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.

Getting In

• 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.
• 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..

Job Outlook Scotland

Job Outlook Scotland and UK

  Scotland

2018

5647

0.3 %

RISE

2023

5663

  United Kingdom

2018

78847

1.6 %

RISE

2023

80145

LMI data powered by EMSI UK

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.
• Training follows British Board of Agrément (BBA) and British Standards Institution (BSI) regulations and usually lasts 3-6 months.
• 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.

More Information

At present the government is encouraging everyone to conserve energy. Cavity wall insulation is one way of reducing heat loss from a house, so there are good opportunities for cavity wall insulators in both new-build sites and in individual older properties.

Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.