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Thermal insulation engineer

Alternative titles for this job include Pipework lagger, thermal insulation installer

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

Average salary (a year)

£20,000 Starter

to

£40,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

42 to 44 a week

You could work

between 8am and 6pm away from home

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly

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
  • fabrication and welding engineering
  • T Level in Building Services Engineering for Construction

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

More Information

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

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

More Information

Direct Application

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

More Information

Registration

Further information

You can find out more about careers in thermal insulation from the Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA) and Go Construct.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

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 able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Restrictions and Requirements

You may need a driving licence for some jobs.

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

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

We've identified this as a potential green job

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

Working environment

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 may need to wear protective clothing.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

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.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a thermal insulation engineer right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

BTEC National Diploma in Building Services Engineering

  • Provider: UNITED COLLEGES GROUP
  • Start date: 15 September 2025
  • Location: London

Building Services Engineering — BTEC Level 3 Diploma

  • Provider: THE CITY OF LIVERPOOL COLLEGE
  • Start date: 08 September 2025
  • Location: LIVERPOOL
Find courses near you

Jobs In the United Kingdom

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