Plastics Pipe Institute

What Plastics Pipe Institute does

Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI) is a non-profit trade association founded in 1950 and headquartered at 105 Decker Court, Suite 825, Irving, Texas. It represents all segments of the North American plastics piping industry — pipe manufacturers, resin manufacturers, machinery suppliers, and distributors — with a member base of over 100 companies. PPI is organized into five divisions covering Building & Construction, Drainage, Energy Piping Systems, Municipal & Industrial, and Power & Communications, and operates two sub-brands: the Hydrostatic Stress Board (HSB) and the Municipal Advisory Board (MAB).

PPI's core products are technical publications and engineering calculators rather than physical pipe. Flagship offerings include the Handbook of Polyethylene Pipe (Second Edition, $139), the 21st Century Drainage Solutions handbook ($75), and the PEX Plumbing Design and Installation Guide (3rd Edition, $42.99). It also publishes the MAB technical guideline series (MAB-1 through MAB-11) covering electrofusion, pipe bursting, seismic design, and HDD installation, plus an open library of free software calculators (BoreAid, PACE, Plastic Pipe Design Calculator, HDPEapp, mini-HDD, Gas Pipeline, and Gas Distribution Leak Test calculators). The Hydrostatic Stress Board provides HDB, PDB, and MRS ratings for thermoplastic materials under ASTM D2837 and ISO 9080, and PPI runs third-party certification programs for HDPE virgin resin and corrugated pipe against AASHTO M294.

Revenue is generated through membership dues from industry participants, one-time sales of technical publications ($42.99 to $1,000 for Component ID Access), and licensing/certification program fees. Distribution combines an own-storefront e-commerce channel, a member-only portal, a free self-serve eLearn platform, and a Find a Manufacturer directory. PPI's GTM motion is advocacy- and education-led, targeting engineers, contractors, public agencies, municipalities, and government bodies through technical publications, training, and standards engagement with PHMSA, EPA, ASTM, AASHTO, USDOT, and DOE.

Name

Plastics Pipe Institute

Legal name

Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc.

Website

https://plasticpipe.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) is a 75-year-old non-profit trade association representing 100+ North American plastics pipe manufacturers, resin suppliers, and distributors through technical publications, engineering calculators, certification programs, and advocacy across five pipe-system divisions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Plastics Piping Industry Trade Association

NAICS

Plastics Pipe, Pipe Fitting, and Unlaminated Profile Shape Manufacturing (32612)

akta.pro primary industry

Plumbing & Building Drain/Waste/Vent (DWV) Pipe & Fittings (IMANADAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Industrial Process & Chemical-Resistant Pipe Systems (CPVC/PVDF/PP) (IMANADAF)

Keywords

• Plastic pipe association
• Polyethylene pipe standards
• Piping design calculators
• Plumbing technical resources
• Pipe certification programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Irving

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: PPI operates as a trade association funded by member companies from all segments of the plastics piping industry including pipe manufacturers, resin manufacturers, machinery suppliers, and other industry participants.
2. Publications Sales: Sale of technical handbooks, design guides, and manuals including Handbook of Polyethylene Pipe ($139), PEX Design Guide ($42.99), Drainage Handbook ($75), and MAB documents ($1,000 for Component ID Access).
3. Certification Programs: Third-party certification programs for pipe and resin manufacturers verifying compliance with industry standards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) is a North American trade association representing plastics piping manufacturers. It develops industry standards, technical publications, design calculator software, certification programs, and educational resources across five divisions covering building and construction, drainage, energy piping systems, municipal and industrial, and power and communications applications.

Product overview

Plastics Pipe Institute operates as a trade association providing technical publications, software calculators, educational resources, and certification programs for the plastics piping industry. The core offerings include the Handbook of Polyethylene Pipe, PEX Plumbing Design and Installation Guide, and 21st Century Drainage Solutions handbook. PPI provides multiple software design calculators (BoreAid, PACE, Plastic Pipe Design Calculator, HDPEapp, Conduit mini-HDD, Gas Pipeline, and Leak Test calculators). The association is organized into five divisions: Building & Construction, Drainage, Energy Piping Systems, Municipal & Industrial, and Power & Communications. Additional offerings include MAB technical publications, technical reports (TR-series), technical notes (TN-series), model specifications, training videos, webinars, and the PPI eLearn online learning platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Municipal Advisory Board (MAB): Technical guidance documents for HDPE pipe installation and inspection, including MAB-1 through MAB-11 publications.
• Hydrostatic Stress Board (HSB)

