HCAI Seismic Certification Cost — What Actually Drives It
A plain-English guide to the cost factors behind HCAI seismic certification (formerly OSHPD): OSP pre-approval, OPM listings, AC156 shake table testing, and project anchorage packages. Every project is scoped individually — request a written proposal for accurate pricing.
HCAI seismic certification — relative cost overview
The table below shows the relative level of investment for each certification path under the 2025 CBC and ASCE 7-22. Actual fees are scoped per project and provided in a written proposal — no quoted figure on this page is a price commitment.
| Service | Relative Investment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Project anchorage/support package (PE/SE stamped) | Lowest investment | Single equipment, single project. Support/attachment design — not Special Seismic Certification. |
| OPM listing (anchorage details database) | Moderate investment | Per equipment family. Reusable across projects. |
| OSP preapproval (test-based, includes AC156 testing) | Higher investment | OSPs are issued on approved shake-table testing per PIN 55. Includes test witness + certificate. |
| AC156 shake table testing only | Varies by lab + equipment | Lab fees vary by equipment weight + frequency content. |
| Special seismic certification for non-CA projects (IBC / ASCE 7) | Scoped per project | Applicable IBC Chapter 17 special-inspection requirements and adopted ASCE 7 section depend on the code edition and local amendments (ASCE 7-16 §13.2.2; ASCE 7-22 §13.2.3). |
For informational comparison only. Excludes HCAI agency fees, lab facility rental, and equipment shipping. Not a quote or offer — pricing is provided in a written proposal after scope review.
What drives the cost?
- Equipment weight, footprint, and center-of-gravity height
- Number of model variants under one certification family
- Active vs passive (shake table testing trigger)
- Ip = 1.0 vs Ip = 1.5 (life-safety vs operational)
- Mounting condition (rigid, vibration-isolated, snubbed)
- Whether vendor drawings are stamped or sketches only
When OSP pre-approval pays for itself
A project-specific anchorage package is cheaper upfront, but where Special Seismic Certification applies and you sell the same chiller, generator, AHU, or medical gas skid into multiple California hospitals, OSP pre-approval eliminates per-project deferred submittals and the schedule risk that comes with them.
Many OEMs find that OSP pre-approval pays back after a handful of California hospital projects. Compare your current spend on per-project anchorage submittals against a one-time OSP fee — we can model the breakeven for your specific equipment and pipeline.
Beware of fixed-fee quotes that don't list the equipment weight or Ip assumption. Those numbers ALWAYS change scope. Our quotes itemize them.
Related guides
HCAI certification timeline
How long OSP, OPM, and project anchorage really take.
ReadOSP vs OPM
Which HCAI program fits your equipment and project.
CompareHCAI OSP overview
Full OSP pre-approval program details.
OpenHCAI PCS preapproval
Prefabricated components & systems — pods, moment frames, composite. Free PCS database.
OpenGet a written proposal scoped to your equipment
Send us your equipment cut-sheet and project context. You'll have an itemized fee proposal tailored to your scope — typically within a few business days.
PE/SE stamped • Hundreds of HCAI projects since 2008
Frequently asked questions
- How much does HCAI seismic certification cost?
- HCAI seismic certification cost depends on the scope (project-specific anchorage/support package, OPM listing, or test-based OSP preapproval), the equipment type and weight, the number of model variants, the importance factor (Ip), and whether AC156 shake table testing is required. Every project is scoped individually — request a written proposal for accurate pricing.
- Is shake table testing always required?
- For an OSP it is. Per HCAI PIN 55, an OSP is issued on the basis of approved shake-table testing, so an OSP listing always carries AC156 testing cost. Outside the OSP program, certification by analysis or experience data may be considered only where the governing provisions permit it and HCAI accepts it on a project-specific basis.
- Do I need an OSP or just a project anchorage package?
- It depends first on whether Special Seismic Certification applies. If the component only requires project-specific anchorage/support design, a stamped anchorage package may be sufficient. If the component is subject to SSC, anchorage calculations alone do not satisfy SSC; an applicable OSP or an HCAI-approved project-specific SSC is also required. Where you sell the same model into many California hospital projects, a test-based OSP listing usually pays for itself.
Related guides in this topic hub
Continue through the connected code, certification, and design references.