Note 5 - Long-Term Debt and Credit Facility	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]	5. LONG-TERM DEBT AND CREDIT FACILITY Financing Arrangements On August 31, 2011, the Company entered into a new $500.0 million credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) with a syndicate of banks, with Bank of America, N.A. serving as the administrative agent and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. serving as the syndication agent. The Credit Facility consists of a $250.0 million five-year revolving credit line and a $250.0 million five-year term loan facility. Generally, interest will be charged on the principal amounts outstanding under the Credit Facility at the British Bankers Association LIBOR rate plus an applicable rate ranging from 1.50% to 2.50% depending on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio. The Company also can opt for an interest rate equal to a base rate (as defined in the credit documents) plus an applicable rate, which also is based on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio. The applicable average LIBOR borrowing rate (LIBOR plus the Company’s applicable rate) for the quarter ended June 30, 2013 was approximately 2.37%. The Company’s total indebtedness at June 30, 2013 consisted of $206.3 million outstanding from the original $250.0 million term loan under the Credit Facility, $26.0 million on the line of credit under the Credit Facility and $0.2 million of third party notes and bank debt. Additionally, the Company and Wasco Coatings UK Ltd., a subsidiary of Wah Seong Corporation ("Wasco Energy"), loaned Bayou Wasco Insulation, LLC, a joint venture between the Company and Wasco Energy (“Bayou Wasco”), an aggregate of $14.0 million for the purchase of capital assets in 2012 and 2013, of which $6.9 million of such amount (representing funds loaned by Wasco Energy) was designated in the consolidated financial statements as third-party debt. In connection with the formation of Bayou Perma-Pipe Canada, Ltd. (“BPPC”), the Company and Perma-Pipe Canada, Inc. loaned BPPC an aggregate of $8.0 million for the purchase of capital assets and for operating purposes. Additionally, during January 2012, the Company and Perma-Pipe Canada, Inc. agreed to loan BPPC an additional $6.2 million for the purchase of capital assets increasing the total to $14.2 million. As of June 30, 2013, $4.9 million of such total amount (representing funds loaned by Perma-Pipe Canada Inc.) was designated in the consolidated financial statements as third-party debt. As of June 30, 2013, the Company had $18.7 million in letters of credit issued and outstanding under the Credit Facility. Of such amount, $10.4 million was collateral for the benefit of certain of our insurance carriers and $8.3 million was for letters of credit or bank guarantees of performance or payment obligations of foreign subsidiaries. The Company’s total indebtedness at December 31, 2012 consisted of $218.8 million outstanding from the original $250.0 million term loan under the Credit Facility, $26.0 million on the line of credit under the Credit Facility and $0.1 million of third party notes and bank debt. Additionally, the Company and Wasco Energy loaned Bayou Wasco $11.0 million for the purchase of capital assets in 2012, of which $5.5 million of such amount (representing funds loaned by Wasco Energy) was designated in the consolidated financial statements as third-party debt. In connection with the formation of BPPC, the Company and Perma-Pipe Canada, Inc. loaned BPPC an aggregate of $8.0 million for the purchase of capital assets and for operating purposes. Additionally, during January 2012, the Company and Perma-Pipe Canada, Inc. agreed to loan BPPC an additional $6.2 million for the purchase of capital assets increasing the total to $14.2 million. As of December 31, 2012, $4.1 million of the additional $6.2 million had been funded. As of December 31, 2012, $5.2 million of such total amount (representing funds loaned by Perma-Pipe Canada Inc.) was designated in the consolidated financial statements as third-party debt. At June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the estimated fair value of the Company’s long-term debt was approximately $252.4 million and $253.6 million, respectively. Fair value was estimated using market rates for debt of similar risk and maturity and a discounted cash flow model, which are based on Level 3 inputs as defined in Note 10 of this report. In November 2011, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement, for a notional amount of $83.0 million, which is set to expire in November 2014. The swap notional amount mirrors the amortization of $83.0 million of the Company’s original $250.0 million term loan from the Credit Facility. The swap requires the Company to make a monthly fixed rate payment of 0.89% calculated on the amortizing $83.0 million notional amount, and provides for the Company to receive a payment based upon a variable monthly LIBOR interest rate calculated on the amortizing $83.0 million notional amount. The receipt of the monthly LIBOR-based payment offsets a variable monthly LIBOR-based interest cost on a corresponding $83.0 million portion of the Company’s term loan from the Credit Facility. This interest rate swap is used to hedge the interest rate risk associated with the volatility of monthly LIBOR rate movement, and is accounted for as a cash flow hedge. At June 30, 2013, the Company was in compliance with all of its debt and financial covenants as required under the Credit Facility. For information regarding the Company’s new credit facility, effective July 1, 2013, refer to Note 11 “Subsequent Events” of this report.

