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Occupation AtlasInsulation Workers, Mechanical

O*NET · 47-2132.00

Insulation Workers, Mechanical

Apply insulating materials to pipes or ductwork, or other mechanical systems in order to help control and maintain temperature.

Also called AC Insulation Installer · AC Insulation Installer (Air Conditioning Insulation Installer) · Blanket Maker · Boiler Coverer · Commercial Insulator · Duct Insulator · Firestopper Installer · Firestopper Tech
21 more

Firestopper Technician (Firestopper Tech) · Heat and Frost Insulator · Industrial Insulator · Industrial Pipe Insulator · Insulation Installer · Insulation Machine Operator · Insulation Mechanic · Insulation Power Unit Tender · Insulation Tech · Insulation Technician (Insulation Tech) · Insulation Worker · Insulator · Insulator Journeyman · Marine Insulator · Mechanic Insulator · Mechanical Insulator · Pipe Coverer · Pipe Coverer and Insulator · Pipe Insulator · Refrigeration Insulator · Sheet Metal Insulator

Job Zone 2 — Some Preparation NeededHolland code RCI35 skills on file

Compare with another occupationCompare with Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers

Job Zone

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5

Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed

Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma, some previous work-related skill or experience, and a few months to a year of training with experienced workers.

Job Zone is O*NET's rating of how much education, experience and training an occupation typically needs — a property of the work, not of anyone doing it.

Occupational interest profile

RCIRealistic · Conventional · Investigative — the three strongest interests, in order

  • R Realistic6.92
  • C Conventional4.25
  • I Investigative2.42
  • S Social1.24
  • A Artistic1.00
  • E Enterprising1.00

RIASEC (Holland) interests on O*NET's 0–7 scale: what the work draws on, not what any individual prefers. Hover a row for what each dimension means.

Education and experience

The education level respondents say the job requires, and the most common answer for experience and training.

  • Less than a High School Diploma8%
  • High School Diploma or the equivalent72%
  • Post-Secondary Certificate21%
Related work experience
None (81%)
On-site or in-plant training
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years (34%)
On-the-job training
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years (34%)

Typically associated skills

All 35 O*NET skills, most important first. Importance (1–5) says how much a skill matters here; level (0–7) says how much of it the work calls for, with O*NET's example of a nearby level. Neither is a proficiency rating of a person.

  • Coordination3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Schedule appointments for a medical clinic
  • Critical Thinkingbasic3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Determine whether a subordinate has a good excuse for being late
  • Active Listeningbasic3.02.9Level 2 looks like: Take a customer's order
  • Monitoringbasic3.02.8Level 2 looks like: Proofread and correct a letter
  • Time Management3.02.8Level 2 looks like: Keep a monthly calendar of appointments
  • Speakingbasic2.92.6Level 2 looks like: Greet tourists and explain tourist attractions
  • Judgment and Decision Making2.92.5Level 2 looks like: Decide how scheduling a break will affect work flow
  • Reading Comprehensionbasic2.82.8Level 2 looks like: Read step-by-step instructions for completing a form
  • Active Learningbasic2.82.6Level 2 looks like: Think about the implications of a news article for job opportunities
  • Operations Monitoring2.82.5Level 2 looks like: Monitor completion times while running a computer program
  • Quality Control Analysis2.82.0Level 2 looks like: Inspect a draft email for errors (e.g., grammar, punctuation)
  • Complex Problem Solving2.62.4Level 2 looks like: Lay out tools to complete a job
Show the other 23
  • Social Perceptiveness2.62.4Level 2 looks like: Notice that customers are angry because they have been waiting too long
  • Operation and Control2.62.1Level 2 looks like: Navigate the settings on an office printer to print on both sides of the paper
  • Instructing2.52.0Level 2 looks like: Instruct a new employee in the use of a timekeeping system
  • Management of Personnel Resources2.32.0Level 2 looks like: Encourage a coworker who is having difficulty finishing a project
  • Learning Strategiesbasic2.12.1Level 2 looks like: Learn a different method of completing a task from a coworker
  • Mathematicsbasic2.12.0Level 2 looks like: Count the amount of change to be given to a customer
  • Service Orientation2.12.0Level 2 looks like: Ask customers if they would like a cup of coffee
  • Troubleshooting2.11.9Level 2 looks like: Identify the source of a leak by looking under a machine
  • Negotiation2.11.8Level 2 looks like: Present justification to a manager for altering a work schedule
  • Installation2.11.4Level 2 looks like: Install a new air filter in an air conditioner
  • Writingbasic2.02.0Level 2 looks like: Write down a guest's order at a restaurant
  • Persuasion2.01.8Level 2 looks like: Solicit donations for a charity
  • Systems Analysis2.01.8Level 2 looks like: Determine how loss of a team member will affect the completion of a job
  • Systems Evaluation2.01.6Level 2 looks like: Determine why estimates for the time to complete a task are overly optimistic
  • Operations Analysis1.91.4Level 2 looks like: Select a printer for an office
  • Management of Material Resources1.81.1Level 2 looks like: Reserve a room for a management meeting
  • Equipment Selection1.81.0Level 2 looks like: Select a tool to adjust a loose part on a bicycle
  • Technology Design1.50.5
  • Equipment Maintenance1.40.4
  • Management of Financial Resources1.40.4
  • Repairing1.40.4
  • Sciencebasic1.40.4
  • Programming1.0—

