Thermal insulation engineer
Thermal insulation engineers install insulating materials around pipes, boilers and ductwork in factories and buildings.
Salary Range: £20,000 to £40,000
How to become a thermal insulation engineer
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- applying directly
College
You can do a college course to get some of the skills needed in this job. Courses include:
- Level 2 Diploma in Access to Building Services Engineering
- Level 2 Diploma in Plumbing and Heating
- Level 2 Diploma in Engineering
Entry requirements
There are no set entry requirements for this route but it may help you to get in if you have:
- 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
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Apprenticeship
You can do a thermal insulation operative and technician intermediate or advanced apprenticeship.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
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Work
You could start as a labourer with a construction or heating engineering company, and do training on the job to become an insulation engineer.
Direct application
You can get into this work if you’ve got experience and qualifications in pipe fitting, heating and ventilation, refrigeration or air conditioning.
More information
Registration
- you’ll need a Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA) skill card to train and work on commercial and industrial sites
Further information
You can find out more about careers in thermal insulation from the Building and Engineering Services Association and ECITB Careers.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You’ll need:
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- knowledge of building and construction
- the ability to use your initiative
- the ability to work well with your hands
- knowledge of maths
- persistence and determination
- the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
- to be flexible and open to change
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
What you’ll do
Day-to-day tasks
Your day-to-day duties may include:
- planning where to put insulation
- deciding on the best materials to use for a particular job
- preparing and cleaning areas to be insulated
- measuring and cutting insulation materials to size
- fastening insulation using clips, sprays, adhesives or wire bands
- sealing work areas after fitting insulation
- removing old insulation, like asbestos, in line with health and safety regulations
Working environment
You could work on a construction site, in a factory or at a manufacturing plant.
Your working environment may be cramped, dusty and physically demanding.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
Career path and progression
You could take further training while you work to move into a technical, supervisory or managerial role, like foreperson, site safety officer or building services technician.
You could also find work in a related industry, like heating and ventilation engineering or air-conditioning and refrigeration.