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HCAI Seismic Certification Timeline — Week by Week

Realistic durations for HCAI seismic certification (formerly OSHPD), broken down by program. Use this to plan submittals, equipment procurement, and construction sequencing.

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OSP pre-approval (analysis only): 6–10 weeks

Passive equipment, Ip = 1.0 or 1.5. Most chillers, AHUs, tanks, transformers, and medical gas skids fit this path.

  1. Week 0

    Kickoff

    Quote signed, vendor drawings + cut-sheets received, project SDS / Ip confirmed.

  2. Week 1–2

    Analysis

    Center of gravity, anchorage forces per ASCE 7-22 Ch.13, anchor design per ACI 318-19 Ch.17.

  3. Week 3–4

    Calculation package

    PE/SE stamped calc set + anchorage details drafted, internal QC review.

  4. Week 5–8

    OSP submittal

    HCAI submittal, agency review, response to back-check comments.

  5. Week 9–10

    OSP number issued

    OSP record activated and added to the searchable HCAI database.

OSP + AC156 shake table testing: 14–20 weeks

Active equipment, Ip = 1.5 with post-earthquake function — generators, pumps, switchgear, fans on isolators.

  1. Week 0

    Lab slot reserved (often 6–10 weeks out).

  2. Week 4–8

    Test plan + RRS curve developed; equipment shipped to lab.

  3. Week 10–14

    Witness test, post-test inspection, certificate of compliance issued.

  4. Week 14–20

    Test report rolled into OSP submittal; HCAI back-check + final number.

See our AC156 shake table testing service for what we handle directly versus the lab.

Need it faster? Project anchorage letter: 5–10 business days

For one-off installs that don't need a reusable HCAI listing, a project-specific seismic anchorage letter is the fastest legal path. PE/SE stamped, accepted at HCAI plan-check.

  • 5–10 business day standard turnaround
  • Rush turnarounds available on request
  • ASCE 7-22 + ACI 318-19 compliant
  • Reissue at no charge if project SDS changes

Related guides

HCAI certification cost

2026 price ranges for OSP, OPM, AC156, and project letters.

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OSP vs OPM

Pick the right HCAI program for your equipment.

Compare

HCAI OSP overview

Full program details and what we deliver.

Open

HCAI PCS preapproval

Prefabricated components & systems for CA hospitals + free PCS database.

Open

Reserve your project slot

Lab slots and HCAI back-check windows fill up. The earlier we kick off, the tighter your overall schedule.

Start ProjectHCAI OSP details

Frequently asked questions

How long does HCAI OSP certification take?
Typical OSP pre-approval (analysis only) takes 6–10 weeks from kickoff to OSP number. Adding AC156 shake table testing extends total time to 14–20 weeks because of lab scheduling and equipment shipping.
How fast can a project anchorage letter be issued?
A standard project-specific anchorage letter is delivered in 5–10 business days once equipment cut-sheets and project SDS are provided.
What slows HCAI seismic certification down?
The biggest delays come from incomplete vendor drawings, missing center-of-gravity data, late shake table lab booking, and HCAI back-checks. None are an engineering problem — they are a documentation problem.