Gas pipelines can now use a new type of plastic pipe

US pipeline safety regulators have updated their rules to allow a new type of plastic pipe for gas distribution. This means gas companies can now use pipes made from Polyamide-12, a material designed for electrofusion, which could make installations faster and more reliable.

For decades, pipeline construction has relied on a limited set of approved materials and joining methods. This update means a new material and a specific joining technique are now officially recognized as safe. It opens the door for gas companies to use a different, potentially more efficient, type of pipe for local gas lines.