Learn about our benefits, events and apprenticeship programs.
Local 34 of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers unites, trains, and promotes mechanical insulation workers throughout Minnesota and Western Wisconsin, and South Dakota. Beginning with only 17 charter members when it was founded in 1913, Local 34 currently has over 600 members and continues to grow and thrive.
The first members in the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators were among many workers responding with critical skills to a newly prevalent energy: steam power. A highly effective energy source, steam power dramatically reconfigured both commercial and residential energy use. The mechanical insulation for these vast new boiler systems provided critical energy savings and promoted much needed efficiency. Insulation mechanics brought much needed skills and craft to this new industry; however, they lacked a union to support fair wages, benefits and safe working conditions.
The first attempt to form a national bond between the existing insulators' associations came in 1900, with the Salamander Association of New York City. Although that appeal sparked interest, action wasn't taken until two years later when the Pipe Coverers' Union of St. Louis, Missouri sent out an announcement that they had affiliated with the National Building Trades Council of America. Local No. 1 of the union was born, and within a year, seven additional unions from around the nation joined the ranks. By 1904, the formal name of The National Association of Heat, Frost and General Insulators and Asbestos Workers of America was adopted, and the American Federation of Labor issued the official charter designating it as a national union. By 1910, several Canadian unions added their strength to help the AFL recognize the Union as an international association. Minneapolis, Minnesota became a member in 1913, helping the membership grow to over 1,000 members in 17 affiliated unions.
The Heat and Frost Union answered the challenges at a difficult moment for workers in American history, promoting their rights to just treatment in all areas. Since then the Union and Local 34 has met new challenges with the same unfailing commitment to fair wages, benefits, safe working conditions, advocacy, education and outreach.
Just as union members responded with craft and skill to energy innovations over a century ago, so today our members deliver mechanical insulation solutions that target today's radically different energy landscape. Mechanical insulation offers critical solutions for today's most important green initiatives including net zero energy buildings. In older factories and buildings, our mechanical insulation retrofits deliver the energy savings necessary to compete in today's marketplace.
While the chances of finding actual documentation explaining reasons for choosing the salamander as a mascot or logo may not be possible, what is known is that the salamander has the alleged ability to live in fire.
The foundation of the salamander’s fire resistant powers may be based on the fact that a real salamander secretes a milky juice from the pores of its body when it is irritated. This could possibly defend the amphibian for a few moments if put in a fire. Salamanders hibernate and often hide in hollow trees or wood piles in the winter, where they coil themselves up and remain in a torpid state until the spring. For this reason, they would often be found hiding within the firewood, and when the wood was added to the fire the hidden salamander would wake up with only enough time to put forth all of its faculties for its defense. This is more than likely the reason why the salamander got the reputation of being impervious to fire.
The first known reference to the salamander and insulation was when Marco Polo referred to a handkerchief given to him from the Tartans to have been woven from “Salamander wool”, when in fact it was woven from asbestos fibers.
The most widely accepted benefits of insulation are energy savings and the resulting cost of savings that can be realized. Energy is often the most costly component in managing a manufacturing facility and its processes. Thus, reducing energy consumption reduces costs.
When was the last time you heard about mechanical insulation at a safety meeting? Insulation systems can be a vital component in applications related to life safety, such as applications for commercial kitchen ducts, return air plenums, protection of power and communication conduit trays, and other similar appliances.
Insulators Local 34 features a four year state indentured apprenticeship program that combines a rigorous curriculum with extensive on the job training under expert mechanical insulators. After completing the program, apprentices are experienced mechanical insulators who have worked successfully in the most demanding thermal and cooling mechanical insulation applications. Trained by the best in the profession, our mechanical insulators have the skills, problem solving strategies and know how to meet the challenges of the most demanding mechanical insulation applications. In other words, our mechanical insulators don’t just have jobs, they have careers. And they are part of a community of brothers and sisters that maintain the high standards of a demanding and in-demand profession.
The Apprenticeship Program
Apprentices dedicate 172 hours annually to a professional curriculum, studying under 1-2 instructors per year and measuring progress with weekly grading and annual exams. In-depth coursework focuses on four critical areas: the installation process, material layout, job specs, and reading blueprints. Extensive on the job training puts these skills to work in the real world of mechanical insulation.
Apprentices work with expert mechanical insulators throughout all four years, gaining invaluable hands on training and experience. Strategic rotations give apprentices the opportunity to work with many of our best contractors. They learn, practice and perfect the skills for varied installation methods, solutions and environments.
Apprentices are paid for their on the job training, with pay levels increasing every two thousand hours worked. Our apprentices end their training as fully qualified mechanical insulators ready to continue work in multiple thermal and cooling environments.
Interested in Signing Up? Go to http://insulators34.org/apprenticeship for more information
A reduction in energy consumption means less fossil fuel is being burned to produce energy. The result is a reduction in the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere.
Insulation is a technology that can provide unrivaled rates of return on investment (ROI) and improve life-cycle cost. Yet, despite the overwhelming proof, insulation is often not considered from an ROI perspective.
Most processes involve fluid, air, or gas, and are designed to leave point A at one temperature or pressure and arrive at point B at another. The initial design incorporates a series of engineering assumptions.
Do you want to start thinking “green”? Insulation systems – both individually or in combination with other building or equipment design options – can be vital to accomplishing your environmental stewardship objectives.
Study after study has proven that improved indoor air quality increases occupants’ productivity and efficiency. Noise control - whether it is in an office or a plant - can increase productivity.