Note 7 - Goodwill (Details Textual)	Dec. 31, 2016
Perma-Pipe Canada, Ltd [Member]
Business Combination, Step Acquisition, Equity Interest in Acquiree, Including Subsequent Acquisition, Percentage	50.00%

Percentage of voting equity interests acquired in a business combination achieved in stages, including equity interests in the acquiree held by the acquirer immediately before the acquisition date and acquired at the acquisition date.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479328/805-10-50-3

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (g)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479328/805-10-50-2

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 25
-Paragraph 9
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479405/805-10-25-9

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant