HCAI/OSHPD & IBC Seismic Certifications

Search the manufacturer or model in our HCAI OSP Database (or the official HCAI eServices Portal). A valid OSP listing shows the OSP number (e.g., OSP-0028-10), manufacturer, equipment description, applicable code cycle (e.g., 2022 CBC), and active/expired status. Always confirm the listing matches the equipment's exact model and configuration before specifying — see our OSHPD/IBC certification overview for the full submittal workflow.

Use our HCAI OPM Database to search by manufacturer, associated product/configuration, or category. OPM records document the preapproved seismic design of supports/attachments (and other eligible OPM bracing scopes) associated with the listed manufacturer/product context. Verify the support/attachment configuration, governing code edition, approval status, and project applicability against the official HCAI document. OPM is not product/equipment certification. For background, read our HCAI PIN 62 OPM 2025 guide.

Both are voluntary HCAI preapproval programs covering different scopes. OSP (OSHPD Special Seismic Certification Preapproval) is HCAI's voluntary preapproval of Special Seismic Certification (SSC) for equipment, typically substantiated by ICC-ES AC156 shake table testing for active/energized equipment. OPM (Preapproval of Manufacturer's Certification) is a voluntary preapproval of the seismic design of supports and attachments — it is not certification of the equipment itself. SSC may be a mandatory code requirement depending on the equipment, facility classification, and governing code edition; the OSP route to demonstrating it is optional, and a project-specific HCAI-approved SSC package can be used instead. Search listings in our OSP and OPM databases.

An OSP or OPM may be flagged expired or inactive when its validity period ends, when the manufacturer discontinues a product line, or when the listing is revised, superseded, or cancelled. For OSP, expired is not automatically unusable — per HCAI PIN 55, equipment covered by an expired OSP may still be used where the project's HCAI accepted date is on or before the OSP expiration date, subject to the approval conditions. OPM is a separate program: do not infer OPM usability from the OSP rule — verify the individual OPM approval status against the current HCAI record and PIN 62. Cancelled or void approvals cannot be relied on. Where no usable preapproval applies and SSC is required, the equipment can still proceed through a project-specific HCAI-approved SSC package — our certification team can manage either route.

Check the code edition the preapproval references against the edition governing your project. The 2025 CBC (ASCE 7-22) took effect January 1, 2026; earlier projects may still be governed by the 2022 CBC (ASCE 7-16). A listing issued under an earlier edition is not automatically usable — the manufacturer may need to update the listing, or the equipment can proceed through a project-specific HCAI-approved SSC package. See our ASCE 7-22 Chapter 13 guide for the current code requirements. Always confirm code-cycle alignment in the OSP and OPM databases before relying on a pre-approval number.

Typically 4–6 months from kickoff to issued OSP number, depending on equipment complexity, shake table availability, and HCAI review queue. Equipment with prior test history can move faster.

No. Nationwide special seismic certification is governed by the IBC/ASCE 7 edition adopted by the local jurisdiction, including local amendments. Under ASCE 7-22 §13.2.3, active equipment required to remain operable is certified through approved shake table testing or experience data (with inherent-ruggedness provisions where applicable), while analysis-based certification is limited to nonactive components and hazardous-content provisions have their own permitted paths. HCAI/CBC requirements for active or energized equipment can be more specific or stricter, and OSP is California's voluntary HCAI preapproval route.

PANACHE ENGINEERING estimate as of September 2026; HCAI does not publish certification pricing. Our engineering fee for an OSP that requires new AC156 testing typically runs $25,000 – $75,000+, and the laboratory test program is billed separately at roughly $35,000 – $120,000, so an all-in OSP program with testing is commonly $60,000 – $195,000. Where no new testing is needed the engineering fee is typically $10,000 – $30,000. HCAI fees, shipping, rigging, test specimens, and re-testing are excluded. Actual cost and schedule vary with equipment scope, whether testing is required, laboratory availability, HCAI review and back-check cycles, redesign, and the number of models, sizes and mounting configurations covered.

Yes. OSP approvals carry a stated expiration/validity period. Per HCAI PIN 55, an expired OSP may still be used on a project where the project's HCAI accepted date is on or before the OSP expiration date, subject to the approval conditions and current HCAI rules. Always verify the current OSP record and certificate, including the code edition it references, before relying on it.