Tasks

9 core

What people in this occupation do, as O*NET records it, core tasks first by importance (1–5).

  1. Measure and cut insulation for covering surfaces, using tape measures, handsaws, knives, and scissors.4.7
  2. Fit insulation around obstructions, and shape insulating materials and protective coverings as required.4.4
  3. Apply, remove, and repair insulation on industrial equipment, pipes, ductwork, or other mechanical systems such as heat exchangers, tanks, and vessels, to help control noise and maintain temperatures.4.4
  4. Select appropriate insulation, such as fiberglass, Styrofoam, or cork, based on the heat retaining or excluding characteristics of the material.4.4
  5. Determine the amounts and types of insulation needed, and methods of installation, based on factors such as location, surface shape, and equipment use.4.3
  6. Install sheet metal around insulated pipes with screws to protect the insulation from weather conditions or physical damage.4.2
  7. Read blueprints and specifications to determine job requirements.4.2
  8. Cover, seal, or finish insulated surfaces or access holes with plastic covers, canvas strips, sealants, tape, cement, or asphalt mastic.4.2
  9. Prepare surfaces for insulation application by brushing or spreading on adhesives, cement, or asphalt, or by attaching metal pins to surfaces.4.1

Knowledge

Bodies of knowledge the work draws on.

  • Building and Construction4.34.9Level 4 looks like: Fix a plumbing leak in the ceiling
  • Customer and Personal Service4.14.7Level 4 looks like: Be responsible for 10 children at daycare
  • Mechanical4.14.5Level 4 looks like: Replace a valve on a steam pipe
  • Administration and Management4.04.2Level 4 looks like: Monitor progress of a project to ensure timely completion
  • Education and Training3.94.4Level 4 looks like: Lead a quality improvement seminar
  • Mathematics3.84.2Level 4 looks like: Analyze data to determine areas with the highest sales
  • Production and Processing3.74.1Level 4 looks like: Supervise an appliance assembly line
  • Public Safety and Security3.73.7Level 4 looks like: Inspect a building site for safety violations
Show all 33
  • Design3.64.0Level 4 looks like: Design plans for remodeling a kitchen
  • English Language3.63.4Level 4 looks like: Edit an article for a news website
  • Personnel and Human Resources3.33.6Level 4 looks like: Interview applicants for an administrative position
  • Sales and Marketing3.33.4Level 4 looks like: Introduce clients to a new line of products
  • Transportation3.12.8
  • Economics and Accounting2.92.8
  • Psychology2.82.6
  • Administrative2.73.2Level 4 looks like: Type 30 words per minute
  • Engineering and Technology2.62.7
  • Computers and Electronics2.42.4Level 1 looks like: Operate a media player to watch a training video
  • Law and Government2.21.8Level 1 looks like: Describe the length of a U.S. presidential term
  • Physics2.22.3Level 1 looks like: Use a crowbar to pry open a box
  • Chemistry2.02.0Level 1 looks like: Use a common household bug spray
  • Communications and Media2.01.7Level 1 looks like: Write a thank you note
  • Telecommunications2.01.2Level 1 looks like: Send an email
  • Food Production1.81.1Level 1 looks like: Grow herbs in the kitchen
  • Foreign Language1.81.0Level 1 looks like: Say "please" and "thank you" in a foreign language
  • Geography1.81.4Level 1 looks like: Know the capital of the United States
  • Therapy and Counseling1.81.7Level 1 looks like: Put ice on a sprained ankle
  • Sociology and Anthropology1.71.3Level 1 looks like: Identify two cultures in a story as being different
  • Medicine and Dentistry1.61.0Level 1 looks like: Use a band-aid
  • History and Archeology1.50.8Level 1 looks like: Take a class in US history
  • Biology1.40.9Level 1 looks like: Feed domestic animals
  • Fine Arts1.3—
  • Philosophy and Theology1.3—

Abilities

Enduring capacities the work calls for.

