Wood-Burning Suspended Fireplaces NZ: Prices, Consent and Installation
Hanging wood fires in NZ from NZ$6,645: who they suit, building consent under AS/NZS 2918, and what to check with council.
A wood-burning suspended fireplace in NZ starts from NZ$6,645 for the Naked Flame Sphere. It is an open-fronted fire installed as an untested appliance under AS/NZS 2918 with building consent, and open-fronted wood fires are not allowed in many New Zealand urban areas, so check with your council first.
Who a hanging wood fire suits
A suspended wood fire gives you real logs, the crackle and the smell of a fire, in a form that hangs in the middle of the room. Because of urban air quality rules it is best suited to rural and lifestyle properties, and to areas where your council permits open-fronted wood fires.
Models and prices
| Model | Width | Wood price |
|---|---|---|
| Sphere | 700 mm | NZ$6,645 |
| Curve 90 | 900 mm | NZ$7,645 |
| Orbit | 900 mm | NZ$7,645 |
| Silo | 900 mm | NZ$7,645 |
| Curve 120 | 1,210 mm | NZ$8,145 |
Prices are for black powdercoat or corten on a flat ceiling. A pitched or raked ceiling adds NZ$1,000 for the angled fitting.
What installation involves
- Council first. Confirm open-fronted wood fires are permitted at your address before you order.
- Building consent. The fire is installed as an untested appliance under AS/NZS 2918.
- Structure. The bracket fixes into ceiling framing that must carry 350 kg, and the 219 mm flue weighs about 16 kg a metre.
- Flue. The flue is cut to your ceiling height and runs through the roof.
- Clearances. Keep at least 150 mm clear all the way round and the base at least 500 mm above the floor.
If wood is not allowed where you live
The same five forms come in bioethanol, gas and electric. Bioethanol and electric need no chimney at all.
Common questions
Does a suspended wood fire rotate?
Yes, the wood versions turn 360 degrees on the flue.
Is a suspended wood fire allowed in Auckland, Christchurch or Wellington?
Rules differ by region and change over time. Your regional and district council is the only reliable answer for your address.