ABS Pipe
Black plastic drain, waste and vent pipe, taken off in linear feet by diameter.
Quick Answer
ABS pipe is black thermoplastic pipe made from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and used mainly for drain, waste and vent (DWV) lines in buildings. Estimators take it off in linear feet by diameter, with fittings counted separately in each. Some jurisdictions restrict it, so the local plumbing code decides whether it can be priced.
The Full Picture
ABS stands for acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, a rigid thermoplastic. On a plumbing sheet or in a spec section, "ABS" almost always means this pipe and its matching fittings. It is used for gravity drain, waste and vent lines, not for pressurized water supply. It is black, light, cut with a saw, and joined with solvent cement, which is why it is popular for residential and light commercial drain systems. ASTM D2661 is the common product standard referred to for ABS DWV pipe and fittings.
ABS is allowed in many places and restricted in others. Model plumbing codes list approved DWV materials, such as the International Plumbing Code and the Uniform Plumbing Code, but states, cities and counties adopt those codes with their own amendments, and some limit or prohibit ABS in particular building types or locations. The estimator should confirm the approved material with the plumbing spec and the local authority before pricing ABS. The same spec may require PVC, cast iron or another material in a rated shaft, a plenum, or a tall stack.
On the drawings, ABS shows as drain and vent lines on the plumbing plan, as a riser diagram, and as notes such as "4\" ABS DWV" in the pipe legend or general notes. Sizes are called out by nominal diameter, and the building DWV range is commonly 1-1/2 in through 4 in, with larger sizes available. The material is often given once in a general note rather than on every run, so an estimator needs to read the notes and the specification to know what each line is made from. Underground drains often use a different material from the one above the slab.
The takeoff unit is the linear foot by diameter, measured along the pipe centerline and carried separately for horizontal runs, vertical stacks, vents and below-slab piping. Fittings are counted as each by type and size and priced separately, and so are hangers, cleanouts, solvent cement and testing. Waste is usually added as an assumed percentage for cut ends, which varies by job. Because pipe is sold in set stick lengths, round up to whole lengths when a run is bought rather than priced from raw footage. A common mistake is to join ABS to PVC without checking the spec for transition cement, or to price one material for the whole system when the spec changes it at the slab or at a fire-rated assembly.
Real Examples
Common Misconceptions
People assume: ABS and PVC are interchangeable, so one price covers both.
Actually: They are different plastics with different cement and different code status. Pipe, fittings and solvent cement differ, and joining one to the other normally calls for a transition cement. A spec often names one for above-slab and the other, or a different material altogether, below grade.
People assume: If ABS is on the plan, every jurisdiction allows it.
Actually: A drawing note is a design intent. Local amendments to the adopted plumbing code can restrict ABS, so the approved materials list in the spec and the code in force control what gets priced.
People assume: ABS can carry the domestic water supply.
Actually: ABS DWV pipe is for gravity drain, waste and vent lines. Supply piping uses other materials, such as copper, PEX or CPVC, and is taken off separately under plumbing piping.
Does MeltPlan Solve This?
Partially — adjacentThe linear feet of drain and vent pipe by diameter are measured from the plans, and MeltPlan's takeoff service covers that measuring work: AI pulls quantities from plans and US-based experienced estimators review and adjust them. Picking the approved pipe material for the jurisdiction and pricing it stays with your estimating team.
Get drain and vent pipe lengths measured from your plans →Frequently Asked Questions
What does ABS pipe stand for?
ABS stands for acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. It is a rigid plastic used to make black drain, waste and vent pipe and fittings for buildings.
What is ABS pipe used for?
It is used for gravity drain, waste and vent lines inside and under buildings, mostly residential and light commercial work. It is not used for pressurized water supply, and the approved DWV materials still depend on the local code.
How is ABS pipe measured for takeoff?
In linear feet by nominal diameter, along the centerline of each run, with horizontal, vertical, vent and below-slab piping tracked separately. Fittings are counted each by size and type, and waste or stick-length rounding is applied when the pipe is bought.
Can ABS be used in every jurisdiction?
No. Model codes list ABS among approved DWV materials, but local amendments can restrict it, so check the spec and the authority having jurisdiction before pricing.
What is the difference between ABS and PVC pipe?
They are different plastics. ABS is black and usually sold for DWV. PVC is commonly white or gray and is used for DWV, pressure and conduit applications. The cements are different, and a transition cement is normally used to join them.