Englander Blue Ridge 500-I Wood-Burning Fireplace Insert (ESW0014)
An Extra-Large EPA-Certified Wood Insert with Included Faceplate and 144 CFM Blower
The Englander Blue Ridge 500-I heats 1,000–2,700 ft² with up to 110,000 BTU/h from a 3.5 ft³ firebox and includes a 32" x 50" faceplate, air intake damper, and 144 CFM blower with thermodisc.
Key Features
- 1,000–2,700 ft² heating area with up to 110,000 BTU/h (32.2 kW) maximum heat output
- 3.5 ft³ high-efficiency firebox with up to 10 hours of burn time
- EPA 2020 approved at 1.6 g/h average particulate emissions
- 32" x 50" faceplate with spring adjustment system included
- 144 CFM blower with thermodisc included
- Air intake damper included
- Accepts logs up to 22" long oriented east-west, loaded over the width or depth (16" recommended)
- 3/16" steel body and 3/8" steel top reinforced with a stainless steel heat shield
- Refractory brick lining and high quality vermiculite baffle
- Cast iron door with ceramic glass and glass airwash system for a cleaner view of the flames
- Non-catalytic combustion with stainless-steel secondary-air system
- Proudly made in USA and Canada
Product Features
Masonry Fireplace Installation Only
This wood-burning insert is designed only for installation inside an existing masonry fireplace and must never be installed in a wooden or combustible structure. It is not a zero-clearance fireplace, it is not approved for mobile-home installation, and alcove installation is listed as not applicable in the model manual. Installation must follow the current manual, the certification label on the appliance, the liner instructions, and applicable local requirements; a listed liner system, hearth protection, repairs, electrical work, or additional site-specific components may be required and are not included.
Spring Faceplate Adjustment System
The spring adjustment system assists with positioning the included faceplate around the masonry-hearth opening when installed according to the current manual.
Large Firebox with Flexible Loading
The firebox supports loading over its width or depth, while the published maximum 22" log length applies to east-west orientation.
Steel Construction and Heat Shield
The insert uses a 3/16" steel body and 3/8" steel top reinforced with a stainless-steel heat shield.
Glass Airwash System
The secondary combustion system produces flames that roll between the logs behind the large ceramic glass, and the airwash system helps keep the glass cleaner for viewing the fire.
Included Equipment
| Component |
Details |
| Faceplate |
32" x 50" with spring adjustment system |
| Air intake damper |
Included |
| Blower |
144 CFM with thermodisc |
A chimney liner system is required but is not included and must be selected separately according to the standards below, the current manual, and the specific installation.
Product Specifications
Appliance Performance
| Specification |
Value |
| Fuel Type |
Dry cordwood (16" recommended) |
| Heating Area |
1,000 - 2,700 ft² |
| Overall Firebox Volume |
3.5 ft³ |
| EPA Loading Volume |
2.88 ft³ |
| Maximum Burn Time |
10 h |
| Maximum Heat Output - Dry Cordwood |
110,000 BTU/h (32.2 kW) |
| Minimum Overall Heat Output Rate |
17,200 BTU/h (5.0 kW) |
| Maximum Overall Heat Output Rate |
57,800 BTU/h (16.9 kW) |
| Average Overall Efficiency - Dry Cordwood (HHV) |
71% |
| Average Overall Efficiency - Dry Cordwood (LHV) |
76% |
| Optimum Efficiency |
77% |
| Optimum Heat Transfer Efficiency |
75% |
| Average Particulate Emission Rate |
1.6 g/h |
| Average CO |
73 g/h |
General Features
| Specification |
Value |
| Mobile Home Approved |
No |
| Premium Quality Blower (CFM) |
144 CFM with thermodisc included |
| Certified According to Applicable Standards |
CAN/USA accredited laboratory |
| Combustion Technology |
Non-catalytic |
| Stainless-Steel Secondary-Air System |
Yes |
| Door Type |
Single, glass with cast iron frame |
| Glass Type |
Ceramic glass |
| Firebox Lined with Refractory Bricks |
Yes |
| Baffle Type |
High quality vermiculite |
