Osburn 1700-I Wood Insert

The Osburn 1700-I Wood Insert is an EPA 2020 certified wood insert for 500 to 1,800 sq ft. It burns up to 7 hours on a load and takes a 6-inch (insert liner) chimney.

Who it's for

Right buyer. Owners of a working masonry fireplace with a medium-sized opening who want to convert an inefficient open hearth into a serious primary heat source — up to 1,800 sq ft of zone heating capability with a 1.86 ft³ firebox, 18-inch log capacity, and a 7-hour maximum burn cycle.

For homes in the medium range, it's the right size firebox to deliver real primary winter heat without overheating the space. Buyers who want the Osburn-tier aesthetic at the medium-insert size.

How it performs

The 65,000 BTU/hr maximum is a peak rating, transient, achieved on dry cordwood at high loading density and short reload intervals. The figure that matters for daily life is the sustained output across a full burn cycle, which lands in the 9,800–52,200 BTU/hr band per the CSA B415.1-10 stack-loss method.

Good to know

• Insert, not a freestanding stove. The Osburn 1700-I requires an existing masonry fireplace plus a full stainless-steel chimney liner — there's no other approved installation path.
• Medium firebox platform.
• Same chassis as the Enerzone twin. The 1700-I and the Enerzone Solution 1.7-I share the same SBI medium-insert chassis.

Dimensions

Minimum fireplace opening

Measure the inside of the firebox: width, height and depth. The insert needs at least this much, and the faceplate covers the rest of the old opening.

Dimensions from the specification sheet

Dimensions

Where it can go

The Osburn 1700-I is approved only for installation inside an existing code-compliant masonry fireplace with a continuous stainless-steel chimney liner. It is not approved for installation in factory-built (prefab) metal fireplaces, in mobile or manufactured homes, in alcoves, or as a freestanding unit. The masonry fireplace and chimney must be inspected before installation for cracks, loose mortar, creosote, blockage, or other signs of deterioration.

Clearances to combustibles

Floor protection

Floor protection requirements depend on whether the existing masonry hearth is raised 4 inches or more above the surrounding combustible floor. If the hearth is raised 4 inches or more, a non-combustible floor protector with no R-value is required and must extend at least 16 inches in front of the unit in the USA, 18 inches in Canada. If the hearth is raised less than 4 inches, a non-combustible floor protector with an R-value of at least 1.00 is required and must extend at least 22 inches in front of the unit. The manual includes a thermal-resistance lookup table for common floor protection materials (brick, cement board, ceramic tile, marble) to calculate the required R-value combination.

Clearances

United States figures, in inches. The rating plate on the appliance overrides any published number; the installer confirms on site.

Documents

• Wood insert manual | Safety notifications & general information (PDF - 2.5 MB)
• Osburn 1700 wood insert installation & operation requirements (PDF - 6.7 MB)
• Osburn 1700-I Dimensions (PDF - 0.6 MB)
• Maximum recommended heating area by climate zone (PDF)
• Osburn wood products brochure, USA edition, with dimension drawings (PDF)
• Osburn limited lifetime warranty
• EPA test reports
• Replacement parts

Details

Warranty

A one-time replacement limit applies to all parts with lifetime coverage. Warranty is void if the unit is used to burn anything other than seasoned cordwood, or if it is not operated according to the owner's manual. Damage caused by misuse, improper installation, lack of maintenance, overfiring, downdrafts, venting problems, or under-estimated heating area is not covered. Improper installation by anyone other than an authorized qualified technician voids the warranty.

Warranty claims are made through your Osburn dealer and remain subject to SBI/Osburn inspection, approval, and the current written warranty. Kaminos is the retailer for this insert and supports buyers through purchase; final warranty approval rests with SBI as the manufacturer.

Osburn may require photos or returned parts to support a claim; repair work covered by warranty requires prior manufacturer approval.

Coverage details can change by component and warranty revision; the current Osburn warranty controls.

Heat

From the specification sheet

Choices and prices

Options

The unit price is Osburn's 2026 list price for the wood insert alone. Options sold on this page add to it; those marked on request we add to your order by hand.

