The OCA Technical Committee held its Winter 2026 meeting on January 23rd in Denver, Colorado, with 34 committee members present and an additional 28 participating virtually. This summary covers the key topics discussed and action items assigned.
Attendance
The meeting was chaired by Technical Committee Chair Dr. Patricia Wade, P.E. In attendance were representatives from 22 member organizations including major oil producers, independent operators, environmental consultants, and containment equipment manufacturers. EPA Region 8 sent a representative as a non-voting observer.
Agenda Item 1: Polyurea Standard Update
Committee members reviewed the draft update to OCA Standard 2024-P (Polyurea Coating Performance Standards for Oil Containment Applications). After extensive discussion, the committee voted 31-3 to approve the following amendments:
- Minimum Shore A hardness increased from 85 to 90 for vertical application surfaces
- New requirement for manufacturer-documented recoat windows
- Expanded chemical resistance testing requirements to include bio-diesel blends
- Addition of low-temperature flexibility test at -60°F
The updated standard will be published in the Spring 2026 edition of OCA Technical Bulletin.
Agenda Item 2: Foam Core Material Research Results
Dr. David Chen presented the results of a 24-month field study comparing four foam core materials used in portable containment berms. The study evaluated compression recovery, UV degradation resistance, and dimensional stability across 12 test sites in four climate zones.
Key finding: Closed-cell polyisocyanurate foam significantly outperformed open-cell polyurethane in all metrics, with 94% dimensional retention after 24 months versus 71% for open-cell formulations. Full results will be published in the OCA Journal of Containment Technology (Spring 2026 issue).
Agenda Item 3: New Member Training Program
Member Services Director Sarah Williams presented a proposal for an expanded OCA Certified Containment Specialist (CCS) program. The updated curriculum adds two new modules: Advanced SPCC Planning and Digital Inspection Technologies. The program will launch in Q2 2026 with a target enrollment of 200 students in the first cohort.
Next Meeting
The Spring 2026 Technical Committee meeting is scheduled for April 17th in Houston, TX, hosted by member organization Gulf Coast Environmental Solutions. Registration opens March 1st via the OCA Member Portal.