Cavity insulation installer
Construction and Trades

Related videos on a cavity insulation installer

How to become a cavity insulation installer

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• applying directly

College

You could do a college course, which may help when you look for a trainee job after you finish. Courses include:

• Level 1 Award in Construction Crafts
• Level 2 Certificate in Construction Operations
• Level 2 Certificate in Construction and Building Crafts

College (Entry requirements)

You may need:

• 2 or fewer GCSEs at grades 3 to 1 (D to G), or equivalent, for a level 1 course
• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course

Apprenticeship

You could complete an intermediate apprenticeship in construction insulation and building treatments, or a thermal insulation operative intermediate apprenticeship.

Apprenticeship (Entry requirements)

You'll usually need:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

Direct application

You could apply directly for jobs. Employers will usually look for GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English, maths or design and technology. Experience in construction, for example brickwork, could be useful.

More info

Registration

• you'll need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to train and work on a construction site

Further information

You can find out more about working in cavity insulation from Go Construct.

What it takes

Skills & Knowledge

You'll need:

• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to use your initiative
• persistence and determination
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• leadership skills
• the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
• knowledge of building and construction
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Restriction & Requirements

You may need a driving licence for some jobs.

What you'll do

Day to day

Your day-to-day duties could include:

• carrying out and writing up pre-installation surveys
• marking out ventilation, wiring and pipework ducts in walls, and sealing openings, like air vents
• working out the volume of space to be filled, and the amount of insulation needed
• drilling holes into the walls of a building
• injecting insulation materials into cavity spaces through the holes in a specific order
• re-filling the holes and re-pointing mortar
• checking all airbricks and flues are clear
• making sure materials and methods used meet building regulations

Working environment

You could work at a client's home or at a client's business. Your working environment may be at height, cramped and physically demanding.

Career path and progression

Career path & progression

With experience, you could become a team leader or estimator, set up your own installation business, or move into wider construction trades.