Products and services

• Handbook of Polyethylene Pipe
• PEX Design Guide
• Drainage Handbook
• BoreAid Software
• PACE (Pressure Application Calculator for Energy)
• HDPEapp Calculator
• PPI eLearn Platform
• MAB (Municipal Advisory Board) Technical Publications

Quantifiable outcome

• North American polyethylene pipe shipments reached 1.4 billion pounds in 1999, representing 18.8% year-over-year growth
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Home Innovation Research Labs (HIRL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Collaborated in the development of the PEX Design Guide 3rd Edition through a consensus process involving PPI, PPFA, and PEX system manufacturers. HIRL prepared the document providing comprehensive design concepts and installation guidelines for crosslinked polyethylene plumbing distribution systems.
• Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association (PPFA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Partnered with PPI in developing the PEX Design Guide 3rd Edition through a consensus process involving multiple PEX system manufacturers. PPFA represents plastics pipe and fittings manufacturers in the development of industry standards and guidelines.
• International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2022Signed Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the geothermal industry through collaboration. The partnership aims to advance geothermal heating and cooling solutions utilizing plastic piping systems.
• American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2020Signed MOU to collaborate on building and construction code programs. Partnership focuses on education and technical content development for plumbing engineers and professionals.
• U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 December 2018USDOT approved and expanded use of plastic pipe for natural gas systems. PPI worked with regulators to demonstrate the safety and performance of plastic piping in transportation infrastructure applications.
• Plastic Waste AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2018Collaborative initiative to address plastic waste challenges while benefiting infrastructure development. PPI contributes expertise on plastic piping sustainability and recyclability.
• ASTM InternationalcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2018Active collaboration on standards development through PPI's Technical Committee and participation in ASTM F17 committee. PPI Technical Director Dr. Gene Palermo serves as Chairman of ISO TC 138 subcommittee representing the US at international pipe meetings.
• AASHTOcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 April 2018Collaboration on development of AASHTO standards for HDPE pipe including M252, M294, and M330 specifications. PPI's Hydrostatic Stress Board and certification programs align with AASHTO requirements.
• U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2018PPI sponsors the DOE Solar Decathlon Design Challenge, supporting sustainable building design competitions. Partnership advances PPI's role in promoting plastic piping for renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure applications.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Water Works Association (AWWA): AWWA is the largest non-profit water-sector association, covering the full drinking water industry including treatment, distribution, and utility management. PPI's Municipal & Industrial Division overlaps materially with AWWA's standards and advocacy scope.
• North American Pipe Corporation: North American Pipe is a major PVC and HDPE pipe manufacturer serving plumbing, irrigation, and industrial markets. As a member of PPI's value chain, it shares PPI's interest in expanding plastic pipe specifications against competing materials.
• JM Eagle: JM Eagle is one of the largest PVC pipe manufacturers in North America, producing plumbing, irrigation, and pressure pipe. Its scale and PVC portfolio make it a key beneficiary of PPI's advocacy for plastic pipe acceptance in code and standard settings.
• Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS): ADS is the largest North American manufacturer of corrugated HDPE pipe for drainage and is a likely PPI member. As a publicly traded leader in plastic drainage pipe, ADS is a flagship of the category PPI promotes and a key downstream beneficiary of PPI's advocacy.

Others

• Vinyl Institute: The Vinyl Institute is the U.S. trade association for the PVC industry, providing advocacy, sustainability research, and technical resources. Its PVC resin focus overlaps with PPI's PVC pipe member interests and shares a similar advocacy structure.
• American Concrete Pipe Association: ACPA is the trade association for the concrete pipe industry and a direct competing-material counterpart to PPI. It engages in similar advocacy, standards development (AASHTO, ASTM), and education to defend concrete pipe specifications against plastic substitution.
• ASTM International: ASTM is the international standards organization through which PPI's technical committees (notably F17 on plastic piping) develop and maintain material and product standards. PPI's integration with ASTM makes it a peer ecosystem participant rather than a competitor.
• Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association (DIPRA): DIPRA represents the ductile iron pipe industry and conducts research, advocacy, and education. It competes with PPI's municipal water and gas distribution members by promoting iron pipe as a long-service-life alternative to HDPE.

Direct peers

• Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association: Uni-Bell is the North American trade association for the PVC pipe industry, providing technical resources, standards advocacy, and education. It is structurally identical to PPI but focused on PVC rather than the broader HDPE/PEX/PP portfolio PPI champions.
• Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association (PPFA): PPFA is a U.S. trade association representing manufacturers of plastics pipe, fittings, and valves. PPI explicitly partners with PPFA on the PEX Design Guide 3rd Edition, making it a closely aligned peer with overlapping membership and shared standards-development mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plastics-pipe-institute
• Xx.com/ppiplasticspipe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Plastics Pipe Institute