Fire on Water Burners
Fire on water burners create the striking effect of flames dancing on the surface of a pool, fountain, spillway or water bowl. Unlike a standard fire pit burner, a fire on water burner is a submersible manifold that sits under the water. Gas rises through the water and is lit at the surface, so the flame appears to float on the water itself. It is one of the most eye-catching features you can add to a pool or water feature, and it works for both residential and commercial projects.
How Fire on Water Works
The burners in this collection are submersible manifolds designed for Fire by Design's SUBEIS (Submersible Electronic Ignition System), which is sold separately. The SUBEIS is designed to be installed and operated in water; running it outside of water will cause the unit not to function properly. The pilot burner sits above the water line and lights the gas as it reaches the surface.
- Water level – Fire by Design specifies that the manifold must be submerged 3" below the water surface, with the manifold holes facing downward. The water should not rise to the pilot burner cage, as this can turn the system off.
- Splash guard – if water will splash onto the pilot, a splash guard is available as an add-on.
- Long manifolds – for manifolds that extend 6' or more from the center gas inlet, support legs are highly recommended so the manifold stays at the same depth along its full length.
Burner Styles
We carry five fire on water burner styles, each available in several sizes:
- Side Feed Hoop Style – a single hoop-style ring fed from the side, 9" to 48", from 67,000 to 314,000 BTU.
- Double Ring Side Feed – two concentric rings for a fuller ring of flame, 18" to 48", from 214,000 to 650,000 BTU.
- Center Feed – a ring fed from the center, with a crossing center line of fire from 15" upward, 9" to 48", from 67,000 to 414,000 BTU.
- Linear "T" – a straight line of fire for pool edges, spillways and long water features, 18" to 144", from 38,000 to 300,000 BTU.
- H Style – an elongated "H" shaped manifold, 12" to 72", from 50,000 to 300,000 BTU.
Gas Pressure Requirements
Fire on water systems need a higher gas pressure than a typical fire pit. Fire by Design states that the SUBEIS needs a minimum of 1 PSI (28" W.C.) and will not operate properly on standard residential low-pressure gas, which is typically around 0.25 PSI (6" to 9" W.C.). Some larger manifolds require 2 PSI. Each product page lists the minimum gas pressure for every size. Check the gas pressure at your property before ordering, and if it is too low, contact your local gas company about increasing it.
Power and Pool Automation
The SUBEIS ignition system runs on 24VAC or 30VDC power and is available in Standard Capacity (290,000 BTU) and High Capacity (510,000 BTU) models for natural gas or propane. It can be wired to automated pool controllers such as Aqualink or Pentair IntelliTouch, so the fire can be switched on together with your pool lighting or other features. Up to three SUBEIS units can be daisy chained from one power source.
Planning Your Fire on Water Feature
Fire on water burners are sold as the burner manifold only. A complete installation also needs a SUBEIS ignition system, a suitable gas supply and power. Browse our Fire & Water Features for bowls and features that combine fire and water, or Burners & Ignition Systems for other components. Installation instructions are available for download on each product page.
Installation must be performed by a qualified, locally licensed gas professional. If you are planning a fire on water project and need help choosing the right burner, contact us before ordering.