Thermal insulation engineer

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• applying directly

Entry requirements:

College

You can do a college course to get some of the skills you'll need to get a trainee job with a company.

Courses include:

• building services engineering
• plumbing and heating
• engineering

Entry requirements:

Apprenticeship

You can apply for a place on an apprenticeship to get started in this career, for example:

• Commercial Thermal Insulation Operative Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
• Industrial Thermal Insulation Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

These can take up to 2 years to complete and include a mix of training on the job with off-site study.

Entry requirements:

• 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

DirectApplication

You can apply directly for jobs if you've got experience and qualifications in a related area of work, like:

• pipe fitting
• heating and ventilation engineering
• building services engineering
• refrigeration or air conditioning installation

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Skills:

• 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
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• customer service skills
• thinking and reasoning skills
• concentration skills
• physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• leadership skills
• active listening skills
• the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues

What you'll do:

Thermal insulation engineers install insulating materials around pipes, boilers and ductwork in offices, factories, schools and hospitals.

As a thermal insulation engineer, you could:

• choose the right materials and tools for a particular job
• prepare areas to be insulated
• fit insulation or cladding following engineering plans
• fasten insulation using clips, sprays, adhesives or wire bands
• seal work areas after fitting insulation
• remove old materials like asbestos, in line with health and safety regulations

Possible green job

This job could help the environment.

For a thermal insulation engineer to be a green job, you could:

• insulate buildings so they require less energy
• use environmentally friendly insulation materials like wood fibre and hemp
• find suppliers that care about the environment and work in a sustainable way

Find out more about green careers

Location : You could work on a construction site, in a factory or at a manufacturing plant.
Environment : Your working environment may be cramped, dusty and physically demanding.
Uniform : You may need to wear protective clothing.

Salary:

Starter : £20,000
Experienced : £40,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

42 - 44 hours a week

Working Pattern is between 8am and 6pm away from home

Career Path:

You could take further training while you work to move into a technical, supervisory or managerial role, such as:

• foreperson
• site safety officer
• building services technician

You could also find work in related industries, like heating and ventilation engineering or air-conditioning and refrigeration.