Bringing Training and Certification to the Nez Perce Community
Bringing Training and Certification to the Nez Perce Community
The National Fireplace Institute
Share
Listen to the audio article.
The National Fireplace Institute (NFI) is proud to support the important work taking place through the Nez Perce Tribal Housing Authority CPRG Residential Energy Program’s large-scale wood stove changeout program. This initiative focuses on improving home heating safety, efficiency, and air quality by replacing older wood stoves and investing in professional workforce training within the community.
As part of the program, NFI worked closely with the Nez Perce team to provide both classroom education and hands-on field training for installers participating in the project.
Rick Vlahos traveled to Nez Perce first to conduct in-person Woodburning and Core Knowledge training sessions. These classes provided installers with foundational knowledge in hearth safety, venting systems, installation standards, and best practices necessary for professional certification and safe installation work.
Replacing 350 woodstoves throughout the community while ensuring installers achieve NFI certification.
Following the classroom training, Rich Sedgwick returned to the community to lead the hands-on portion of the program. Rich worked directly alongside the installation team in the field, supervising stove change-outs in five Tribal elder homes and helping installers apply their training in real-world situations. This hands-on experience allowed participants to build confidence while reinforcing proper installation techniques and safety standards.
This project is part of a much larger grant-funded initiative with an ambitious goal: replacing 350 woodstoves throughout the community while ensuring that installers involved in the program achieve NFI certification.
Programs like this demonstrate the value of combining education, certification, and community investment. By training local installers to nationally recognized standards, the Nez Perce Tribe is building long-term expertise within the community while helping ensure safer, cleaner, and more efficient home heating systems for years to come.
NFI is honored to be part of this impactful program and looks forward to continuing to support the success of the Nez Perce installation team as the project moves forward.\ \ About NFI: The National Fireplace Institute (NFI) is the professional certification division of the National Fireplace Institute, LLC, 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 appliances and venting systems. NFI certifies planners and installers in four hearth product categories: NFI Gas Specialist, NFI Woodburning Specialist, NFI Pellet Specialist, and NFI Hearth Design Specialist.
Want to get free content like this every month?
The National Fireplace Institute
The National Fireplace Institute (NFI) is the professional certification division of the National Fireplace Institute, LLC, 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 appliances and venting systems. NFI certifies planners and installers in four hearth product categories: NFI Gas Specialist, NFI Woodburning Specialist, NFI Pellet Specialist, and NFI Hearth Design Specialist.
