Scope

The heat and frost insulator specializes in the installation and maintenance of insulation systems, for the conservation of energy and the control of the environment in buildings and premises requiring temperature control, heat transfer, sound barriers, fire protection and asbestos abatement.

Heat and frost insulating includes the manufacturing, fabricating, assembling, moulding, handling, erecting, spraying, pouring, mixing, hanging, preparing, applying, adjusting, altering, repairing, dismantling, reconditioning, testing, and maintaining of insulating materials and systems used in this trade.

The work of the insulator encompasses all facets of the trade, such as handling or distributing insulating materials on job premises; operating equipment and tools of the trade; applying pipe and boiler coverings; insulating hot and cold surfaces, ducts, flues, and all protective coverings required on insulation materials; erecting scaffolding; and, conducting asbestos abatement.

The following are some of the requirements for persons who work as heat and frost insulators:

• mandatory wearing of safety equipment including supplied or filtered air breathing apparatus and full-face mask in the removal of asbestos insulation;
• working in confined spaces or in areas difficult to access;
• handling of materials, such as fibreglass, cellulose, rock wool, mineral wool, mastics, foams, etc.;
• working in varying and/or extreme temperatures (cold & heat);
• working in environments where limits of exposure are monitored; and,
• working out of town and/or in isolated areas, such as northern regions.

Observations

The heat and frost insulation trade is a constantly changing technology in North America. Twenty to thirty years ago, insulation was more of an afterthought on many projects; only where conditions made it absolutely necessary was insulation applied.

On high and medium temperature installations, the majority of the materials were asbestos based whereas cork was used predominantly for low temperature work or cryogenics. The finishing materials for indoor applications consisted mainly of asbestos cement coatings with canvas or asbestos cloth jacketing. The installations exposed to the elements were usually finished or protected by a reinforced mastic or a roofing felt cover. These are some of the reasons why the trade was not demanding or diversified, and did not require the in-depth knowledge as it does today.

In today's age of high technology, the changes in this trade are immense due to the increased knowledge in environmental protection, energy conservation, and safety and health hazards. Since asbestos is a totally banned product, a whole myriad of new products are now on the market. For jacketing purposes, mastics, roofing felt, asbestos cloth and, for a large part, canvas covering have been replaced. Today, heat and frost insulators use plastics, laminates, metals, such as stainless steel, aluminum, galvanized steel or coated steel for jacketing fabrication. These materials require extensive knowledge in drafting, layout and fabricating procedures. To be economically viable, one needs extensive knowledge in the make-up and behaviour of the material, as well as the development of patterns best suited for the job at hand. It is a must for today's heat and frost insulators to have a good understanding of geometric shapes and their application in the fabrication on the job site.

With the importance given to the environment, new techniques and materials are a steady occurrence in the industry, such as acoustic insulation, and there is a need to train insulators to meet the requirement. It is a prerequisite to be able to adapt to a given situation and have the ability to specialize in the required task. Upgrading and training in the use of new tools and equipment is absolutely necessary to facilitate the large variety of jacketing fabrications and insulation applications. Fire stopping and smoke seal installations are constantly being improved, and the mastering of this discipline is one of utmost importance.

In summary, not only must the heat and frost insulators be highly skilled craftspersons, they must also be willing to adapt to change, adopt new techniques and retrain when necessary. It is essential to be as well versed in the trade as possible. Wherever it is to the industry's advantage, heat and frost insulators should specialize and acquire the skills required to perform the job successfully.

Safety

Safe working procedures and conditions, accident prevention and the preservation of health are of primary importance to the industry in Canada. These responsibilities are shared and require the joint efforts of government, employers and employees. It is imperative that all parties become aware of circumstances which may lead to injury or harm. Safe learning experiences and environments can be created by controlling the variables and behaviours that may contribute to cause an accident or injury.

It is generally recognized that a safety-conscious attitude and work practices contribute to a healthy, safe and accident-free working environment.

It is imperative to apply and be familiar with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations. As well, it's essential to determine workplace hazards and take measures to protect oneself, co-workers, the public and the environment.

As safety education is an integral part of a training in all jurisdictions, personal safety practices are not recorded in this document. However, the technical safety aspect relating to each task and sub-task are included throughout this analysis.

Job Titles