Class Code 5184
Steam Pipe Or Boiler Insulation
Class Code 5184 covers workers who install, repair, or replace thermal insulation on steam piping, boilers and related high-temperature equipment. The September 1, 2026 approved pure premium rate for California is $2.880 per $100 of payroll. Proper classification matters because the work involves specific thermal, inhalation and fall hazards that impact claims and premiums.
What Class Code 5184 Covers
This classification applies to mechanical insulators performing thermal insulation work on steam lines, boilers, tanks and associated fittings. Typical operations include measuring and cutting insulation materials (fiberglass, mineral wool, calcium silicate, cellular glass, elastomeric foam or blanket insulation), fitting preformed sections, installing metal or foil jacketing, applying mastics and vapor barriers, and removing or replacing existing insulation. Work often occurs in industrial boiler rooms, power plants, refineries, commercial mechanical rooms and on piping runs in confined spaces or elevated scaffolds. Routine maintenance, retrofit insulation work and replacement of non-asbestos materials are included; licensed asbestos abatement work is handled under separate regulations and usually a different classification.
Who It Applies To
- Mechanical insulation contractors who specialize in steam piping and boiler systems
- Industrial insulators in power plants, refineries, and manufacturing facilities
- Commercial HVAC/boiler maintenance technicians who install thermal insulation
- Facility and plant maintenance crews performing boiler or steam-line insulation
- Service contractors performing pipe lagging, jacketing and insulation repair
Common Job Duties
- Measuring, cutting and shaping insulation materials to fit pipes, valves and fittings
- Installing blanket insulation, split sets, preformed sections and boards on steam lines and boilers
- Applying metal or foil jacketing, banding, mastics and vapor barriers to protect insulation
- Removing and replacing deteriorated or wet insulation and preparing surfaces for new lagging
- Working from ladders, scaffolds or aerial lifts to reach piping and boiler surfaces
- Using hand tools, pneumatic tools and abrasive saws; occasional hot work coordination
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $2.880 Rate
The pure premium rate of $2.880 per $100 of payroll reflects the insurer's expected cost of claims for this work class. To estimate pure premium, divide total payroll by 100 and multiply by 2.880 (for example, $100,000 payroll = 1,000 units × $2.880 = $2,880 pure premium). Final premium on a policy will be higher once carrier expense loads, policy fees, experience modification, credits/debits, and any deductible or retrospective adjustments are applied.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA requirements that commonly apply include written respiratory protection programs, airborne contaminant controls and exposure monitoring when insulation dust or silica-containing materials are present. Employers must also follow confined space entry procedures, heat illness prevention measures in hot boiler rooms, and fall protection and scaffold safety rules when working at elevation. If older insulation is suspected to contain asbestos, work must follow Cal/OSHA asbestos abatement rules and be done by appropriately licensed and trained personnel.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 5184
A PEO like Key HR can lower total workers' comp cost for businesses in this class by handling payroll accuracy, ensuring correct classification, managing claims and facilitating early return-to-work plans. Key HR can also provide compliance support—written respiratory and confined-space programs, training on fiber-handling and heat illness prevention—and access to group safety resources, bulk PPE purchasing and experienced loss-control consultants to reduce claim frequency and improve experience modification.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does Class Code 5184 include asbestos removal?
No. Routine installation and replacement of non-asbestos insulation on steam piping and boilers fall under 5184. Asbestos abatement is regulated separately and requires licensed abatement contractors, specific work practices, and is typically coded and insured under different classifications.
How can my company reduce workers' comp premiums for this work?
Preventive measures that reduce claims will lower premiums: formal respiratory protection and dust-control programs, lockout/tagout and hot-work coordination, scaffold and ladder safety, mandatory PPE and training, documented return-to-work policies, and accurate payroll reporting and class assignment. Working with a PEO to centralize claims management and safety resources speeds improvements that affect your experience mod.
What PPE and medical surveillance should be in place for insulation installers?
Typical PPE includes respirators selected via exposure assessment, protective coveralls, gloves resistant to cuts and fibers, eye protection, and heat-protective clothing near hot surfaces. Employers should implement respirator fit-testing, training, and medical surveillance when exposures exceed action levels or when working with silica-containing or suspect-asbestos materials.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 5184
- Classification
- Steam Pipe Or Boiler Insulation
- Pure Premium Rate
- $2.880 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
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