Insulators
Career Overview
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.
People in these occupations:
- May specialize in areas such as industrial insulation, fire insulation or sound insulation, while others alternate between commercial and residential, and between blown insulation and batting
- Work for construction companies and insulation contractors
- Work in Manufacturing and other industries, but in a smaller number
- May be self-employed
- Should be comfortable working at heights and in cramped spaces
- Need to pay close attention to detail when cutting and fitting insulation
- Must keep their skills and techniques up to date in order to adapt to new insulation materials, building codes and energy efficiency guidelines
Job Titles
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
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
1,175% Employed Full Time
50%Insulators typically work a standard 40-hour workweek, however, they may also be required to work longer hours to complete projects on time. Insulating work in the Construction industry is often project based and workers may experience gaps in employment between projects. For the same reason, insulators sometimes travel to where the work is.
Insulators generally work indoors. They often work at heights and in confined spaces. The work environment can be dusty and workers can be exposed to particles of insulation material that can be irritating to the eyes, skin and respiratory system. Workers strictly conform to health and safety procedures to protect themselves from exposure to airborne particles and skin irritants.
Heat and frost insulators who work on large industrial, institutional and commercial construction projects work both indoors and outdoors in all regions of Canada.
Career Pathways
New hires often begin by working with the batting and sprayed two part polyurethane foam as well as working on a blowing truck. With experience and additional training, insulators can become insulation estimators.
Progression to supervisory positions, such as crew leader, site foreman, general foreman or project manager is also possible with experience.
Some experienced insulators may also choose to become independent contractors or company owners.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
No formal minimum education is required for most insulation contractors in B.C., however, they must have basic reading/writing skills and be able to perform paperwork related duties. While trade certification is not required to be an insulator in B.C., it will likely increase job opportunities.
Requirements for trade certification include:
- Completion of an apprenticeship program (or a combination of several years of work experience and some college or industry courses in insulation)
In addition, many insulators are expected to operate and maintain diesel powered blowing machines and must have a valid driver’s license.
SkilledTradesBC offers a four-year apprenticeship program for insulators specializing in the area of heat and frost insulation. Apprenticeship programs:
- May begin in secondary school, through entry-level training programs at colleges and technical institutes, or through direct entry to the workplace
- Involve a combination of work experience and technical training
- Require workers to find a sponsor employer who is willing to participate in the program
Interprovincial Standards Red Seal certification is available to insulators through SkilledTradesBC. This allows holders to work in any province or territory. Once individuals pass the final examination of their accredited training program, they will achieve certification and will automatically receive Red Seal qualification.
Insulators with 8,880 hours of documented, directly related work experience can challenge the Interprovincial Red Seal examination. For more information please see SkilledTradesBC's website at https://skilledtradesbc.ca/.
Insulators who are certified for that occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.
For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.
Contact SkilledTrades BC for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.
For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.
View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.
Trades training resources
Visit our trades training page at www.workbc.ca/trades to learn about apprenticeship and trades training in B.C.
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Heavy Mechanical Repair
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
1,175Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 30 | 2.6% |
| Kootenay | 55 | 4.7% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 670 | 57.3% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 0 | 0.0% |
| Northeast | 30 | 2.6% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 165 | 14.1% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 210 | 17.9% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
410Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 10 | 1.5% |
| Kootenay | 10 | -0.4% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 270 | 1.9% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | 10 | 0.6% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 70 | 1.3% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 50 | 0.2% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Construction | 390 |
| Manufacturing | 10 |
Insights from Industry
Of the opportunities that arise in the coming years, approximately one-half will come from retirements.
Government funding for capital projects has been an important source of construction employment. Major investments are planned and are underway in B.C.'s transportation infrastructure, including ports and airports.
Industry sources report that demand for workers may be higher for those who work mainly in spray foam.
At present, experienced insulators are in relatively short supply, and in general the experienced workforce is approaching retirement age; however, training is provided to those requiring experience.
Resources
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BC Insulation Contractors Association (BCICA)www.bcica.org
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BC Insulators: Heat and Frost Insulators Local 118insulators118.org
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British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA)www.bccassn.com
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Canadian Home Builders' Association of British Columbia (CHBA BC) - Continuing Educationeducation.chbabc.org/home.php
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International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workerswww.insulators.org
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Mechanical Contractors Association of British Columbia (MCABC)www.mcabc.org
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National Insulation Association (NIA)www.insulation.org/index.cfm
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SkilledTradesBCskilledtradesbc.ca/
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Thermal Insulation Association of Canada (TIAC)www.tiac.ca
