Apprenticeship · Level 6 · Engineering

Industrial Insulation

A four-year craft apprenticeship fitting insulation to pipes, ducts and vessels for heat, fire and sound control. It suits practical people who like varied work.

How apprenticeships work: you are hired by an approved employer and paid while you learn, mixing work with blocks of training in a college or training centre. You don't apply through the CAO and you don't need CAO points.

Key facts

How long

4 years (7 phases: 4 on-the-job, 3 off-the-job)

Award

QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate Craft - Industrial Insulation

Where you train

National training centres and colleges (ETBs, TUs)

Pay

Employer pays a salary on-the-job; the ETB pays a training allowance during off-the-job phases (amount depends on the employer's sector).

Costs

Student contribution of EUR 1,000 for Phase 4 and EUR 1,000 for Phase 6 (higher education phases).

Entry requirements

Must have enough English to take part in training and assessment (e.g. Junior Cycle, Leaving Cert or LCA, NFQ Level 3 with Communications, or an approved English test such as B1 CEFR or IELTS 4.0-5.0)
Colour vision test: recommended by SOLAS for all crafts and mandatory for some crafts before registration
Full criteria are in the apprenticeship brochure; check with your local ETB

How to apply

You must be hired by an employer approved by SOLAS, who gives you a contract of employment. Search the Apprenticeship Jobs page by location and apprenticeship, or ask your local Education and Training Board.

Official page on apprenticeship.ie ↗

What you'll learn

Cutting and fitting insulation to pipework, ductwork and valves
Cladding with sheet metal and other finishes
Reading technical drawings and pattern development
Using folding, rolling and CNC machines
Sound-proofing enclosures and acoustic panels

Where it can lead

Industrial insulator in air-conditioning, refrigeration, power plants, pharma, food, brewing and distilling
Engineer, manager, business owner or instructor