The American Polyurea Southeast Chapter held its monthly virtual meeting on June 10th, drawing 61 registered attendees from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi. Chapter Chair Priya Mehta opened the session with a membership update: the Southeast Chapter has grown to 214 members and added 28 new members in the first half of 2026 alone.
Key Discussion: Coastal Corrosion Protection in a Changing Climate
The main presentation was delivered by structural engineer Alan Forsythe of Coastal Engineering Associates in Jacksonville, FL. Forsythe presented data from a five-year study on the accelerating corrosion rates affecting steel infrastructure in coastal Florida, citing increased storm intensity, higher average humidity, and salt spray penetration as compounding factors. “The window between blast cleaning and coating application on coastal steel is shrinking,” Forsythe noted. “We’re now recommending polyurea in many cases over zinc-rich primers specifically because of its superior moisture tolerance during application.”
The presentation sparked a lively Q&A session, with members sharing field experiences from projects in Miami, Tampa, Savannah, and the Outer Banks. Chapter member Devon Hall from Coastal Shield Coatings (Pensacola, FL) shared before-and-after data from a barrier island municipal water storage tank project where a polyurea liner applied two years ago shows zero signs of degradation despite three hurricane-season exposures.
New Member Introductions
Six new Southeast Chapter members introduced themselves during the meeting, representing businesses in Florida (3), Georgia (2), and North Carolina (1). New member spotlight: Sarah Tillman of Carolina Protective Coatings (Raleigh, NC) shared her focus on DOT bridge work, and mentioned that the American Polyurea bridge and infrastructure preservation article was what originally brought her to the community.
Next Southeast Chapter Meeting
The next Southeast Chapter meeting is scheduled for July 15, 2026 at 6 PM EST. Topic: “Hurricane-rated safe room specifications — what the Southeast market demands.” All members will receive login information via email. Non-members can attend one meeting as a guest by registering through the Events page.
5 thoughts on “June 2026 Member Meeting Recap: Southeast Chapter Discusses Coastal Corrosion Trends”
Great recap! The discussion about coastal corrosion rates was eye-opening. I’ve been seeing the same thing in Pensacola — the window for blast-to-coat is getting shorter every year. Looking forward to July meeting.
Great recap! The discussion about coastal corrosion rates was eye-opening. The window for blast-to-coat is getting shorter every year. Looking forward to July.
Glad to be mentioned! I’ve been lurking on American Polyurea for about six months before finally joining the chapter. The bridge infrastructure article was genuinely what got me interested in this community. First meeting did not disappoint.
Glad to be mentioned! I had been reading American Polyurea for six months before joining. The bridge infrastructure article was what convinced me this community was serious. First meeting did not disappoint.
Coastal corrosion isn’t just a Southeast problem — I see it in Arizona around industrial facilities with evaporative cooling systems. The chemistry is similar. Alan’s presentation should be posted to the member library.