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Thermal insulation engineer

Thermal insulation engineers install insulating materials around pipes, boilers and ductwork in factories and buildings.

Annual Salary

£20,000 to £40,000

Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

42 to 44 a week

You could work: between 8am and 6pm; away from home

5.8%
Future employment

There will be 5.8% fewer Thermal insulation engineer jobs in 2027.

Day to day tasks

You will:

  • plan where to put insulation
  • choose the best materials and tools to use for a particular job
  • prepare and clean areas to be insulated
  • measure and cut insulation materials to size
  • fasten insulation using clips, sprays, adhesives or wire bands
  • seal work areas after fitting insulation
  • remove old insulation, like asbestos, in line with health and safety regulations

Working environment

You may need to wear protective clothing.

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 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

You may need:

  • 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
For more information
Apprenticeship

You can do a thermal insulation operative and technician intermediate or advanced apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
For more information
Work

You could start work 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

Further information

You can find out more about careers in thermal insulation from the Building and Engineering Services Association and ECITB Careers.

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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.

You can find out more about careers in thermal insulation from the Building and Engineering Services Association and ECITB Careers.

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • knowledge of building and construction
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • 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
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
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