Insulation Workers: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more

Insulation workers, also called insulators, install and replace the materials used to insulate buildings and their mechanical systems.

What do Insulation Workers do?

Insulators typically do the following:

• Remove and dispose of old insulation
• Review blueprints and specifications to determine the amount and type of insulation needed
• Measure and cut insulation to fit into walls and around pipes
• Secure insulation with staples, tape, or screws
• Use air compressors to spray foam insulation
• Install plastic barriers to protect insulation from moisture

Insulated buildings save energy by keeping heat in during the winter and out in the summer. Insulated vats, vessels, boilers, steam pipes, and water pipes prevent the loss of heat or cold and prevent burns. In addition, insulation helps reduce noise that passes through walls and ceilings.

Insulators often must remove old insulation when renovating buildings. In the past, asbestosnow known to cause cancerwas used extensively to insulate walls, ceilings, pipes, and industrial equipment. Because of this danger, hazardous materials removal workers or specially trained insulators are required to remove asbestos before workers can begin installation.

Insulators use common hand tools, such as knives and scissors. They also may use a variety of power tools, such as power saws to cut insulating materials, welders to secure clamps, staple guns to fasten insulation to walls, and air compressors to spray insulation.

Insulators sometimes wrap a cover of aluminum, sheet metal, or vapor barrier (plastic sheeting) over the insulation. Doing so protects the insulation from contact damage and keeps moisture out.