Pipeline operators get new standards for plastic pipes, cutting compliance costs

The US pipeline safety agency just updated its rules to include a newer industry standard for plastic pipes. This means pipeline operators can now use the latest engineering data for these materials, which should make it easier and cheaper to comply with safety regulations.

For years, pipeline operators had to use older, sometimes outdated, standards when designing and building plastic pipelines. This often meant extra work to prove newer materials met safety requirements. Now, they can directly use the most current industry data, which streamlines the approval process and reduces engineering costs. This change makes it easier to deploy modern plastic piping in new infrastructure projects.