| Log Positioning |
Loading over width and over depth |
Firebox, Door, and Construction
| Specification |
Value |
| Door Opening Size (Width) |
19" |
| Door Opening Size (Height) |
9 3/4" |
| Glass Surface - W x H |
16 5/8" x 11 3/4" |
| Steel Thickness - Body |
3/16" |
| Steel Thickness - Top |
3/8" |
| Firebox Size (Width) |
22 7/8" |
| Firebox Size (Height) |
13" |
| Firebox Size (Depth) |
20 1/8" |
| Maximum Log Length |
22" oriented East-West |
Dimensions and Weight
| Specification |
Value |
| Overall Dimension (Width) |
50" |
| Overall Dimension (Height) |
32" |
| Overall Dimension (Depth) |
28 7/8" |
| Shipping Weight |
520 lb (236 kg) |
Insert and Faceplate Dimensions
The published 50" width and 32" height describe the included faceplate rather than the steel firebox body. The official dimension drawing establishes the following:
| Component |
Published Dimension |
| Included Faceplate |
50" W x 32" H |
| Complete Assembly — Maximum Published Depth |
28 7/8" |
Minimum Masonry Fireplace Opening
| Specification |
Value |
| Minimum Fireplace Opening (Width) |
31" |
| Minimum Fireplace Opening (Height) |
26 1/4" |
| Minimum Fireplace Opening (Depth) |
18 3/8" |
If a fresh-air intake is required, the manufacturer recommends adding at least 4" to the minimum masonry-opening width.
Venting and Liner Requirements
| Specification |
Value |
| Flue Outlet Diameter |
6" |
| Distance - Center of the Flue Outlet to Back of Unit |
7 1/8" |
| Distance - Center of the Flue Outlet to Side of Unit |
14 3/8" |
| Recommended Liner Diameter |
6" |
| Type of Chimney |
Liner - ULC-S635, CAN/ULC-S640, UL 1777 |
| Minimum Liner Height |
12' |
Certifications and Warranty
| Specification |
Value |
| High-Efficiency Certified Appliance |
Yes, EPA 2020 approved |
| Canadian Standard (Emissions) |
CSA B415.1-10 |
| USA Standard (Emissions) |
EPA |
| Canadian Standard (Safety) |
ULC S628 |
| USA Standard (Safety) |
UL 1482, UL 737 |
| Warranty |
Limited 5 years |
Minimum Clearances to Combustibles
The information on the certification label affixed to the appliance always overrides information published in any other media. Some appliances have been tested with a low ceiling; refer to the current installation manual before setting up the unit.
| Clearance |
Canada |
USA |
| Combustible Side Wall to Unit |
19" |
19" |
| Combustible Side Mantle to Unit |
9" |
9" |
| Combustible Top Mantle to Unit |
27" |
27" |
| Top of the Unit to a 12" Combustible Mantle Shelf |
27" |
27" |
| Base of the Unit to Ceiling |
84" |
84" |
Floor Protection Requirements
| Manual Reference |
Canada |
USA |
| In Front of the Door Opening (B) |
18" |
16" |
| Side Extension M — See Manual Diagram |
8" |
N/A |
| Side Extension N — See Manual Diagram |
N/A |
8" |
The masonry-hearth extension is included when calculating the required front floor protection. When the hearth is at least 6" above the combustible floor, the manual permits the published 18" Canada or 16" USA front extension without a specified R-value. If the hearth elevation is below 6", the front protection must provide at least R-2.00 and extend 27" in front of the insert. Follow the complete current manual diagrams and calculations.
About the Manufacturer
Practical Wood Heating Since 1976
Englander wood stoves have been proudly made in the US since 1976, with a focus on simple, reliable, and robust heaters built for everyday wood heating.
Blue Ridge Design and Certification
Blue Ridge series wood stoves use non-catalytic combustion with stainless steel secondary-air systems and are certified by an accredited laboratory to the applicable United States and Canadian emissions and safety standards published for each model, including EPA 2020 requirements.
Manufacturing and Support
Englander publishes installation and operation manuals, appliance dimension drawings, and replacement-parts resources for each model, and supports owners through its customer service and dedicated technical support lines.
Skip to content
Recommended Heating Area by Climate Zone