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- A practical job which includes installing insulating materials
- A physically active role, so a reasonable level of fitness is needed
- There is scope to move into a technical, supervisory or managerial role
As a thermal insulation engineer you'll fit insulation around pipework or in other spaces to save energy and help protect the environment.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Planning where to put insulation
- Deciding what materials to use for a particular job
- Preparing and cleaning surfaces to be insulated
- Measuring and cutting insulation materials to size
- Fitting insulation using clips, adhesives or cement
- Sealing the work area after completing an installation
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
This is a physically active role, so you'll need a reasonable level of fitness. Your working conditions could be cramped, hot, dirty and dusty, and involve working at height. Depending on your role you may also have to work with hazardous substances, but you'll be trained on how to do this and provided with protective clothing and equipment.
You'll often need to travel from site to site, which could mean staying away from home.
You'll need
There are no set requirements, but you'll need practical skills, maths skills, and the ability to follow technical plans and drawings.
You could get into this role by doing a thermal insulation operative and technician intermediate or advanced apprenticeship.
Or, you could do a college course to get some of the skills needed in this job and then apply to companies. Relevant courses include a Level 2 Diploma in Access to Building Services Engineering, Level 2 Diploma in Plumbing and Heating, and Level 2 Diploma in Engineering.
Alternatively you could start as a labourer with a construction or heating engineering company, and do training on the job to become an insulation engineer.
You may also be able to move into this work if you've got experience and qualifications in pipe fitting, heating and ventilation, refrigeration or air conditioning.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience, you could move into a technical, supervisory or managerial role, like foreperson, site safety officer or contracts manager. You could also move into a related area, like heating and ventilation engineering or air-conditioning and refrigeration.