American Polyurea is proud to announce the formation of a dedicated working group tasked with developing the organization’s first comprehensive Polyurea Application Best Practices Standard (AP-BPS-01). Authorized by the Board of Directors at the May 14, 2026 quarterly meeting, this initiative marks a significant step forward in American Polyurea’s mission to professionalize and elevate standards across the polyurea industry.
Why a Best Practices Standard?
For years, polyurea contractors, specifiers, and owners have operated without a unified, industry-developed reference standard specific to polyurea application. While important reference documents exist through organizations such as SSPC/AMPP, ASTM, and the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance, none address the unique characteristics and requirements of spray-applied polyurea systems in a comprehensive, standalone format.
The absence of such a standard has created inconsistency in project specifications, disputes over quality requirements, and a lack of recognized minimum performance benchmarks. AP-BPS-01 will address these gaps by providing the industry with a clear, consensus-based document that applicators, contractors, specifiers, owners, and inspectors can reference with confidence.
Scope of AP-BPS-01
The working group has been charged with developing a standard that covers the following scope areas:
- Section 1 – Materials: Minimum chemistry specifications for polyurea systems by application type; storage and handling requirements; batch testing and documentation
- Section 2 – Surface Preparation: Minimum surface preparation standards by substrate type (concrete, steel, wood, GRP); profile requirements; moisture content limits; cleanliness standards
- Section 3 – Equipment: Minimum equipment specifications for plural-component impingement mixing; temperature and pressure ranges; maintenance intervals; equipment certification requirements
- Section 4 – Application: Minimum film thickness requirements; number of passes; ambient condition limits (temperature, humidity, dew point); overlap requirements; acceptable application rates
- Section 5 – Quality Control: Adhesion testing methods and minimum values; wet film thickness measurement; holiday/pinhole testing for immersion and containment applications; cure verification
- Section 6 – Documentation: Required project documentation including batch records, application logs, QC test results, and as-applied drawings
- Section 7 – Safety: Respiratory protection requirements; ventilation standards; confined space application protocols; isocyanate exposure limits and monitoring
Working Group Composition
The AP-BPS-01 Working Group has been formed with representation from all key stakeholder categories, ensuring that the resulting standard reflects the full breadth of industry perspectives:
- Six certified polyurea applicators representing different application markets
- Three polyurea chemistry manufacturers
- Two plural-component equipment manufacturers
- Two certified polyurea inspectors / specifiers
- One representative from the owner/end-user community
- One academic / research representative (Dr. Wei Zhang, University of Michigan)
- One government / regulatory representative
Timeline
- May–June 2026: Working group formation and organizational meeting
- July–September 2026: First draft development by section subcommittees
- September 2026: First draft presented at Annual Conference for member feedback
- October–December 2026: Incorporation of conference feedback; second draft development
- Q1 2027: Member review period (45-day public comment open to all AP members)
- Q2 2027: Final revisions and editorial review
- September 2027: Official publication of AP-BPS-01 at the 2027 Annual Conference
How to Get Involved
American Polyurea believes that the best standards are developed with broad stakeholder participation. All AP members are encouraged to contribute to the AP-BPS-01 process through the following channels:
- Attend the September 2026 conference working group presentation and provide feedback
- Submit written technical comments during the public comment period in early 2027
- Volunteer to serve as a reviewer on a specific section subcommittee (contact Member Services)
- Share relevant case studies, test data, or reference materials with the working group
For more information or to express interest in participating, contact our technical team or visit the AP Standards page in the member portal.
