OSHPD Chiller Seismic Certification
Air-cooled, water-cooled, packaged, or split — chillers in HCAI-jurisdiction California hospitals generally require Special Seismic Certification (SSC) where the component is designated Ip = 1.5. We support both SSC routes and the engineering scopes behind them: OSP preapproval, project-specific SSC, AC156 shake table testing, and PE/SE-stamped anchorage.
Two SSC compliance routes for chillers
Special Seismic Certification is the code requirement. There are two ways to satisfy it on an HCAI project — an applicable OSP listing, or a project-specific HCAI-approved certification package. OSP is voluntary preapproval, not a separate requirement.
Existing applicable OSP
A current HCAI OSP listing covering the chiller model and the proposed installation conditions. Voluntary manufacturer preapproval of Special Seismic Certification, reusable across projects.
Learn moreProject-specific HCAI-approved SSC
Where no applicable OSP exists, HCAI reviews a project-specific qualification package — shake table test report(s), support and attachment calculations, installation drawings, and CBC labeling, approved by a California Structural Engineer before installation.
Learn moreSupporting engineering scopes
These scopes support one or both SSC routes. Individually, none of them constitutes Special Seismic Certification of the chiller.
AC156 shake table qualification
The test substantiation behind either SSC route. Compressors, controls, and the isolator/snubber base are tested as one assembly, witnessed at a qualified lab.
Learn moreOPM listing (supports & attachments)
Voluntary preapproval of the seismic design of supports and attachments for a chiller family. It is not certification of the chiller itself and does not substitute for SSC.
Learn moreAttachment & anchorage calculations
PE/SE-stamped attachment and anchorage design for one chiller on one pad. Required in both routes; not a substitute for SSC of active equipment.
Learn moreWhen does a chiller need AC156 shake table testing?
Under ASCE 7-22 §13.2.3 and ICC-ES AC156, an active chiller (rotating compressors, energized controls, pressurized refrigerant loops) designated Ip = 1.5 for post-earthquake operation must be qualified by shake-table test, not by analysis alone.
We coordinate the test program — required response spectrum (RRS) per AC156, test fixture design, witness, and the post-test certification package accepted by HCAI.
What we need to scope a chiller cert
- Chiller cut-sheet, weight, and CG height
- Mounting condition: rigid pad, vibration isolators, or snubbed isolators
- Ip designation (1.0 or 1.5) per project mechanical engineer
- SDS at the project site (from geotech / structural engineer)
- Hospital project number and HCAI office (Northern / Southern CA)
- Whether a deferred submittal or pre-approved OSP path is preferred
Quote a chiller cert in 24 hours
Send us the chiller cut-sheet, weight, mounting, and Ip designation. You'll have a scoped, itemized PE/SE-stamped proposal — typically within one business day.
PE/SE stamped • Hundreds of California hospital projects since 2008
Frequently asked questions
- Do chillers need OSHPD seismic certification?
- Generally yes, where the chiller is a designated seismic system. Chillers in HCAI-jurisdiction California hospitals designated Ip = 1.5 require Special Seismic Certification (SSC) per ASCE 7-16 §13.2.2 / 7-22 §13.2.3, and active/energized equipment is certified on the basis of approved shake table testing (ICC-ES AC156). SSC can be satisfied either by an applicable HCAI OSP listing — a voluntary manufacturer preapproval — or by a project-specific HCAI-approved certification package. Anchorage calculations and OPM listings are separate engineering scopes and do not substitute for SSC.
- What is Ip for a hospital chiller?
- Chillers serving life-safety or essential hospital systems (e.g., operating rooms, ICU cooling, MRI cooling) are typically assigned Ip = 1.5 under ASCE 7-22 §13.1.3, requiring AC156 shake-table qualification. Chillers serving non-essential loads can sometimes be Ip = 1.0 and certified by analysis alone — the AHJ and project mechanical engineer make the final call.
- Do I need an OSP or a project-specific anchorage package for a chiller?
- They answer different questions. SSC is the code requirement for the chiller itself; a project-specific anchorage package covers the attachment of that chiller to the structure and is needed either way. If the same chiller model is sold into multiple California hospitals, pursuing an OSP is usually the most economical long-term route to SSC. A project-specific route may be practical for a one-off project, but the required scope, review time, testing/certification requirements, and cost depend on whether SSC is required and on the specific equipment and installation.
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