A loft and cavity insulation technician works as part of a team insulating the walls of new and existing buildings, and laying loft insulation to meet industry safety standards and customer requirements.
The Work
You could be:
doing a survey to decide on the type of insulation to use and how much is needed according to building regulations
checking that the cavity between the two walls is suitable for filling
marking out existing ventilation points, wiring and pipework
loading insulating material – wool, foam, granules, fibreglass or bead – into the van and driving to the site
using a hand-held drill, pneumatic or electric, to bore a set pattern of holes in the wall, drilling from the outside in old buildings and from the inside in new buildings
operating a machine to pump or blow the insulating material into the cavity between the walls
checking that you have filled the whole cavity
repointing the drill holes to match the existing external mortar and cleaning up
fitting loft insulation and lagging pipes and tanks.
Pay
The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:
where you work
the size of the company or organisation you work for
the demand for the job.
Starting salaries are around £7.50 to £8.00 an hour rising to around £10.00 an hour after training. With experience this can rise to around £14.00 an hour. You can also earn commission and bonuses on top of this. Some companies also provide a van.
Self-employed cavity wall insulators are paid by the square metre and tender for the contracts in competition with rival insulating firms.
Conditions
You work outdoors, in cold, wet and dusty conditions.
You will work at height from ladders.
You would work in confined spaces.
You would wear protective overalls, mask and gloves.
You would work up to 45 hours a week, with some overtime, particularly at weekends.
You might have to do a lot of travelling to jobs and perhaps be away from home overnight.
You do not always need formal qualifications to enter this job, but some subjects at National 4 or 5 including English and Maths may be useful.
You might get in through a Modern Apprenticeship in Construction Specialist at SCQF Level 5.
You could study the Foundation Apprenticeship in Construction (SCQF Level 4 or 5) in S3-S6, which can help to get into a relevant Modern Apprenticeship.
A full driving clean licence is preferred and may be necessary.
You must be fit enough to do a physical job.
You must hold a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to work on a building site. You must pass a health and safety test to qualify for this scheme.
Vacancies are with energy companies and small insulation companies. Look for jobs in the local press, in Jobcentre Plus offices and on the 'Find a job' service on the GOV.UK website.
What Does it Take?
You need to have:
excellent communication skills
practical skills and a methodical approach to your work
numeracy skills to make calculations
good planning, organisational and time management skills
a good head for heights
an awareness of health and safety matters.
You need to be able to:
follow written and spoken instructions
work alone as well as part of a team
work to a target and meet deadlines.
Training
Training is on the job working alongside an experience installer.
You would complete short courses often run by the manufacturers of the products you will use.
You can work towards a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) in Insulation and Building Treatments (Construction) at SCQF Level 5 or Thermal Insulation (Construction) at SCQF Levels 5 and 6.
Getting On
If you are working for a larger company, then with experience you might move on to insulation team leader.
Many cavity wall insulators move into self-employment. If you do this, you can become an approved installer through the BBA Approved Installer Scheme.