  • Trunk Strength3.43.3Level 4 looks like: Shovel snow for half an hour
  • Extent Flexibility3.33.3Level 4 looks like: Reach for a box on a high warehouse shelf
  • Problem Sensitivity3.32.9Level 2 looks like: Recognize that an unplugged lamp won't work
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness3.13.1Level 4 looks like: Thread a needle
  • Gross Body Equilibrium3.12.9Level 2 looks like: Stand on a ladder
  • Information Ordering3.12.9Level 2 looks like: Follow the correct steps to make change
  • Manual Dexterity3.13.0Level 4 looks like: Pack oranges in crates as quickly as possible
  • Multilimb Coordination3.13.0Level 2 looks like: Row a boat
Show all 52
  • Near Vision3.13.1Level 2 looks like: Read indicators on the dashboard of a car
  • Oral Comprehension3.13.0Level 2 looks like: Understand a television commercial
  • Oral Expression3.12.9Level 2 looks like: Place an order at a restaurant drive-thru
  • Selective Attention3.13.0Level 2 looks like: Answer a business call with coworkers talking nearby
  • Static Strength3.13.0Level 4 looks like: Pull a 40-pound sack of fertilizer across the lawn
  • Category Flexibility3.02.9Level 3 looks like: Classify flowers according to size, color, and smell
  • Deductive Reasoning3.02.8Level 2 looks like: Know that a stalled car can coast downhill
  • Finger Dexterity3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Put coins in a parking meter
  • Gross Body Coordination3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Get in and out of a truck
  • Control Precision2.92.8Level 2 looks like: Adjust a room light with a dimmer switch
  • Inductive Reasoning2.92.8Level 2 looks like: Decide what to wear based on the weather report
  • Speech Clarity2.92.8
  • Speech Recognition2.92.9Level 2 looks like: Recognize the voice of a coworker
  • Visualization2.92.9Level 2 looks like: Imagine how to place paper in a printer so that the letterhead comes out on top
  • Far Vision2.82.9Level 2 looks like: Read a roadside billboard
  • Stamina2.82.8
  • Written Comprehension2.82.8Level 2 looks like: Understand signs on the highway
  • Depth Perception2.62.6Level 2 looks like: Merge a car into traffic on a city street
  • Flexibility of Closure2.62.1Level 2 looks like: Detect that your phone is ringing while at a concert
  • Perceptual Speed2.62.6Level 2 looks like: Sort mail according to ZIP codes with no time pressure
  • Visual Color Discrimination2.62.5Level 1 looks like: Separate laundry into colors and whites
  • Auditory Attention2.52.4Level 2 looks like: Listen to a lecture while people nearby are talking
  • Dynamic Strength2.52.4Level 2 looks like: Use pruning shears to trim a bush
  • Hearing Sensitivity2.52.1Level 2 looks like: Notice a doorbell ringing
  • Time Sharing2.52.3Level 2 looks like: Listen to music while entering numbers into a spreadsheet
  • Written Expression2.42.0Level 1 looks like: Write a note to remind someone to take food out of the freezer
  • Fluency of Ideas2.32.1Level 2 looks like: Name four different uses for a screwdriver
  • Originality2.32.0Level 2 looks like: Use a credit card to open a locked door
  • Mathematical Reasoning2.12.0Level 1 looks like: Determine how much 20 oranges will cost when they are priced at 5 for 4 dollars
  • Number Facility2.12.0Level 1 looks like: Add 2 and 7
  • Rate Control2.12.0Level 1 looks like: Ride a bicycle alongside a jogger
  • Reaction Time2.12.0Level 2 looks like: Start to slow down the car when a traffic light turns yellow
  • Spatial Orientation2.11.4Level 2 looks like: Use the floor plan to locate a store in a mall
  • Speed of Closure2.12.0Level 3 looks like: Recognize a song after hearing only the first few notes
  • Response Orientation2.02.0Level 2 looks like: When a doorbell and phone ring at the same time, quickly select which to answer first
  • Glare Sensitivity1.91.1Level 2 looks like: Drive on a familiar road on a cloudy day
  • Sound Localization1.91.0Level 2 looks like: Listen to a sound system to determine which speaker is working
  • Memorization1.81.0Level 1 looks like: Remember the number on your bus to be sure you get back on the right one
  • Peripheral Vision1.81.0Level 2 looks like: Keep in step while marching in a band
  • Speed of Limb Movement1.81.0Level 2 looks like: Saw through a thin piece of wood
  • Wrist-Finger Speed1.81.4Level 2 looks like: Use a screwdriver to twist in a screw
  • Dynamic Flexibility1.60.8
  • Explosive Strength1.60.9
  • Night Vision1.61.0Level 2 looks like: Read street signs at dusk (just after sunset)

Work activities

Kinds of activity the work is made of.