Door overlay

Faceplate and trim

Fresh air

Other options

What arrives

• Osburn 1700-I wood insert (OB01705) with welded carbon-steel firebox and arched cast-iron glazed door
• Configured at order with required door overlay and faceplate/trim selections — see "Where it can go" for the options
• 144 CFM heat-activated double-cage blower assembly with rheostat speed control and thermodisc auto-on
• Ash lip
• C-Cast baffle and stainless-steel secondary-air tube assembly
• High-density refractory firebrick lining
• Liner fixation brackets and hardware
• Owner's manual and product documentation

Sold separately

• 6-inch continuous stainless-steel chimney liner kit (UL 1777, CAN/ULC-S635, or CAN/ULC-S640) — required for installation, sized to the chimney height
• Hearth extension or floor protector sized per manual specifications, with R-value of at least 1.00 if hearth is raised less than 4 inches
• Optional 5-inch fresh-air intake kit (SBI AC01298) — for code jurisdictions requiring outside combustion air or for tight new-construction homes
• Optional 5-inch × 4' insulated flex pipe for fresh-air intake (SBI AC02090) — HVAC type, ULC S110 or UL 181 class 0 or class 1
• Optional 5-inch fresh-air intake register with airtight damper (SBI AC01349) — closable outside-air damper; do not close while the insert is in use
• Optional liner hook-up system (SBI AC02006) — simplifies liner-to-flue-collar connection
• Optional offset liner adapter (SBI AC01214) — for installations where the chimney throat geometry requires offset connection
• Optional rigid fire screen (SBI AC01299) — not permitted for open-door use in the United States or in Canadian provinces/jurisdictions with particulate-emission limits; never leave the insert unattended when used with a fire screen
• Optional tempered glass hearth pad 10mm 18" × 50" (SBI AC02760)
• Pin-type wood moisture meter — not optional in practice
• Flue thermometer — strongly recommended for insert installations since stove-top temperature isn't accessible
• Installation by an authorized qualified technician (WETT, NFI, or CSIA certified) — required for warranty coverage and often required by code, permit, or insurance

Installation

Chimney requirements from the specification sheet

The Osburn 1700-I requires a continuous 6-inch stainless-steel chimney liner extending from the insert flue collar to the top of the chimney. The liner must conform to ULC S635 or CAN/ULC-S640 (Canada) or UL 1777 (USA) and be rated for solid fuel. The minimum liner height is 15 feet, subject to installer verification, certification label, draft conditions, and local code. The chimney must extend at least 3 feet above the highest point of contact with the roof and at least 2 feet above any roof line or obstacle within 10 feet horizontally.

If the existing fireplace's throat damper is to remain, it must be locked open to clear the liner; otherwise the damper plate must be removed. A sheet-metal block-off plate (or, in Canada per CSA B365, mineral wool packing around the liner) is recommended at the throat to reduce cold-air backdraft into the room. An insulated liner (or pre-insulated liner with a wrap) improves draft and reduces creosote, and is required by code in some jurisdictions for clearance reasons.

Outside air

An optional fresh-air intake kit is available for code jurisdictions requiring outside combustion air or for tight new-construction homes with mechanical ventilation. The fresh-air intake adapter installs on either the left or right side of the insert (the unused side is covered by a plate supplied in the owner's manual kit). A smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector are required in the room where the insert is installed.

Codes and approvals

Code compliance for any specific installation is determined by the local Authority Having Jurisdiction. Manufacturer listings cover what the insert is approved for; the AHJ approves what is permitted at your address. A WETT (Canada), NFI, or CSIA (USA) certified installer is strongly recommended and frequently required by code, permit, or insurance. In Canada the CSA B365 standard applies; in the USA, ANSI NFPA 211 applies. Confirm local requirements before purchasing.

California Proposition 65

This product can expose you to chemicals including carbon monoxide, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65warnings.ca.gov.

Planning the install

• Check with your building department and insurer: wood appliances need a permit in most places and an inspection after installation.
• The chimney is the other half of the system. It is sold separately and quoted from your installer's plan.
• Clearances and floor protection come from the manual and depend on the pipe and shields you choose. Send us your plan and we will check it.
• Burn seasoned wood below 20 percent moisture. Wet wood is the cause of most complaints about any wood stove.
• Special-order goods ship by freight.