Insulator

NOC #72321

  • Environment Primarily outdoor work
  • Education High school diploma
  • Average salary $44,000 to $84,000

Career profile

Insulators apply insulation on plumbing, heating and cooling systems, piping equipment, and pressure vessels to reduce the transfer of heat, cold, sound and the chance of fire. They also remove insulation from equipment in order to facilitate repairs when necessary.

Oil and gas services, Emissions reduction, Construction

In this occupation activities may include:

  • Measuring and cutting insulation for covering surfaces
  • Fitting insulation around obstructions, and shaping insulating materials and protective coverings as required
  • Covering, sealing or finishing insulated surfaces or access holes with plastic covers, canvas, strips, sealants, tape, cement or asphalt mastic
  • Preparing surfaces for insulation application by brushing or spreading on adhesives, cement or asphalt, or by attaching metal pins to the surfaces to be insulated

Education

  • A high school diploma (or equivalent) is typically required.

Certifications

  • Standard and emergency first aid
  • Construction Safety Training System (CSTS)
  • Confined Space entry
  • H2S Alive®
  • Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
  • Fall protection
  • Asbestos safety
  • Pipeline Construction Safety Training (PCST)

Licensing

  • The Red Seal endorsement is the interprovincial standard of excellence, and is available to tradespersons upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
  • Completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program is required to become a certified tradesperson. Another route into apprenticeship training is a pre-apprenticeship foundation program. In some provinces, both of these routes can begin in high school.

  • Minimal or no travel
  • Shiftwork/variable work hours
  • Primarily outdoor work
  • Physical work
  • Work away from home/in camps

Think big in small spaces. You must have the physical agility to get into nooks and crannies and the ability to strategize on how to reach your target. You have the foresight to envision and prepare the shape, size and type of insulation materials required for a job.

  • Mathematics
  • Active listening
  • Selecting equipment
  • Installing equipment
  • Attention to detail
  • Building and construction
  • Public safety and security
  • Quality control analysis
  • Judgment and decision making
  • Planning and organizing