A Policy Intent Notice (PIN) is a written interpretation issued by the California Department of Health Care Access and Information. It tells plan reviewers and design professionals how HCAI intends to apply a specific code provision on hospital projects. A PIN is not itself code — it interprets the California Building Code — but HCAI reviewers apply it as if it were binding, so a submittal that contradicts a current PIN will draw a correction.

Are HCAI PINs the same as OSHPD PINs?

Yes. OSHPD (the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development) was renamed HCAI in 2021. Bulletins issued before the change are still numbered in the same sequence and are still cited as PINs, so PIN 55 and PIN 68 are the same documents whether a specification calls the agency OSHPD or HCAI.

Which PINs matter for equipment seismic anchorage?

For nonstructural anchorage work the three that come up most are PIN 55 (the OSP special seismic certification preapproval program), PIN 62 (the OPM preapproval program under the 2025 CBC), and PIN 68 (how fixed, mobile, and movable equipment are classified and what anchorage each classification requires). PIN 68 usually decides whether a piece of equipment needs anchorage calculations at all.

How do I know if a PIN is still current?

PINs are revised and superseded without a formal code cycle. Always confirm the revision date on HCAI's published bulletin list before relying on a PIN, and cite the revision date in your submittal narrative. A calculation package citing a superseded revision is the most common avoidable HCAI correction we see.

Does a PIN override ASCE 7 or the CBC?

No. A PIN interprets how HCAI applies the adopted code. Where a PIN is more restrictive than the base ASCE 7-22 or CBC requirement, HCAI enforces the more restrictive reading on projects under its jurisdiction. Where a PIN is silent, the adopted code governs.

Do PINs apply outside California hospitals?

No. PINs bind only projects under HCAI jurisdiction — primarily acute-care hospitals and skilled nursing facilities in California. An IBC §1705.13 project reviewed by a city or county building department follows the IBC and the local amendments, not HCAI PINs, although the underlying ASCE 7 requirements are the same.

HCAI • formerly OSHPD • 2025 CBC

HCAI PIN Bulletins for Seismic Anchorage

Policy Intent Notices are how HCAI tells reviewers to apply the California Building Code on hospital projects. They are not code, but on an OSHPD 1 submittal they are enforced like it. Here is what each anchorage-relevant PIN controls and where it changes your package.

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The PINs that govern equipment anchorage

Each entry links to a full clause-by-clause breakdown. Confirm the current revision date on HCAI's published bulletin list before you cite any PIN in a submittal — revisions are issued outside the code cycle.

PIN 68

Fixed, Mobile, and Movable Equipment

Classifies equipment as fixed, mobile, or movable and sets the anchorage or restraint expectation for each class.

This is the bulletin that decides whether a unit needs anchorage calculations at all. Reviewers routinely reclassify equipment the design team assumed was movable.

Read the breakdown PIN 55

OSP Special Seismic Certification Preapproval

Governs the OSHPD Special Seismic Certification Preapproval (OSP) program — scope, AC156 basis, sub-component listing, mounting configurations, and validity.

The October 2025 revision tightened sub-component and multi-component scope. Existing OSPs written at the system level no longer cover unlisted internal components.

Read the breakdown PIN 62

OPM Preapproval Under the 2025 CBC

Governs the Preapproval of Manufacturer's Certification (OPM) program and its alignment with the 2025 California Building Code.

Determines what an OPM covers, how long it stays valid, and when a project still needs its own anchorage calculations on top of the preapproval.

Read the breakdown

How a PIN changes a calculation package

The underlying engineering does not change — F_p is still ASCE 7-22 §13.3.1 and the anchors are still checked to ACI 318-19 Chapter 17. What a PIN changes is scope and evidence:

Whether the component is in scope. PIN 68's fixed / mobile / movable classification decides if anchorage is required, if a tether or restraint is enough, or if nothing is required.
Whether a preapproval covers it. An OSP or OPM only covers what its scope statement and bill of materials list. Anything outside that returns to project-specific calculations.
What evidence the reviewer expects. Test reports, sub-component listings, mounting configurations, and operability documentation are all PIN-driven, not ASCE-driven.
Which revision you cite. Citing a superseded revision is treated as an incomplete submittal even when the engineering is correct.

HCAI PIN bulletins — frequently asked questions

What is an HCAI PIN?: A Policy Intent Notice (PIN) is a written interpretation issued by the California Department of Health Care Access and Information. It tells plan reviewers and design professionals how HCAI intends to apply a specific code provision on hospital projects. A PIN is not itself code — it interprets the California Building Code — but HCAI reviewers apply it as if it were binding, so a submittal that contradicts a current PIN will draw a correction.
Are HCAI PINs the same as OSHPD PINs?: Yes. OSHPD (the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development) was renamed HCAI in 2021. Bulletins issued before the change are still numbered in the same sequence and are still cited as PINs, so PIN 55 and PIN 68 are the same documents whether a specification calls the agency OSHPD or HCAI.
Which PINs matter for equipment seismic anchorage?: For nonstructural anchorage work the three that come up most are PIN 55 (the OSP special seismic certification preapproval program), PIN 62 (the OPM preapproval program under the 2025 CBC), and PIN 68 (how fixed, mobile, and movable equipment are classified and what anchorage each classification requires). PIN 68 usually decides whether a piece of equipment needs anchorage calculations at all.
How do I know if a PIN is still current?: PINs are revised and superseded without a formal code cycle. Always confirm the revision date on HCAI's published bulletin list before relying on a PIN, and cite the revision date in your submittal narrative. A calculation package citing a superseded revision is the most common avoidable HCAI correction we see.
Does a PIN override ASCE 7 or the CBC?: No. A PIN interprets how HCAI applies the adopted code. Where a PIN is more restrictive than the base ASCE 7-22 or CBC requirement, HCAI enforces the more restrictive reading on projects under its jurisdiction. Where a PIN is silent, the adopted code governs.
Do PINs apply outside California hospitals?: No. PINs bind only projects under HCAI jurisdiction — primarily acute-care hospitals and skilled nursing facilities in California. An IBC §1705.13 project reviewed by a city or county building department follows the IBC and the local amendments, not HCAI PINs, although the underlying ASCE 7 requirements are the same.

Keep reading on related topics

Disclaimer & waiver of liability

The technical content on this page — including code references, equations, tables, worked examples, calculators, and drawings — is provided for general information and educational purposes only. It is not engineering advice, does not create an engineer–client relationship, and must not be used for design, construction, procurement, or code-compliance decisions. Codes and standards are frequently revised and are subject to jurisdictional amendments; always verify against the governing edition and the authority having jurisdiction. PANACHE ENGINEERING INC makes no warranty as to accuracy or fitness for a particular purpose and disclaims all liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on this material. Project-specific work requires a signed agreement and PE/SE-stamped deliverables. Read the full waiver of liability.

Continue through the connected code, certification, and design references.

HCAI Seismic CertificationCertification pathways for California hospital equipment.HCAI Seismic Certification HCAI Certification CostWhat OSP, OPM, and project certification actually cost.HCAI Certification Cost HCAI Certification TimelineReview durations and how to avoid the common schedule traps.HCAI Certification Timeline HCAI OSP CertificationSpecial seismic certification preapproval, formerly OSHPD OSP.HCAI OSP Certification