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Insulators (7293)

Job titles

Nature of work

Insulators apply insulation materials to plumbing, air-handling, heating, cooling and refrigeration systems, piping equipment and pressure vessels, and walls, floors and ceilings of buildings and other structures, to prevent or reduce the passage of heat, cold, sound or fire. They are employed by construction companies and insulation contractors, or they may be self-employed.

Fields of interest

  • Making or building things, constructing, doing repairs, and performing installations
  • Working with your hands

Main duties

  • Insulators perform some or all of the following duties:
  • - Read and interpret drawings and specifications to determine insulation requirements and select type of insulation required
  • - Measure and cut insulating material to required dimensions using hand and power tools
  • - Apply and secure insulation using spraying, blowing, pasting, strapping, taping and other application and installation methods
  • - Fit insulation around obstructions and between studs and joists
  • - Install vapour barriers
  • - Apply waterproofing cement over insulating materials to finish surfaces
  • - Remove asbestos or urea-formaldehyde insulation from buildings when required.

Main characteristics of the occupation

These headings are provided for the following occupation(s) :

Insulators (7293)

Employment requirements

  • * Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • * Completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program orA combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in insulating is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
  • * Trade certification is compulsory in Quebec and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon.
  • * Interprovincial trade certification (Red Seal) is also available to qualified insulators (heat and frost).

Skill type

  • Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations

Skill level

  • Technical

More information

  • * Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
  • * Red Seal trade certification allows for interprovincial mobility.

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