Parallel rods/tubes flame support layers were used to study variations in geometry and materials on radiant burner performance. An increased density of rods increased the efficiency, as more surface area was provided to extract the heat of combustion. This effect was attenuated for fraction closed areas above 0.33 because of increased interference of direct base-to-load radiation. Thinner rods (with fraction closed area constant), having a lower thermal conduction resistance, fostered higher efficiency. Greater distances between the base and rods decreased efficiency due to air entrainment. This functioned to cool the base, increasing the range of combustion intensities where a portion of combustion lifted from the burner base. Isolation of radiating materials from conducting to the burner housing resulted in a similar to 5% upward shift in efficiency. Low to high efficiency was measured for alumina, mullite, and oxidized stainless steel rods, respectively; this was related directly to the emittances of the materials used. SiC and MoSi2 coatings on alumina rods resulted in burners which were as efficient as one with stainless steel rods. A burner designed as a restricted band spectral emitter was not as efficient in its high-emission range as a more graybody emitter under the same combustion intensity; the higher-temperature spectral emitter discouraged extraction of sensible heat from the combustion product stream.