Home › Work activities › Install insulation in equipment or structures
O*NET detailed work activityInstall insulation in equipment or structures
Stays humanHands-on work
14 jobs23 tasks
This is physical, in-person work with real objects, tools, equipment and places that change from day to day. AI can't do it for you.
Part of Build structures, under the O*NET work activity group Handling and Moving Objects. Individual tasks below can carry a different label when their own wording calls for it (0 AI-ready, 0 AI-assist, 23 stays human).
Tasks built on this activity
- Fit insulation around obstructions, and shape insulating materials and protective coverings as required.
- 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.
- Cover, seal, or finish insulated surfaces or access holes with plastic covers, canvas strips, sealants, tape, cement, or asphalt mastic.
- Fit, wrap, staple, or glue insulating materials to structures or surfaces, using hand tools or wires.
- Cover and line structures with blown or rolled forms of materials to insulate against cold, heat, or moisture, using saws, knives, rasps, trowels, blowers, or other tools and implements.
- Distribute insulating materials evenly into small spaces within floors, ceilings, or walls, using blowers and hose attachments, or cement mortars.
- Apply insulation materials, such as loose, blanket, board, and foam insulation to attics, crawl spaces, basements, or walls.
- Install vapor barriers or layers of insulation on flat roofs.
- Move controls, buttons, or levers to start blowers and regulate flow of materials through nozzles.
- Place insulating or fireproofing materials over conductors and joints.
- Wrap air ducts and water lines with insulating materials, such as duct wrap and pipe insulation.
- Cover, seal, or finish insulated surfaces or access holes with plastic covers, canvas strips, sealants, tape, cement or asphalt mastic.
- Cut, miter, and glue piping insulation to insulate plumbing pipes and fittings.
- Wrap water heaters with water heater blankets.
- Apply insulation to building exteriors by installing prefabricated insulation systems over existing walls or by covering the outer wall with insulation board, reinforcing mesh, and a base coat.
- Install blanket insulation between studs and tack plastic moisture barriers over insulation.
- Insert sealing strips, wiring, insulating material, ladders, flanges, gauges, or valves, depending on types of structures being assembled.
- Place insulation over conductors, or seal splices with moisture-proof covering.
- Cut and form insulation, and insert insulation into armature, rotor, or stator slots.
- Cut and install insulating or sound-absorbing material.
- Position, attach, or blow insulating materials to prevent energy losses from buildings, pipes, or other structures or objects.