Drolet Bistro Wood-Burning Cookstove (DB04815)

An EPA 2020 Certified Wood-Burning Cookstove with a Cast-Iron Cooking Surface, a Stainless-Steel Oven, and Mobile-Home Approval

The Drolet Bistro is an EPA 2020 certified wood-burning cookstove with a cast-iron cooking surface, a 1.26 ft³ stainless-steel oven, 20" logs, and a 500–2,100 ft² recommended heating area.

Key Features

• Cast-iron cooking surface that sits at 39" per the exact product page, designed for cookware rather than direct food contact
• Stainless-steel oven, 17 7/8" W x 15 3/4" D x 7 7/8" H per the official drawing, with a 1.26 ft³ published volume and a side-opening glazed door
• Included stainless-steel cooking grid with two oven positions and a built-in reference thermometer reading approximately 150°F to 750°F
• Non-catalytic firebox with a stainless-steel secondary-air system, refractory-brick lining, vermiculite baffle, and glass airwash
• 2.261 ft³ overall firebox with a 1.94 ft³ EPA loading volume, 20" maximum logs loaded over width, and up to 8 hours maximum burn time per the manufacturer qualification
• 75,000 BTU/h maximum dry-cordwood output on the manufacturer’s loading-density basis, with a 14,300–47,300 BTU/h tested overall heat-output range
• 76% HHV / 81% LHV average efficiency, 83% optimum overall efficiency, 2.0 g/h average particulate emissions, and 62 g/h average CO (EPA / CSA B415.1-10)
• Mobile-home approved with a mandatory fresh-air intake kit, sold separately; alcove and sleeping-room installation not approved
• Single broad-spectrum air damper controlling primary and secondary air simultaneously; optional blower up to 100 CFM, sold separately, for serial 700 and above
• Safety-tested to ULC S627 (Canada) and UL 1482 / UL 737 (USA); proudly made in Canada per the exact manufacturer page

Product Features

Construction

The Bistro pairs an EPA 2020 certified non-catalytic firebox with a stainless-steel oven above it and a cast-iron cooking surface on top. Hot gases pass from the secondary-combustion zone around both sides of the insulated oven and under the cooking surface before exiting the 6" flue, which is how the oven and cooktop are heated. The firebox is lined with refractory bricks beneath a vermiculite baffle and four stainless-steel secondary-air tubes, and the appliance stands on adjustable cast-iron legs with leveling hardware. A rear heat shield, back-splash assembly, ash shelf, natural-wood door handles, log retainers, and a universal double-wall connector adaptor (installed at the flue collar when a certified double-wall connector is used) are integral or supplied components, and the two glazed doors — oven and combustion chamber — both carry cast-iron frames.

Two Viewing Areas

The combustion-chamber door carries 5/32" (4 mm) ceramic glass tested to 1400°F with a 16 1/2" x 7 1/2" published glass surface, kept cleaner by the airwash system, and the oven door carries its own ceramic glazing so baking can be observed without opening the door. Do not operate the cookstove with cracked or broken glass, bricks, or baffle.

Cooking and Oven Features

The cast-iron cooking surface is designed to cook with cookware such as cast-iron or aluminum pans; the manufacturer states that the paint, including on the cast-iron cooking surface, is not food grade, so cooking directly on the painted surface is strongly not recommended. Because of radiant heat from the combustion-chamber glass, the manual recommends cooking from the side of the appliance, and the cooktop temperature is not necessarily uniform. Oven temperature is adjusted with the air-intake control or by briefly opening or closing the side-opening oven door; during cooking, keep the oven door closed to hold a more constant temperature, and turn the dish 180 degrees at half the cooking time for more even results. The included cooking grid can be positioned at the center or bottom of the oven, and the door-integrated thermometer — reading approximately 150°F to 750°F — is a reference only: oven air temperature can vary by roughly 50°F between its hottest and coldest points, so no exact temperature or cooking result is guaranteed. All doors, glass, surfaces, handles, controls, and tools must be treated as hot during operation.

Product Specifications

Performance and Emissions (Exact Product Page and 2026 Manual)

Recommended heating area and maximum burn time vary with location in the home, chimney draft, heat-loss factors, climate, fuel type, and other variables; the manufacturer defines the recommended heated area as the appliance’s capacity to maintain a minimum acceptable temperature in the designated area during a power failure. The overall firebox volume is an approximation that includes a buffer zone and is not a loading volume. The maximum dry-cordwood output is based on a loading density of 15–20 lb/ft³, while other performances use the standard-prescribed load of 7–12 lb/ft³ at 19–25% moisture, measured per the CSA B415.1-10 stack-loss method; the maximum output is not a continuous delivered rate, and the 8-hour figure is not a guaranteed or minimum burn time.

