Insulation installers put in the materials used to insulate buildings and equipment.

Installers staple, wire, tape, or spray insulation to floors, ceilings, and exterior walls. They also cover pipes and other equipment. Insulation in buildings reduces energy use by keeping heat in during the winter and out in the summer. Insulation is also used to conserve heat in tanks, boilers, and hot water pipes.

Insulation installers begin their work by reading blueprints. They select the best type of insulation for the job. Installers fasten insulation with glue, staples, tape, or wire bands.

Installers often use a blower machine to insulate existing buildings. To cover a wall or other flat surface, installers may spray foam insulation onto a wire mesh and install drywall to cover it. In attics or walls of uninsulated buildings, installers blow in loose-fill insulation.

Installers staple insulation to exterior walls and ceilings in new construction and cover it with drywall or another finish. The same process is used with major renovations. Installers often must first remove the old insulation. If the old insulation is made of asbestos, regulations require that it be removed before a building is remodeled or torn down. Installers follow safety procedures to remove the asbestos.

Insulation installers use a variety of tools to do their work, such as:

• Knives
• Scissors
• Staple guns
• Power saws
• Compressors