Napoleon
Napoleon High Definition 81 Fireplace, Natural Gas | HD81NT-1
Napoleon High Definition 81 Fireplace, Natural Gas | HD81NT-1
A 54 inch see-through direct vent natural gas fireplace that you finish with the burner of your choice. The High Definition 81 HD81NT-1 shows the flame through two glass doors, so you can see it from both sides of a wall or divider. Napoleon sells the burner assembly separately, so you pick a log set, glass embers or mineral rock burner in the add-ons below. It draws its combustion air from outside and sends the exhaust back out, so the flame never uses the air in your room. Napoleon classes it as a decorative appliance, built for the look of the fire rather than as a source of heat.
Two pipes in one run: exhaust goes out through the inner pipe while fresh air comes in around it.
What you get
| Model | Napoleon HD81NT-1, High Definition 81, see-through, natural gas |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Natural gas. The appliance is only for the gas on its rating plate, and Napoleon says it can be converted only with a certified kit. |
| Burner | Not included. Napoleon sells the burner assembly separately: a log set (B81NL-1), glass embers (B81NG-1) or mineral rock (B81NS-1). You need one of them, and you can add one in the add-ons below. |
| Maximum input | Up to 60,000 BTU/hr on natural gas at 0 to 4,500 ft. Above 4,500 ft, Napoleon reduces the certified input by 4% for each additional 1,000 ft, unless your local authority says otherwise. This is a gas input rating, not a heat rating. |
| Gas supply pressure | 4.5 to 13 in. w.c. on natural gas, with a manifold pressure of 3.5 in. w.c. |
| Glass | 30 3/4″ × 36 3/4″, as printed on Napoleon’s specification sheet |
| Overall size | 54 1/4″ W × 49 1/4″ H × 28 3/4″ D |
| Framing size | 54 1/2″ W × 49 1/2″ H × 27 3/4″ D. Napoleon supplies steel stud framing kits and cement board, and says they must be installed. |
| Enclosure height | Napoleon requires a minimum inside enclosure height of 84″, measured from the bottom of the appliance. The area must stay unobstructed, and Napoleon recommends venting the enclosure at the top and bottom. |
| Venting | Direct vent. 8″ exhaust, 11″ air intake. Horizontal runs are 36″ minimum and 20 ft maximum, and the full 20 ft needs a 57″ rise right off the appliance. Vertical runs are 3 ft minimum and 40 ft maximum. |
| Ignition | Electronic ignition with Napoleon’s on demand pilot (IPI). A continuous pilot mode (CPI) with a seven day timer is also built in. A battery back-up takes four AA batteries. |
| Power | 115 V, 60 Hz, 0.82 amp. Napoleon says the junction box must be hard wired when the appliance is permanently framed in an enclosure. |
| Controls | Remote control with an LCD display. It sets six flame levels, shows the room temperature, dims the Night Lights, runs a blower if you add one and switches the second burner on and off (split flow). It also has a child lock. The transmitter takes three AAA batteries. |
| Lights | Two pre-wired Night Lights, controlled from the remote |
| Included | Firebox with two glass doors and safety barrier, remote control system, steel stud framing kits with cement board, firestop spacer |
| Not included | Burner assembly, vent pipe and termination, and any optional panels, glass, blower or vent kit |
| Where it can go | Approved for bathroom, bedroom and bed-sitting room installations. Certified for mobile home installation. |
| Warranty | Napoleon Gas Appliance President’s Lifetime Limited Warranty. Terms are in the installation and operation manual. |
Add to your order
The HD81NT-1 does not include a burner, so start with the burner step. Everything below is listed in Napoleon’s High Definition 81 manuals as a fit. Tick what you want and add it to your cart with the fireplace in one step.
Questions people ask us
Does the HD81NT-1 come with a burner?
No. Napoleon’s manual says the burner assembly is sold separately, and each burner has its own instructions. Choose one in the add-ons below: a log set (B81NL-1), glass embers (B81NG-1) or mineral rock (B81NS-1). Napoleon says each burner is approved for the High Definition 81 only.
What is the difference between the three burners?
The log set burner comes with Phazer™ logs, glowing embers, charcoal embers and lumps, vermiculite and hearth panels for both sides. The glass embers burner comes with a porcelain base and glass media. The mineral rock burner comes with a mineral rock kit, sand and a burner cover. Napoleon notes that real rocks must not be used in this appliance, so use only the rocks it supplies.
What does direct vent mean for this fireplace?
It means the fireplace is sealed. Combustion air comes in from outside and exhaust goes back out through a two-in-one pipe, an 8″ exhaust inside an 11″ air intake. The flame does not use your room air, and you do not need a chimney.
