We investigated the thermal and electrical properties of the $B_2O_3-ZnO-Bi_2O_3$ glass system as a sealing material in sheath heater modules. A composition with over 90 wt% $Bi_2O_3$ in the $B_2O_3-ZnO-Bi_2O_3$ system was glassified by controlling the cooling rate. The glass transition temperature and thermal expansion coefficient in bismate glass could be controlled by the minor ingredients of ZnO, $SiO_2$, $BaO_2$, and $K_2O$. The $B_2O_3-ZnO-Bi_2O_3$ glass system bonded well to metal, and bismate glass insulating properties were comparable to those of bismate glass $B_2O_3-ZnO-PbO$ glass system in a sheath heater module.