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The
National
Fireplace
Institute®
(NFI)
is
the
professional
certification
division
of
the
HPB
Education
Foundation,
a
501(c)3
non-profit
educational
organization
for
the
hearth
industry.
NFI’s
objective
is
to
increase
public
safety
by
establishing
meaningful
credentials
for
professionals
involved
in
planning
and
installing
residential
hearth
appliance
and
venting
systems.
NFI,
established
in
2002,
certifies
planners
and
installers
in
three
hearth
product
categories
based
upon
fuel
type:
*
NFI
Gas
Specialist
*
NFI
Woodburning
Specialist
*
NFI
Pellet
Specialist.
NFI also recognizes individuals who have successfully gained all three NFI Certifications as Master Hearth Professionals. These individuals have reached the highest level of certification in the hearth industry.
Why
is
there
a
need
for
fireplace/hearth
installer
credentials?
In
two
words:
public
safety.
Hearth
products,
because
they
involve
flame,
heat
and
venting
of
combustion
products,
require
specialized
knowledge
for
planning
and
installing.
The
NFI
exams
are
the
only
exams
that
test
the
knowledge
needed
to
properly
plan
and
install
hearth
products
and
their
venting
systems.
Where
is
NFI
recognized?
NFI
Certification
is
already
recognized
as
the
basis
for
a
specialty
license
to
install
hearth
products
in
a
number
of
state,
county
and
municipal
jurisdictions,
including
the
State
of
Rhode
Island,
Newcastle
County,
DE,
the
City
of
Lawrence,
KS,
the
City
of
Lincoln,
NE,
the
city
of
Salina,
KS,
and
Pitkin
County,
CO.
What
does
NFI
certification
mean?
NFI
Certification
identifies
those
individuals
who
have
passed
an
exam
based
on
the
knowledge
needed
to
properly
plan
and
install
hearth
products
and
their
venting
systems.
Certification
is
regarded
as
an
excellent
indication
of
professional
training
and
commitment.
What
are
the
benefits
of
being
NFI
Certified?
Building
officials
prefer
to
work
with
certified
contractors
who
have
demonstrated
their
commitment
to
professional
excellence.
Manufacturers
prefer
qualified
installers
because
they
know
their
products
are
more
likely
to
be
installed
correctly.
Consumers
feel
more
confident
hiring
certified
specialists
because
of
their
experience
and
knowledge.
NFI
provides
certified
specialists
with
tools
to
identify
and
promote
themselves,
such
as
wallet
ID
cards,
patches,
and
decals.
NFI
Certified
Specialists
are
also
listed
here.
How
does
a
hearth
professional
become
NFI
certified?
To
become
certified,
a
person
must
pass
the
multiple choice
NFI
certification
exam(s).
A
person
may
become
certified
in
one,
two
or
all
three
of
the
specialties
by
passing
the
appropriate
exams.
NFI
exams
are
offered
at
over
600
locations
nationwide
allowing
the
busy
professional
the
convenience
of
testing
close
to
home.
NFI
review
courses
and
exams
are
also
sponsored
by
a
number
of
industry
organizations
and
hearth
products
manufacturers.
How
were
NFI
exams
developed?
NFI
contracted
with
the
Personnel Decisions Research Institutes (PDRI),
a
nationally
recognized
testing
consultant
agency,
to
direct
the
process
for
developing
the
certification
exams.
PDRI
followed
nationally
recognized
guidelines
in
the
development
of
the
NFI
exams.
What
are
the
NFI
exams
based
on?
The
exams
are
based
on
a
job
analysis,
a
formal
process
that
identifies
the
important
knowledges
needed
to
perform
the
tasks
involved
in
planning
and
installing
hearth
products.
Job
analysis
requires
an
industry-wide
survey
and
input
from
multiple
subject
matter
experts.
What
types
of
knowledges
are
required
for
hearth
products
installations?
The
knowledges
include:
Fundamental
Knowledges
*
Combustion
*
Heat/heat
protection
*
Safety
guidelines/consequences
of
action
*
Construction
fundamentalsInstallation
Knowledges
*
Regulations
and
instructions
*
Fuel
delivery
*
Appliance
requirements
*
Draft
and
ventilation
principles
*
Venting
requirements
*
Post
installation
inspection
and
service
How
does
one
maintain
certification?
During
the
three
year
validation
period,
the
certified
specialist
may
participate
in
the
NFI
Continuing
Education
Program
for
Certification
Renewal
by
attending
training
programs
accredited
with
NFI
CEUs
(Continuing
Education
Units).
If
the
specialist
does
not
wish
to
participate
in
the
continuing
education
program,
he
may
take
the
new
exam
just
prior
to
the
expiration
of
his
certification(s).
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