More than 40 members of the American Polyurea Southwest Chapter gathered in Phoenix, Arizona for the May 2026 chapter meeting — a record for the region. With summer temperatures already reaching 110°F+ across much of the Southwest, the timing couldn’t have been better for a focused discussion on heat management strategies for polyurea applications.
Featured Presentation: Working in Extreme Heat
Chapter Vice-Chair Rosa Delgado (Sonoran Coatings, Tucson, AZ) opened the technical portion of the meeting with a data-driven presentation on how extreme ambient and substrate temperatures affect polyurea application quality. “By 10 AM in June, a dark concrete surface here in Phoenix can exceed 140°F,” she noted. “That’s going to cure your material so fast it barely has time to flow and bond properly.”
Her presentation covered three primary strategies: scheduling applications for early morning hours before substrate temperatures climb, using slower-reacting aromatic systems when conditions require longer work times, and pre-cooling substrate surfaces with ice water or evaporative cooling. She presented case study data from a large tank farm lining project completed in June 2025 where early morning start times (4:30 AM) were combined with temporary shade structures to maintain substrate temperatures below 95°F throughout the project.
Safety in Extreme Heat Conditions
Chapter member and certified safety professional Daniel Ortega (Southwest Industrial Safety) led a 30-minute module on heat illness prevention for spray crews working in extreme conditions. He outlined the OSHA Heat Illness Prevention Campaign requirements, covered early warning signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and recommended work/rest cycles for crews in full PPE during summer months.
“When you’re in a full Tyvek suit, respirator, and face shield on a 115-degree day, core body temperature rises much faster than normal,” Ortega explained. “We recommend mandatory 10-minute shade breaks every 45 minutes with mandatory hydration, and we pre-cool our crew vehicles to provide immediate cooling when symptoms appear.”
Chapter Spotlight: New Member Q&A
Eight new members attended the May meeting, and the chapter dedicated time to answering their questions in an open forum format. Topics covered included equipment rental vs. purchase for startup applicators, navigating building permit requirements for polyurea-coated structures in Arizona, and recommended training pathways. Learn more about training options through American Polyurea’s Education programs.
Upcoming Southwest Chapter Events
The next Southwest Chapter meeting is scheduled for July 17, 2026 in Las Vegas, NV. The focus will be on casino and hospitality sector applications — a growing market in the region. Members interested in attending should register through the Events, Meetings & Webinars page.
Southwest Chapter membership is open to polyurea professionals in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Southern California. Visit Join American Polyurea to become a member and access the full chapter network across the country through our State Chapters & Regional Network.
1 thought on “Southwest Chapter May 2026 Recap: Heat Management Strategies for Summer Applications”
Rosa’s presentation on substrate temperature at this meeting was excellent. The data she showed from the June 2025 tank farm project was compelling — the before/after DFT readings and adhesion test results during the early morning window vs. afternoon applications on the same project were dramatically different. Worth showing to any client who questions early morning start times.