Fifty thousand BTU is a lot of heat for one patio post, and this bronze column spreads it in a 360 degree pattern across a 20 ft circle in about a minute. The burner and heating mesh are stainless steel, chosen for heat resistance and rust protection, while the aluminum reflector above pushes warmth down over the seating instead of the sky. Ignition is press-and-twist, and a single knob varies flame intensity. Tip-over, anoxic and flame-out cutoffs each shut the gas off on their own. The heater stands 86 inches tall on a 32.5 inch base and weighs 31 lbs, and it runs on a standard 20 lb propane cylinder, which is not included. Assembly is required and it ships in one carton with an instruction sheet.