Plan the route before you order. Napoleon asks for a horizontal run of at least 36″ and no more than 20 ft, and the full 20 ft needs a rise of 57″ right off the appliance. A vertical run is at least 3 ft and no more than 40 ft. The pipe and termination are sold separately.
Is it a heater?
No. Napoleon’s rating plate describes the High Definition 81 as a vented decorative gas appliance that is not a source of heat and not intended for use as a heating appliance. The 60,000 BTU/hr figure is the most gas the burner can use, not a heating rating. Plan the heating of your room separately and choose this fireplace for the flame.
What comes with the fireplace?
Napoleon’s manual shows a firebox with two glass doors and a safety barrier, a remote control system, two pre-wired Night Lights, a firestop spacer, and steel stud framing kits with cement board. The burner assembly, vent pipe, termination and any optional panels, glass or blower are sold separately.
How do the ignition and remote work?
The High Definition 81 has an on demand pilot (IPI). When you turn it on with the remote, the pilot lights and then the burner. When you turn it off, both shut down. Napoleon also built in a continuous pilot mode with a seven day timer. It keeps the system warm for colder starts, and it shuts the pilot off by itself if the fireplace sits unused for about a week.
The remote has six flame levels, a room temperature display in °F or °C, a Night Light dimmer with six levels, a child lock and a split flow key that switches the second burner on and off. If you add a blower, the remote also sets its six speeds.
What happens in a power outage?
Napoleon’s manual says the appliance has a power back-up control system that takes four AA batteries. If the receiver or transmitter batteries run low, the manual says the slider switch on the receiver can be set to ON to run the appliance by hand.
Do I need an electrical connection?
Yes. Napoleon lists the appliance at 115 V, 60 Hz, 0.82 amp, and says the junction box must be hard wired when the appliance is permanently framed in an enclosure. Plan for a qualified electrician as well as a gas fitter.
Can I mount a TV above it?
Napoleon warns that high temperatures on the wall or in the air above the appliance can cause melting, discoloration or damage to decorations, a TV or other electronics. Planning a TV above the High Definition 81? Send us your plan before you place anything above it.
Can I put a mantel above it?
Yes, but the depth of the mantel sets how high it has to sit. Napoleon’s chart in the installation manual gives the minimum height for each mantel depth. If you paint or lacquer the mantel, Napoleon says the finish must resist the temperature so it does not discolor.
What can I finish the wall with?
Napoleon says the front of the appliance must be finished with non-combustible material such as brick, marble or granite, as long as it does not cover the opening. The opening may be recessed in non-combustible facing that projects no more than 2 in. past the face of the appliance. If you want it to project farther, the clearance at the sides, bottom and top grows by 2 in. for every extra inch. A hearth extension is not required, and if you add one it can sit no more than 1 in. above the bottom of the appliance.
How tall does the enclosure need to be?
Napoleon requires a minimum inside enclosure height of 84″, measured from the bottom of the appliance. The framing opening is 54 1/2″ wide, 49 1/2″ high and 27 3/4″ deep, and Napoleon says to leave a 14″ wide area centered along the front clear for the vent, with no combustibles. Napoleon recommends venting the enclosure at the top and bottom.
What are my options for the firebox?
Napoleon lists MIRRO-FLAME™ reflective porcelain side panels and Sandstone decorative brick side panels, glass embers kits in six colors for the glass burner, and the NZ64 air circulating blower with its GA65 vent and collar. Pick what you want in the add-ons below and it goes into your cart with the fireplace.
Where can I install it?
Napoleon approves the High Definition 81 for bathroom, bedroom and bed-sitting room installations and certifies it for mobile home installation. It must be installed by licensed professionals in line with Napoleon’s installation manual and your local codes.
Goes with this
Manuals and warranty
Napoleon’s terms cover the first 10 years at no charge for warranted parts, and from year 10 to life Napoleon supplies replacement parts at 50% of the current retail price. After the first year, Napoleon may choose to refund the wholesale price of a defective part, and installation and labor are not covered. The fireplace must be installed by a licensed professional in line with Napoleon’s instructions, and parts from other makers void the warranty. Registering is not required to make a claim, but keep your proof of purchase, model and serial number. Read the warranty section of the installation and operation manual for the full terms.
Read the warranty terms · Our warranty library · Register your fireplaceEvery document is kept on our site, so the link works when you need it. More are in our Napoleon manuals and documents.
A note on the photos. Napoleon's photography often shows optional media and trim, and its flame colors are shown by the lighting. What ships with the fireplace is listed in the What you get table, and anything else is sold separately.
Ask us about your install