Installation and Construction Specifications

Oven-dimension source note: the official dimension drawing publishes 17 7/8" x 15 3/4" x 7 7/8" (455 x 400 x 199 mm), which matches the exact page’s narrative description and governs fit information; the page’s specification row prints a 15 1/2" depth, and the manual’s table prints 18" x 15 5/16" x 7 7/8" with a metric sequence (457 x 177 x 381 mm) that does not correspond to its imperial sequence — these variants are documented rather than blended, and the published 1.26 ft³ oven volume is retained as published. Door-type source note: the current manual describes the combustion-chamber door as simple, glazed or not, with a cast-iron frame, while the exact page prints "Double, glass with cast iron frame"; the appliance has two separate glazed cast-iron-framed doors — oven and combustion chamber — and no double-panel firebox-door construction is claimed.

Official Appliance Dimensions

The official drawing publishes a 41 7/8" (1065 mm) full height, which the exact page’s specification summarizes as 42"; both values are retained with the drawing governing detailed fit. The drawing’s measured Ø 6" (153 mm) top flue opening is distinct from the nominal 6" (150 mm) flue-outlet and connector specification, which governs chimney and connector selection; neither value has been altered. Reference dimensions above reproduce official drawing callouts whose exact physical reference points are shown only graphically; consult the current drawing and manual figures when planning an installation.

Included Equipment

A chimney, chimney connector pipe, blower, thermodisc, fresh-air intake kit, heat shields, hearth protection, oven mitt, cookware, and installation labor are not included.

Compatible Optional Equipment

The AC02765 certified modular heat-shield system and AC02766 extension are not included. The reduced clearances below apply only when the applicable certified shield arrangement is installed exactly as directed in the current manual. Confirm component compatibility and availability before designing around those reduced clearances.

Venting and Certifications

The Bistro must be connected to its own 6" flue: a prefabricated chimney certified to UL 103 HT (USA) or ULC S629 (Canada) installed as a complete listed system with matching components, or a code-compliant masonry chimney with a clay liner or listed stainless-steel liner (relined to 6" where the liner is oversized; no downsizing below 6" unless the venting system is straight and exceeds 25 feet). The minimum chimney-system height from the stove top to the termination is 12 feet, the published necessary flue draft is 0.05" H₂O (12 Pa), and the chimney must extend at least 3 ft above its highest roof contact point and at least 2 ft above any roof line or obstacle within 10 ft horizontally. A chimney connector is required unless a direct connection is specifically approved, the appliance must not connect to a flue serving another appliance or to air-distribution ductwork unless specifically approved, an insulated listed thimble is required through a combustible wall, and no makeshift materials may be used. Single-wall connector rules include: black (not galvanized) pipe at least 24 ga; joints overlapping at least 1 1/4" and fastened with at least three screws, with one end fastened to the flue collar with three sheet-metal screws; male ends toward the appliance; a maximum of two 90° elbows; a maximum 3 ft unsupported horizontal length and 10 ft total horizontal length including elbows; a minimum upward slope of 1/4" per foot; allowance for expansion and cleaning without moving the stove; an 18" clearance to combustibles, reducible to 9" only with suitable shielding; and no passage through a floor, ceiling, attic, roof space, closet, or concealed space. For a certified double-wall connector, the supplied universal adaptor is fastened to the spigot with three screws and the pipe manufacturer’s instructions govern. Combustion air: the room must have an outside or fresh-air inlet of at least 5" diameter sufficient to replenish the chimney’s exhaust volume, installed so it cannot be blocked; briefly opening a door or window may be needed at cold startup, and range hoods, bathroom vents, air exchangers, ventilated central vacuums, and dryers should be avoided during startup. Installation should be performed by NFI- (USA), WETT- (Canada), or APC-certified (Québec) professionals; a permit may be required; and unapproved modifications violate CSA B365 and ANSI NFPA 211.

Mobile-Home Requirements

The Bistro is mobile-home approved subject to the manual’s requirements: a fresh-air intake kit (sold separately) is mandatory, with air drawn from outdoors or a ventilated crawl space — never from an attic, basement, garage, or enclosed space — through an insulated ULC S110 / UL 181 Class 0 or Class 1 duct; the stove must be attached to the mobile-home structure using the leg plates included with the fresh-air kit; the structural integrity of the floor, walls, ceiling, and roof must be maintained; a single-wall connector is strictly forbidden; the chimney must be a 6" double-wall factory-built system to ULC S629 / UL 103 HT with a total flue length of at least 12 feet from the stove top; and a sealed roof flashing must maintain the vapor barrier. Sleeping-room installation is prohibited. Mobile-home approval does not make every installation compliant; the certification label, current manual, chimney instructions, and authority having jurisdiction govern.

Clearances by Configuration

The clearances below were established from tests according to ULC S627 (Canada) and UL 1482 (USA). Appliance and connector clearances must be met individually, fuel must not be stored closer than the minimum clearances, and clearances may be reduced only by means approved by the regulatory authority. In the manual’s diagrams, A is the appliance to the rear wall, B to the side wall, C at a corner, and L the base-of-unit-to-ceiling dimension; D, E, and F are the corresponding pipe-connector distances, which are the distances obtained when the appliance is installed at the stated clearances.

