Insulator

Summary

This position is a Insulator you will serve in the In-House Construction Section located at the Oklahoma City VA Health Care System, Facilities Management Service Line. This position will perform duties of as a Insulator/pipefitter/plumber at a journeyman level with minimal supervision, installation, maintenance and repair of all types of insulating materials required to cover all areas assigned at the VAHCS.

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Duties

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Major duties of this position include but are not limited to,

• Responsible for any removal in accordance with all applicable local, state and federal regulations.
• Communicate by reading blueprints, drawings, sketches, specifications and project plans.
• Maintains the installing, modifying, and repairing systems by setting up system routes, placing and cutting route openings, placing hangers for proper pitch and elevation, and determining and installing such things as risers, flexible branches, expansion joints, gauges, and pressure regulators in the combination needed to support the pressures of systems.
• Communicate and interpreted blueprints, schematics and sketches of various equipment.
• Compile building plans, blueprints, and sketches to plan and layout the routing, placement, pitch, elevation, pressure reduction, expansion, and operation of various systems.
• Communicate and Interpreted vendor's material catalogs to expedite acquisition of materials, and tools necessary to maintain stock and work in progress.
• Develop patterns and lay out, cut, form, join, assemble, and install all types of insulating materials on water pipes, steam pipes, heaters, refrigeration units, boilers, air ducts, and evaporators on a variety of surfaces or enclosures having straight, curved and irregular curves and planes.
• Responsible for plans, lays out insulation, to determine what materials were needed to achieve desired results and submits material orders to supervisors.
• Handles the evaluation and estimated types and amount of insulation required while considering size, shape, temperature, accessibility, environment and physical appearance requirements of system to be insulated.
• Utilizes all tools, materials and equipment common to the trade at the journeyman level.
• Operate at the journeyman level with skills and knowledge for the installation, maintenance and repaired all types of insulating materials required.
• Responsible for using the tools and equipment required to cover a vast array of steam pipes, water pipes, hot water heaters, heat exchangers, boilers, refrigeration units and air ducts in a large hospital complex.
• Responsible for insulating materials such as fiberglass (preformed and rolled) and powder insulating materials to cover low- and high-pressure steam lines, chill water pipes hot and cold-water lines, underground pipes and large water tanks to reduce heat loss and to prevent moisture condensation.
• Planes and performed work involving removal and installation of a variety of insulating materials on air ducts, heaters, generators, pumps, piping, evaporators, refrigeration units, and boilers.
• Repair damaged insulation and upgrades existing insulation for increased performance; and measured, cuts, trims, and fits insulating materials on regular shaped surfaces of pipes, tanks, boilers, ducts, and other structures.
• Handled materials and parts weighing over 45 pounds.
• Secured safety by wearing respiratory safety devices and other protective apparel which may be restrictive and uncomfortable.
• Responsible for following safety guidelines and practices in performing trades related work.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm

Position Description Title/PD#: Insulator/PD120560

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Pre-employment physical required
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/02/2026.

EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards.

SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements:

• Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision
• Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (Includes Blueprint Reading)
• Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
• Dexterity and Safety
• Knowledge of Materials
• Measurement and Layout
• Technical Practices (Theoretical, Precise, Artistic)

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Note : A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: Insulators/pipefitters frequently handles materials and parts weighting over 45 pounds. They are required to pull, push, reach, walk, stand, crawl, kneel, bend and climb for sustained periods of time. Physical effort is sometimes strenuous and is typical of insulator/mason-plasterer trades.

Working Conditions: Working in both trades is performed inside and outside. May be exposed to extreme heat or cold while working. Also required to perform work of both trades in noisy, damp, or dirty area. Frequently required to work from scaffolds and ladders exposing incumbent to danger of strains and falls. Incumbent is subject to burns, cuts, abrasions and falls. The work also includes installation and removal of insulating materials which frequently creates airborne dust particles which require wearing respiratory safety devices or other protective apparel which may be restrictive and uncomfortable.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.