HCAI OPM Application Services
We prepare and file HCAI (OSHPD) OPM applications — Preapproval of Manufacturer's Certification for the seismic design of supports and attachments used in California hospitals. Triage checklist, stamped outline drawings, ASCE 7-22 capacity tables, portal submittal, and backcheck responses through issuance of your OPM number.
How do you apply for an HCAI OPM?
File the online preapproval application with HCAI's Preapproval Programs unit, pay the $250 non-refundable filing fee, and upload certified outline drawings, supporting calculations, test reports, and a product catalog through the electronic portal. The package must satisfy every item of the CBC 2025 OPM Triage Checklist — scope (S1–S5), drawings (D1–D12), calculations (C1–C4), and test reports (T1–T3). HCAI targets 80 days for first review and 40 days per backcheck. From January 1, 2026, all OPM reviews are based solely on the 2025 CBC and ASCE 7-22.
What an OPM covers
An OPM preapproves a manufacturer's certification for the entire continuous load path from the component to the primary structure: supports (braces, frames, legs, lugs, snubbers, hangers, saddles, struts, cables, skirts, pedestals) and attachments (anchor bolts, welds, mechanical fasteners).
It also covers seismic bracing of distribution systems — ducts, piping, and electrical raceways — and interior partition and suspended-ceiling bracing. Compare pathways on our OSP vs OPM comparison or read the full PIN 62 guide.
An OPM is not
- A product or component approval
- A verification that the supporting structure is adequate
- Available for vibration isolators or roof curbs
- Available for concrete anchors on their own
- Available for gravity-only supports
- A substitute for an OSP on Ip = 1.5 equipment
Deliverables
- Full OPM application package filed through the HCAI electronic portal
- Certified outline drawings signed and stamped by a California-licensed RDP
- Capacity tables across SDS, z/h, Hf/Rμ covering the worst-case unit in the family
- Calculation backup watermarked “NOT approved by HCAI” per checklist item C2
- Anchor ESR references, installation details, and special inspection requirements
- Backcheck responses managed through issuance of the OPM number
- 2025 CBC / ASCE 7-22 renewal submittals for legacy OPMs
Codes & standards
- PIN 62 (08/13/2025)HCAI Policy Intent Notice governing OPM scope, submittal contents, and the CBC 2025 triage checklist.
- 2025 CBC §1705A.14.2California Building Code basis for manufacturer's certification of supports and attachments.
- ASCE 7-22 §13.2.1 / Ch. 13Fp formulation with CAR, Rpo, Hf, and Rμ — the governing seismic demand for the support family.
- ACI 318-19 Ch. 17Anchorage to concrete for cast-in-place and post-installed anchors in the certified load path.
- ICC-ES ESR / ISO 17025Anchor evaluation reports and accredited laboratory test data supporting the capacity tables.
The OPM application process
Run the CBC 2025 OPM triage checklist (S1–S5, D1–D12, C1–C4, T1–T3). Confirm the item is a support or attachment anchored to structure with an Ip = 1.5 use case — any “No” is cause for rejection.
Set the certified family by anchor pattern, base material, and load range, then bound the capacity envelope so the worst-case configuration governs.
Run ASCE 7-22 Fp and ACI 318-19 anchorage, then produce stamped outline drawings with the mandatory D8 acceleration parameters and D11 general note.
File online with the $250 fee, then track the 80/40/40 review and respond to every HCAI comment until the OPM is issued.
Related HCAI services
HCAI OSP Certification
Special seismic certification preapproval for chillers, generators, switchgear, and other Ip = 1.5 equipment.
HCAI PCS Certification
Preapproval for prefabricated components and systems used in California hospital construction.
HCAI PIN Bulletins
PIN 55, PIN 62, and PIN 68 in context — what each changes in a preapproval submittal.
HCAI OPM application FAQs
What is an HCAI OPM application?
An OPM application is a voluntary request to HCAI (formerly OSHPD) for Preapproval of a Manufacturer's Certification covering the seismic design of supports and attachments for nonstructural components in California hospitals. It is filed online with a $250 non-refundable filing fee, certified outline drawings, calculations, and test reports, and reviewed under Policy Intent Notice (PIN) 62.
How long does HCAI take to review an OPM application?
HCAI's published target is 80 days for a new application, 40 days for a backcheck response, and 40 days for a same-code-cycle renewal. Partition wall, suspended ceiling, and distribution-system OPMs commonly run six months or longer. Incomplete packages restart the clock.
What does the OPM application package include?
The online application, the $250 filing fee, certified outline drawings signed by a registered design professional, calculations watermarked “NOT approved by HCAI”, test reports from an ISO 17025-accredited laboratory or performed under a California-licensed engineer, a product catalog, and — for renewals — a detailed change description.
Is an OPM the same as an OSP?
No. An OPM preapproves the seismic design of supports and attachments — braces, frames, hangers, anchor bolts, and the continuous load path to structure. An OSP preapproves special seismic certification of the equipment itself. Many manufacturers need both.
What cannot be covered by an OPM?
OPMs are not product approvals and are not available for vibration isolators, roof curbs, concrete anchors, or gravity-only supports. They also do not verify that the supporting structure is adequate — that stays with the project SEOR.
Do OPMs expire under the 2025 CBC?
OPMs may be used on projects under their own code cycle or earlier, but from January 1, 2026 HCAI reviews OPMs solely against the 2025 CBC and ASCE 7-22. Legacy ASCE 7-16 preapprovals should go through HCAI's two-step renewal before that date.
Related articles
HCAI OSHPD OPM Preapproval Under the 2025 CBC: The Complete PIN 62 Guide for Manufacturers, Suppliers & DPORs
Everything manufacturers, suppliers, and DPORs need to know about the OSHPD Preapproval of Manufacturer's Certification (OPM) program under the 2025 CBC and ASCE 7-22 — PIN 62 policy, the new Triage Checklist, submittal package, distribution-system workflow, validity, and the 80/40/40 review timeline.
HCAI PCS Preapproval Explained: PCS vs OSP vs OPM
PCS, OSP, and OPM are three different HCAI preapproval programs and picking the wrong one costs weeks. Here's exactly what a OSHPD Preapproved Prefabricated Components and Systems covers and when to use it.
ASCE 7-22 Chapter 13: What the 2025 CBC Means for HCAI OPM & OSP Preapprovals
ASCE 7-22 reshapes the nonstructural horizontal seismic force Fp with new variables (Hf, Rμ, CAR, Rpo). Here's what Preapproval and Project DPORs need to know for OPM and OSP submittals under the 2025 CBC.
Ready to file or renew your OPM?
Legacy OPMs still based on ASCE 7-16 need a 2025 CBC renewal. Get a fixed-fee proposal within 24 hours from a California-licensed structural PE.