:

Layout C is the common Florida setup: house on one side and screen on the other three. Whether it qualifies depends on whether the screened sides count as open, which the manuals don't say, so confirm with Majestic (through us) and your building department before you build. Layout A is where people get caught out. Add a solid privacy wall or glass panels down both short sides and you've built Majestic's own failing example: 20 ft open out of 72 ft is 0.28, short of 0.30 whatever the screen.

The manuals don't cover a cage with a screen roof and no solid cover. Where the fireplace sits under the house roof or a solid lanai roof, the ceiling and overhang clearances below apply.

Ceiling and overhang clearances by model

The two models aren't the same, so check the right column. Figures are from the clearance tables in each installation manual (Lanai Fig. 3.3 and 3.6; Courtyard Fig. 3.3 and 3.4). They apply only if the space meets the outdoor definition above.

Both manuals also say: "Vinyl siding must not be placed between the appliance opening and the ceiling/overhang." The Courtyard figures are the same for the 36 and the 42.

Will it melt the screen or scorch the ceiling?

The manuals answer this with clearances, not temperatures. Keep the distances in the table above and the ceiling, soffit and overhang are where Majestic says they need to be. The vinyl and composite figures (60" and 72") are much larger than the standard ones, so if your lanai has a vinyl soffit or a composite ceiling, plan around 60" or 72", not 36" or 39".

Neither manual gives a separate distance to a screen wall. They do warn about heat out front. The Lanai manual says the appliance should be "located out of traffic and away from furniture and draperies" and that "wind may cause flames to reach out in front." Both owner's manuals call for 3 ft of clear space in front, and the Courtyard's adds that "the area around, specifically above the firebox opening will become hot to the touch during operation." Keep that 3 ft in front of the unit clear, and don't place furniture or other combustible objects in front of it.

Fireplace vs fire pit

Both models are listed to ANSI Z21.97 for "Outdoor Decorative Gas Appliances" (Lanai manual p. 4; Courtyard manual p. 4). The Courtyard manual says it "does NOT require a vent pipe" and is "designed for exhaust to vent out the front." Neither manual mentions fire pits. Everything above applies to these two fireplaces only. A fire pit or fire table has its own listing and its own installation manual, and that manual sets its rules. If you're weighing a fire pit for a Florida patio, start with our post on hurricane- and salt-air-rated fire pits for South Florida.

Drainage and covering it when not in use

Both units have drain holes in the base. The Lanai manual says "the builder must provide a means of draining water from under the appliance and out of the structure." Both manuals recommend a slope of 1/4" per foot toward the drain ports. Optional drain pans are listed for both. Both owner's manuals say: "DO NOT use this appliance if any part has been under water."

For the Lanai, the optional framed screen barrier (48" or 60") is "designed to protect the inside of the appliance from trash and other debris" while the unit isn't in use. The manual says it may stay in place while the fire is running. It keeps out debris; it isn't a spark guard. The Courtyard owner's manual lists mesh screens as standard, and the unit's rating label calls for the ODCOUG-36SCN or 42SCN barrier; ask us to confirm what ships with yours. Neither manual covers a fabric cover. For long breaks, both owner's manuals say to turn off the wall controls, the gas shutoff valve and the GFCI-protected breaker. For storm season, see our hurricane prep guide for outdoor fireplaces.

Which model for a lanai?

The Majestic Lanai 48" and Lanai 60" are linear units with a contemporary look. The Majestic Courtyard 36" and Courtyard 42" are traditional log fireplaces. See the full range in outdoor fireplaces.

REMEMBER

Your local authority having jurisdiction, usually the county or city building department, may enforce codes that differ from the manufacturer's instructions, so check with them before you build. Any outdoor gas fireplace should be installed by a qualified, licensed installer following the installation manual, including the gas supply, electrical, clearances and enclosure.

Send us photos of your lanai or pool cage and the measurements of each side and the ceiling height, and we'll help you work out which unit fits.

By Matthew Murphy

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