  • Handling and Moving Objects4.56.2Level 7 looks like: Load boxes on an assembly line
  • Performing General Physical Activities4.45.3Level 4 looks like: Paint the outside of a house
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.14.1Level 4 looks like: Report the results of a sales meeting to a supervisor
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings4.13.8Level 4 looks like: Test electrical circuits
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.03.7Level 4 looks like: Select the location for a major retail store
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials3.93.3Level 4 looks like: Inspect equipment in a chemical processing plant
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work3.94.0Level 4 looks like: Plan and adjust a personal to-do list according to changing demands
  • Getting Information3.62.6
Show all 41
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events3.62.7
  • Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others3.53.6Level 4 looks like: Organize the cleanup crew after a major sporting event
  • Scheduling Work and Activities3.53.5Level 4 looks like: Prepare the work schedule for salesclerks in a large retail store
  • Training and Teaching Others3.53.0Level 4 looks like: Teach a social sciences course to high school students
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships3.43.4Level 4 looks like: Maintain good working relationships with almost all coworkers and clients
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge3.43.8Level 4 looks like: Keep current on changes in maintenance procedures for repairing sports cars
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment3.32.4Level 1 looks like: Drive a car
  • Thinking Creatively3.33.5Level 4 looks like: Adapt popular music for a high school marching band
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards3.22.5Level 1 looks like: Review forms for completeness
  • Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates3.22.8
  • Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People3.22.9
  • Coaching and Developing Others3.13.0Level 4 looks like: Provide on-the-job training for administrative workers
  • Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information3.12.4Level 1 looks like: Estimate the size of household furniture to be shipped
  • Processing Information3.02.6
  • Communicating with People Outside the Organization2.92.5Level 1 looks like: Have little contact with people outside the organization
  • Controlling Machines and Processes2.92.6
  • Developing Objectives and Strategies2.92.2Level 1 looks like: Plan the holiday schedule for an airline workforce
  • Monitoring and Controlling Resources2.92.8
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others2.82.8
  • Assisting and Caring for Others2.72.8
  • Developing and Building Teams2.72.1Level 1 looks like: Encourage two coworkers to stick with a tough assignment
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others2.72.2Level 1 looks like: Interpret a blood pressure reading
  • Analyzing Data or Information2.52.1Level 1 looks like: Skim a short article to gather the main point
  • Documenting/Recording Information2.41.8Level 1 looks like: Record the weight of a patient during a routine health exam
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment2.42.4Level 1 looks like: Make simple, external adjustments to a door hinge with ordinary hand tools
  • Providing Consultation and Advice to Others2.31.9Level 1 looks like: Work in a position that requires little advising of others
  • Performing Administrative Activities2.21.7Level 1 looks like: Complete routine paperwork
  • Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment2.01.6Level 1 looks like: Specify the lighting for a work area
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public2.01.3Level 1 looks like: Check tickets at a concert
  • Selling or Influencing Others2.01.7Level 1 looks like: Convince a coworker to assist with an assignment
  • Staffing Organizational Units1.91.2Level 1 looks like: Work in a position that has minimal staffing requirements
  • Working with Computers1.91.4Level 1 looks like: Enter employee information into a database
  • Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment1.71.0Level 1 looks like: Use display settings to adjust a television picture

Work context

The conditions most characteristic of the work, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale.

  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets4.9
  • Spend Time Standing4.7
  • Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls4.6
  • Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles4.5
  • Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.3
  • Time Pressure4.3
  • Freedom to Make Decisions4.2
  • Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions4.2
  • Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team4.2
  • Telephone Conversations4.1

Technology

5 tools

Software used in this work. In demand: among the tools job postings for this occupation name most. Hot: often named in job postings across the economy.

Tools (5)
  • CMSN FieldPAK
  • Comput-Ability Mechanical Insulation Key Estimator
  • IBM Maximo Asset Management
  • North American Insulation Manufacturers Association NAIMA 3E Plus
  • Turtle Creek Software Goldenseal

Related occupations

O*NET's own list of the occupations most related to this one, closest first.

  1. Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
  2. Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
  3. Sheet Metal Workers
  4. Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles
  5. Pipelayers
  6. Roofers
  7. Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians
  8. Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
  9. Brickmasons and Blockmasons
  10. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

ESCO equivalents

From the official ESCO–O*NET crosswalk, strongest match first. A broader occupation takes in this one; a narrower one is a part of it.

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. ESCO occupations and skills are from the European Commission's ESCO classification, and the occupation crosswalk is the official ESCO–O*NET mapping by the ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA. This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission. BlissPoint Analytics has modified all or some of this information: skill, task and descriptor ratings are rounded to one decimal, and ESCO occupations show Job Zone and interests copied from a crosswalked O*NET occupation. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.