The Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute (CISPI)

Name

The Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute (CISPI)

Legal name

Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute

Website

https://cispi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Plumbing Industry Standards & Trade Association

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Construction & Trades Licensure (Contractor, Electrician, Plumber, HVAC CE) (EDAAALAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Electrical Testing & Certification (Protection Relays, Switchgear, Transformers) (EUAEAHAG)

Keywords

• Cast iron soil pipe
• DWV plumbing standards
• Pipe fittings specifications
• Plumbing code compliance
• Drain waste vent systems

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Trade Association Membership Dues: CISPI is organized by leading American manufacturers of cast iron soil pipe and fittings. The Institute is funded through membership dues from domestic manufacturers who use the CISPI Mark of Quality on their products.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CISPI is a not-for-profit trade association that develops and maintains industry standards (CISPI 301, CISPI 310) and quality verification programs for American-made cast iron soil pipe and fittings used in drain, waste, and vent (DWV) applications. It provides third-party quality control certification, the CISPI Mark of Quality, green verification for recycled content, technical resources such as the CISPI Handbook, and accredited continuing education programs for engineers, contractors, code officials, and facility managers.

Product overview

CISPI is a not-for-profit trade association representing American manufacturers of cast iron soil pipe and fittings. Rather than offering a unified software platform, CISPI provides a portfolio of technical standards, specifications, and educational resources for the DWV (drain, waste, and vent) plumbing industry. The core offerings include CISPI 301 (hubless pipe specification), CISPI 310 (coupling specification), the Cast Iron Soil Pipe & Fittings Handbook, a Quality Control Program for third-party certification, and Green Verification for sustainability claims. Additionally, CISPI offers Value Engineering tools, soils testing procedures, and recommended specification language for engineers. The association also provides continuing education accredited by ICC, ASHE, and ASPE.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CI NO-HUB: Trademark for hubless cast iron soil pipe and fittings, one of the collective marks used by CISPI member companies to certify product compliance with standards.

Products and services

• CISPI 301 Standard Specification Standard specification for hubless cast iron soil pipe and fittings used in sanitary and storm drain, waste, and vent (DWV) piping applications. NSF certified for compliance. Used by member manufacturers, engineers, and code officials to specify and verify compliant cast iron products.
• CISPI 310 Coupling Specification Coupling specification for use in connection with hubless cast iron soil pipe and fittings for sanitary and storm drain, waste, and vent piping applications. NSF certified for compliance. Referenced by engineers and contractors when specifying hubless joint systems.
• CISPI Cast Iron Soil Pipe and Fittings Handbook Comprehensive technical handbook featuring the latest specs, installation guides, manufacturing details, and layouts for cast iron soil pipe and fittings. Available as a downloadable PDF. Used by engineers, contractors, and code officials for design, installation, and inspection reference.
• Quality Control Program (Third-Party Certification) Third-party certification program ensuring cast iron soil pipe and fittings meet CISPI 301 and ASTM A74 standards through unannounced inspections conducted three times annually. NSF International approved; provides the CISPI Mark of Quality for compliant member products. Used by member manufacturers to demonstrate verified compliance.
• ICC-ES SAVE Green Verification Third-party green verification program confirming cast iron products contain minimum 96% post-consumer recycled content. Conducted by ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) per ICC-ES SAVE Guideline EG101. Issues Verification of Attributes Reports for member foundries to support ESG and green building reporting.
• Accredited Continuing Education Program Continuing education programs accredited by ICC, ASHE, and ASPE for plumbing engineers, contractors, code officials, and healthcare engineering professionals. Delivered via in-person lunch-and-learns, technical forums, chapter meetings, and virtual training. Used by professionals to obtain CEUs and learn about cast iron DWV specification and installation.
• Model Codes Reference Program Reference guide to model plumbing codes including IAPMO Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), IAPMO National Standard Plumbing Code (NSPC), and ICC International Plumbing Code (IPC). CISPI standards are incorporated into these model codes. Used by code officials, engineers, and contractors to understand model code references for cast iron products.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cast iron thermal expansion less than 1 inch per 100°F change vs PVC at 3.6 inches
• +6 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• NSF InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSF International validates compliance of CISPI member products with CISPI 301 and ASTM A74 standards. NSF also certifies that CISPI's member-company cast iron soil pipe and fitting products are compliant with these standards. CISPI's Quality Control Program was approved by NSF International.
• ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICC-ES conducts third-party green verification for CISPI member products in accordance with ICC-ES SAVE Program guidelines. Verifies products contain minimum 96% recycled content using ASTM A74 and CISPI 301 standards. Issues Verification of Attributes Reports for member foundries including AB&I, Charlotte, and Tyler.
• International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAPMO develops the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) used in Western United States and the National Standard Plumbing Code (NSPC) used in Maryland, New Jersey, and some cities. CISPI products are listed with IAPMO and standards are incorporated into model codes.
• International Code Council (ICC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICC develops the International Plumbing Code (IPC) used broadly across the U.S. and International Mechanical Code (IMC). CISPI is an accredited education provider for ICC. Products are certified to standards referenced in ICC codes.
• American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASPE is an accredited continuing education provider for CISPI. ASPE-approved CEUs are available for engineers and contractors seeking training on specifying or installing cast iron soil pipe.
• American Society of Healthcare Engineering (ASHE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASHE is an accredited education provider for CISPI. CISPI representatives speak at ASHE Annual Conference and provide continuing education for healthcare engineering professionals.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Others

• ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES): ICC-ES conducts third-party verification of CISPI member products' recycled content under the SAVE Program. As a building-product evaluation body, it shares methodological overlap with CISPI's certification activities but serves a different role.
• NSF International: NSF International is the third-party testing and certification body that approves CISPI's Quality Control Program and certifies member products against CISPI 301 and ASTM A74. It is an enabling partner rather than a competitor, but its standards-based certification model is comparable.

Direct peers

• American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE): ASPE is a professional association for plumbing engineers that delivers accredited continuing education and technical resources on DWV system design — overlapping directly with CISPI's engineer-targeted CE and specification support.
• Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC): PHCC is a national trade association for plumbing contractors that delivers training, advocacy, and codes engagement — directly overlapping with CISPI's contractor-segment focus and continuing-education delivery.
• International Code Council (ICC): ICC develops the International Plumbing Code and International Mechanical Code, which directly reference CISPI standards. As a model code organization serving code officials and inspectors, ICC is a core standards-setting peer.
• American Water Works Association (AWWA): AWWA develops standards and educational resources for water utility infrastructure, including pipe and fittings. As a US-based standards and education association for water-related infrastructure, it is comparable in form and mission to CISPI.
• International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO): IAPMO develops the Uniform Plumbing Code and National Standard Plumbing Code used across large portions of the US. As a plumbing-focused standards and code body serving engineers, inspectors, and manufacturers, it is the most direct structural peer to CISPI.

Broad incumbents

• ASHRAE: ASHRAE sets standards and provides education for HVAC, refrigeration, and building mechanical systems. While focused on a different mechanical discipline, its standards-body-plus-CE model and code-engagement role mirror CISPI's structure.
• ASTM International: ASTM International develops and maintains voluntary consensus standards (including ASTM A74 and A888 referenced by CISPI). It is a broader standards body that touches many industries beyond plumbing, making it a broad incumbent rather than a direct competitor.
• ASME: ASME is a broad engineering standards and professional development organization with a similar member-funded, standards-plus-education model. It operates across many industries rather than specializing in plumbing DWV.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cast-iron-soil-pipe-institute

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 The Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute (CISPI)