Insulator

Insulation assures efficient operation of equipment, minimizes energy loss, reduces or eliminates noise transmission and prevents injury. Insulation work ranges from the fabrication and manufacturing of various kinds of insulating materials to selection, preparation and actual installation aboard ship. The apprentice cuts and forms insulation materials, makes molded plastic forms, laminates fiberglass cloth and mixes bonding materials such as cement, epoxies and resins. Typical types of insulation installed include special pipe insulations, sheet rubber, fiberglass/wool, polymides, special foam application, portable pads and acoustic sound dampening materials. An apprentice insulator will learn to apply these skills through a variety of work experiences encompassing product lines such as submarines, aircraft carriers and commercial ship construction and repair.