Note 5 - Long-Term Debt and Credit Facility

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

5. LONG-TERM DEBT AND CREDIT FACILITY

Financing Arrangements

On August 31, 2011, the Company entered into a new $500.0 million credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) with a syndicate of banks, with Bank of America, N.A. serving as the administrative agent and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. serving as the syndication agent. The Credit Facility consists of a $250.0 million five-year revolving credit line and a $250.0 million five-year term loan facility. Generally, interest will be charged on the principal amounts outstanding under the Credit Facility at the British Bankers Association LIBOR rate plus an applicable rate ranging from 1.50% to 2.50% depending on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio. The Company also can opt for an interest rate equal to a base rate (as defined in the credit documents) plus an applicable rate, which also is based on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio. The applicable average LIBOR borrowing rate (LIBOR plus the Company’s applicable rate) for the quarter ended June 30, 2013 was approximately 2.37%.

The Company’s total indebtedness at June 30, 2013 consisted of $206.3 million outstanding from the original $250.0 million term loan under the Credit Facility, $26.0 million on the line of credit under the Credit Facility and $0.2 million of third party notes and bank debt. Additionally, the Company and Wasco Coatings UK Ltd., a subsidiary of Wah Seong Corporation ("Wasco Energy"), loaned Bayou Wasco Insulation, LLC, a joint venture between the Company and Wasco Energy (“Bayou Wasco”), an aggregate of $14.0 million for the purchase of capital assets in 2012 and 2013, of which $6.9 million of such amount (representing funds loaned by Wasco Energy) was designated in the consolidated financial statements as third-party debt. In connection with the formation of Bayou Perma-Pipe Canada, Ltd. (“BPPC”), the Company and Perma-Pipe Canada, Inc. loaned BPPC an aggregate of $8.0 million for the purchase of capital assets and for operating purposes. Additionally, during January 2012, the Company and Perma-Pipe Canada, Inc. agreed to loan BPPC an additional $6.2 million for the purchase of capital assets increasing the total to $14.2 million. As of June 30, 2013, $4.9 million of such total amount (representing funds loaned by Perma-Pipe Canada Inc.) was designated in the consolidated financial statements as third-party debt.

As of June 30, 2013, the Company had $18.7 million in letters of credit issued and outstanding under the Credit Facility. Of such amount, $10.4 million was collateral for the benefit of certain of our insurance carriers and $8.3 million was for letters of credit or bank guarantees of performance or payment obligations of foreign subsidiaries.

The Company’s total indebtedness at December 31, 2012 consisted of $218.8 million outstanding from the original $250.0 million term loan under the Credit Facility, $26.0 million on the line of credit under the Credit Facility and $0.1 million of third party notes and bank debt. Additionally, the Company and Wasco Energy loaned Bayou Wasco $11.0 million for the purchase of capital assets in 2012, of which $5.5 million of such amount (representing funds loaned by Wasco Energy) was designated in the consolidated financial statements as third-party debt. In connection with the formation of BPPC, the Company and Perma-Pipe Canada, Inc. loaned BPPC an aggregate of $8.0 million for the purchase of capital assets and for operating purposes. Additionally, during January 2012, the Company and Perma-Pipe Canada, Inc. agreed to loan BPPC an additional $6.2 million for the purchase of capital assets increasing the total to $14.2 million. As of December 31, 2012, $4.1 million of the additional $6.2 million had been funded. As of December 31, 2012, $5.2 million of such total amount (representing funds loaned by Perma-Pipe Canada Inc.) was designated in the consolidated financial statements as third-party debt.

At June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the estimated fair value of the Company’s long-term debt was approximately $252.4 million and $253.6 million, respectively. Fair value was estimated using market rates for debt of similar risk and maturity and a discounted cash flow model, which are based on Level 3 inputs as defined in Note 10 of this report.

In November 2011, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement, for a notional amount of $83.0 million, which is set to expire in November 2014. The swap notional amount mirrors the amortization of $83.0 million of the Company’s original $250.0 million term loan from the Credit Facility. The swap requires the Company to make a monthly fixed rate payment of 0.89% calculated on the amortizing $83.0 million notional amount, and provides for the Company to receive a payment based upon a variable monthly LIBOR interest rate calculated on the amortizing $83.0 million notional amount. The receipt of the monthly LIBOR-based payment offsets a variable monthly LIBOR-based interest cost on a corresponding $83.0 million portion of the Company’s term loan from the Credit Facility. This interest rate swap is used to hedge the interest rate risk associated with the volatility of monthly LIBOR rate movement, and is accounted for as a cash flow hedge.

At June 30, 2013, the Company was in compliance with all of its debt and financial covenants as required under the Credit Facility.

For information regarding the Company’s new credit facility, effective July 1, 2013, refer to Note 11 “Subsequent Events” of this report.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for information about short-term and long-term debt arrangements, which includes amounts of borrowings under each line of credit, note payable, commercial paper issue, bonds indenture, debenture issue, own-share lending arrangements and any other contractual agreement to repay funds, and about the underlying arrangements, rationale for a classification as long-term, including repayment terms, interest rates, collateral provided, restrictions on use of assets and activities, whether or not in compliance with debt covenants, and other matters important to users of the financial statements, such as the effects of refinancing and noncompliance with debt covenants.

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