Standard Installation - Appliance Clearances, Single-Wall Connector

Standard Installation - Connector Distances, Single-Wall Connector

Standard Installation - Appliance Clearances, Double-Wall Connector

Standard Installation - Connector Distances, Double-Wall Connector

Certified Modular Heat Shield (AC02765 with AC02766 as Applicable) - Appliance Clearances, Double-Wall Connector

Certified Modular Heat Shield (AC02765 with AC02766 as Applicable) - Connector Distances, Double-Wall Connector

Mobile-Home Installation - Appliance Clearances, Double-Wall Connector

Mobile-Home Installation - Connector Distances, Double-Wall Connector

Mobile Home with Heat Shield (AC02765, AC02766) - Appliance Clearances, Double-Wall Connector

Mobile Home with Heat Shield (AC02765, AC02766) - Connector Distances, Double-Wall Connector

Front Clearance (Manual Diagram)

To reduce clearances as close as 6" from combustible material with a single-wall connector, a certified heat shield must be used; only in that situation may the clearances for a certified double-wall connector be applied. Clearances may also be reduced with a permanently installed site-built heat shield only per the manual’s complete construction rules, reduction-percentage table, and shield-installation measurements, which are not reproduced here; regional rules may differ, so verify with the local building code, a building inspector, or the fire department.

*The certification label on the appliance and the current installation manual supersede published dimensions and clearances. Always follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions and applicable local codes.

Floor Protection

The floor protection must be a continuous, durable, noncombustible ember-protection material such as steel with a minimum thickness of 0.015" (0.38 mm), grout-sealed ceramic tile, cement board, brick, or another approved material; no R-factor is required. Any tile requires a continuous noncombustible sheet beneath it so embers cannot fall through cracks or separations, no separate protection is required on an entirely noncombustible floor such as concrete (subject to the manual and local code), and an ember pad must not sit on carpet unless it is structurally supported against displacement and distortion. Note 1 (Canada, CSA B365): combustible flooring must be protected at least 18" (450 mm) beyond the appliance on any side with a door and at least 8" (200 mm) on the other sides, with the door-side pad extending the full appliance width plus 8" on each doorless side; where the appliance sits less than 8" from a wall, the pad need only extend to the base of the wall. Note 2: rear floor protection is limited to the required rear clearance where that clearance is less than 8" (203 mm). Note 3 (USA): protection is required only under the horizontal section of the connector and must exceed each side of the connector by at least 2" (51 mm). The I value is measured from the door opening, and the lettered rows correspond to the current manual’s floor-protection figure.

Fuel and Operation

Burn only seasoned natural firewood split to roughly 3"–6" and dried to a 15–20% moisture content, with 16" recommended logs and a 20" east-west maximum. Do not burn coal, garbage, lawn clippings or yard waste, rubber or plastic materials, waste petroleum products, paints or thinners, asphalt products, materials containing asbestos, construction or demolition debris, railroad ties or pressure-treated wood, manure or animal remains, salt-water driftwood, unseasoned wood, or paper products, cardboard, plywood, or particle board (paper-based fire starters are permitted for starting), and never use gasoline, naphtha, fuel oil, motor oil, kerosene, charcoal lighter fluid, similar liquids, or aerosols to start or freshen a fire. Operate only with the doors fully closed: leave the door slightly open only during attended startup, close and latch it after ignition, open the air control fully before opening the combustion-chamber door, and always operate with the ash drawer closed and in place. Do not store wood underneath the combustion chamber, do not store fuel or flammables within the required clearances, do not elevate the fire with a grate, and do not operate with cracked or broken glass, firebricks, or baffle. The manufacturer-set minimum low burn rate must not be altered, and federal regulations require operating consistently with the instructions. Reduce the air intake only once the fire is established — typically to a 15–40% opening — and never let the unit overfire; if the connector glows red, close the air inlet completely and do not open the door. Remove ashes to a tightly covered metal container on a noncombustible surface. A smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector, and a fire extinguisher should be installed in the house. Check the chimney for creosote monthly until the formation rate is known, inspect at least every two months during the heating season, clean at removal of any 1/8" (3 mm) buildup, and have the system inspected and cleaned at least annually.

About the Manufacturer

Who Is Drolet?

Drolet is a Canadian hearth brand whose history began with François-Xavier Drolet’s Quebec workshop in 1875, with slow-combustion stove production beginning in the 1960s. Drolet states that its appliances are manufactured in Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures near Quebec City, and the current exact DB04815 product page expressly identifies the Bistro as proudly made in Canada.

Support

The manufacturer supports owners through online warranty registration, replacement-parts resources, and technical-support services.