The American Polyurea West Coast Chapter convened its June 2026 meeting in San Jose, California on June 5th, with 28 members in attendance representing California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii. The meeting’s technical focus on seismic retrofit applications generated significant discussion and is expected to expand into a multi-part webinar series later this year.
Seismic Retrofit Applications: Emerging Opportunities for Polyurea Applicators
Structural engineer and American Polyurea associate member Dr. Wei Chen (Chen Structural Consulting, San Jose, CA) presented on the use of polyurea as a structural enhancement material in seismic retrofit applications. His presentation covered research from University of California studies demonstrating that polyurea-coated masonry and concrete structures show significantly improved performance under seismic loading — resisting fragmentation and maintaining structural integrity that uncoated structures lose catastrophically.
“California has hundreds of thousands of unreinforced masonry buildings that still need seismic upgrades,” Dr. Chen explained. “Polyurea offers a cost-effective solution compared to traditional steel bracing systems, especially for occupied buildings where minimizing disruption is critical.” He cited recent projects in the Bay Area where polyurea coatings were applied to interior and exterior masonry walls as part of a comprehensive seismic upgrade program.
Building Code Navigation for Structural Applications
Chapter member and licensed contractor Carlos Mendez (Pacific Coast Coatings, Los Angeles, CA) followed with a practical presentation on navigating the California building code and permit process for structural polyurea applications. He noted that this is an area where experienced polyurea applicators have an advantage because the technology is relatively new in structural applications, and most building departments require significant technical documentation.
“We’ve found that working directly with the structural engineer of record and providing the test data from qualified third-party labs makes the permitting process manageable,” Mendez said. “The first time through any jurisdiction is the hardest — after that, you’ve built a track record that makes subsequent projects much smoother.”
Member Project Spotlight
Chapter member Amy Tanaka (Pacific Northwest Coatings, Portland, OR) presented a case study on a completed polyurea waterproofing and seismic enhancement project at a historic warehouse conversion in Portland. The project involved 18,000 square feet of exterior masonry coating to achieve both waterproofing and supplementary seismic performance, while preserving the historic character of the building.
The project was recognized with a West Coast Chapter Excellence Award at the meeting. Learn more about award-winning projects in the polyurea industry on our Polyurea Excellence Awards page.
Upcoming West Coast Chapter Events
The July meeting will be held virtually on July 24, 2026, focusing on California wildfire rebuild applications. Register through the Events & Webinars page. The chapter is also planning a field demonstration day in Sacramento in August. Visit our Community page for updates and to connect with West Coast chapter members.
1 thought on “West Coast Chapter June 2026 Meeting Recap: Polyurea for Seismic Retrofits”
The seismic retrofit opportunity is real. We’ve been in conversations with three San Jose building owners over the past year about polyurea-based seismic upgrades. The cost comparison to conventional steel moment frame systems is favorable in many situations, especially for buildings that need to remain occupied during construction.