The R324 STIO from Montigo
One fireplace, two rooms, and one of the rooms is outside. The Montigo Exemplar R324 STIO (R324STION natural gas / R324STIOL propane) sits is a 36" see-through indoor/outdoor gas fireplace that sits inside an exterior wall, so the living room and the patio watch the same fire off a single gas line — 35-1/4" x 26-3/8" of it from either side, 50,000 BTU/h on either fuel, into a 49" W x 48" H rough opening. $10,909, with a 15-year firebox and burner warranty. No vent pipe required — self-venting through integral louvers (must straddle an exterior wall). The integral power vent needs 120V power to run.
Choose the R324 STIO for the night the party splits in two. Half the room drifts outside, half stays in, and one fireplace keeps both halves warm off a single gas line. It is the only Exemplar that is genuinely outdoor-certified — dual-listed to ANSI Z21.97 / CSA 2.41-2014 outdoor and ANSI Z21.50 / CSA 2.22-2014 vented indoor standards — and it ships with firestone media plus separate indoor and outdoor glass/screen configurations and an adjustable flashing kit.
It is not right if you want it fully inside or fully outside — it cannot be installed either way; it must pass through an exterior wall. The outdoor face needs at least 10" above grade (USA) and must open onto an unobstructed patio. It needs 120V power for its integral vent, it is certified as a decorative appliance rather than a heating appliance — it will warm the space it opens onto, but do not buy it as a heat source — and there is no mobile- or manufactured-home approval.
Specifications
The R324 STIO takes a 49" W x 48" H rough opening through the exterior wall; there is no framing-depth spec because the unit spans the wall itself. Clearances run 1/2" at the sides, 3" above, and 6" from the top of the opening to a combustible mantle; the indoor floor clearance is 0" and the outdoor side sits at least 10" above grade (USA). Exhaust leaves through the louvers on the outdoor face — no vent run to design. Fuel is natural gas (5.5" WC minimum inlet) or propane (11" WC); ignition is a Honeywell smart valve with hot-surface ignition; the integral power vent runs on 120V/60Hz. The rating plate approves 0 to 4,500 ft.
R324 STIO vs. the indoor see-throughs
The indoor-only R320ST offers the same 36" format between two interior rooms for $10,779 — but it needs a full Montigo vent run and power vent termination, while the R324 STIO’s $10,909 includes its venting in the box. If both of your rooms are indoors, buy the R320ST; if one of them has sky over it, this is the unit. Larger indoor see-throughs run from the 48" R420ST at $12,759 to the 72" R620ST at $15,029.
Answers to common questions
Does it really need no vent pipe?
Correct — and it is not a vent-free appliance. The R324 STIO’s integral power vent exhausts through the louvers on its outdoor face, which is exactly why the unit must straddle an exterior wall: it cannot be installed fully indoors or fully outdoors. The rating plate certifies it as a vented decorative appliance (ANSI Z21.50) alongside its outdoor certification.
Where can the R324 STIO be installed?
Through an exterior wall, with one glass face inside and one outside. It is dual-certified: outdoor to ANSI Z21.97 / CSA 2.41-2014 and vented indoor to ANSI Z21.50 / CSA 2.22-2014. The outdoor side must sit at least 10" above grade (USA — Canadian grade clearances differ) and must open onto an unobstructed patio. Altitude approval is 0 to 4,500 ft. It is not approved for mobile or manufactured homes.
What mantel clearance does it need?
A combustible mantel must sit no closer than 6" from the top of the opening, with 3" to combustibles above the unit and 1/2" at the sides. Run anything you plan to mount on the wall above past your installer first.
Will it run during a power outage?
No. The required power vent and the hot-surface ignition both run on 120V household power. If the power is out, the fireplace is out.
What’s included, what’s required, and what’s optional?
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Included in the box: the burner, firestone media, the glass and screen configurations for both the indoor and outdoor faces, and the adjustable flashing kit.
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Required to complete the installation, purchased separately: no vent pipe — the R324 STIO self-vents through its integral louvres.
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Optional: fireglass, speckled stones, river rocks, and driftwood log sets.
Does it heat the room?
It is rated as an outdoor decorative / vented decorative gas appliance — not a heat source. The 50,000 BTU/h input feeds a flame you can see from the living room and the patio at once; treat warmth as a bonus.
Does buying online void the Montigo warranty?
It can. Montigo’s published warranty excludes equipment “sold direct to the consumer via internet or auction websites” unless the seller is an authorized dealer, and it requires professional installation and annual service. The Torch Guys is 1 of only 3 authorized Montigo e-commerce dealers in the United States, so the full residential warranty applies to your R324 STIO: 15 years on the firebox and main burner, 15 on venting, 10 on terminations, and 1 year on controls, electrical, media, glass, screens, and labor. Keep records of your install and annual service. If you ever need a claim, we file it on your behalf — call (410) 324-6322.
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