Dr. Palermo has been in the plastic piping industry for 27 years. He worked for the Dupont Company from 1976 to 1995 in the Aldyl “A” polyethylene (PE) pipe business for natural gas distribution. Dr. Palermo developed the initial use of polyamide (PA) 11 for high-pressure gas distribution, up to 300 psig, to replace metal pipe while with Elf AtoChem during 1995 and 1996.

Dr. Palermo was the Technical Director for the Plastics Pipe Insti-

tute (PPI) from 1996 until 2003. As Technical Director, Dr. Palermo was chairman of the Hydrostatic Stress Board (HSB) on which he has served for 20 years to develop pressure rating methods for plastic pipe; and chairman of the Technical Advisory Group for ISO/TC 138 for international plastic piping systems. Dr. Palermo has developed standards for plastic pipe and fittings in several standards bodies; ASTM F17, CSA, AASHTO, and ISO/TC 138.

Most of Dr. Palermo’s expertise has been in the natural gas distribution industry. He has been a member of the AGA Plastic Materials Committee for 20 years, the Gas Pipe Technology Committee for seven years, an instructor for the DOT inspector training school for 15 years, and a member of the Plastic Pipe Database Committee since its inception four years ago. Dr. Palermo also developed PPI’s one day Technical Seminar for the gas distribution industry.

Dr. Palermo currently serves as a member of PPI, HSB, AGA, GPTC, ASTM F 17 and D 20, and ISO/TC 138.