HCAI OSP Certification (Special Seismic Pre-Approval)
HCAI OSP Certification — formerly known as OSHPD OSP Certification before the agency was renamed in July 2021 — is the California Department of Health Care Access and Information's pre-approval program for nonstructural components installed in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities under the 2025 CBC.
Stamped by CA PE/SE
Every report PE/SE stamped.
4–6 Month Process
Faster with prior test history.
Listed in OSP Database
Browse our prior OSP work.
What is an HCAI OSP?
An HCAI OSP — historically called an OSHPD OSP — is a Special Seismic Certification Pre-approval issued by California's Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI, formerly OSHPD). It pre-certifies that a specific piece of nonstructural equipment meets the seismic requirements of the California Building Code (CBC) and ASCE 7-22 Chapter 13 for installation in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities under HCAI jurisdiction.
Once issued, an OSP carries a permanent OSP number that any project team can reference in lieu of submitting a full project-specific seismic certification package. The certification is obtained by tri-axial shake table testing per ICC-ES AC156 — analysis-only paths are not accepted for OSP listing. The program is voluntary, but seismic certification itself is mandatory: if the equipment is not OSP-listed, the project team must produce project-specific test data or analysis for plan review.
See the live HCAI OSP database for active listings, or the deep dive on the OSP program from a manufacturer's perspective.
HCAI OSP vs OPM vs project-specific certification
Three paths get nonstructural equipment approved for use in California hospitals. Pick the one that matches your equipment, jurisdiction, and reuse plans.
| Path | What it certifies | Required evidence | Reusable across projects? | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HCAI OSP | Specific nonstructural equipment (chillers, generators, switchboards, racks, AHUs) | AC156 tri-axial shake table test + PE/SE stamped report | Yes — any CA hospital project | 4–6 months |
| HCAI OPM | Pre-engineered manufactured buildings / modular structures | Structural drawings + calcs reviewed by HCAI | Yes — any CA hospital project | 6–12 months |
| Project-specific certification | One project, one equipment install | AC156 test data OR analysis (rigid components) per ASCE 7-22 §13 | No — project-bound | 2–4 months |
Full breakdown: OSP vs OPM comparison · certification cost · certification timeline.
From OSHPD to HCAI: What Changed in 2021
On July 1, 2021, the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) was reorganized and its facilities-development functions transferred to the new Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI). The OSP program — Special Seismic Certification Pre-approval — moved to HCAI unchanged. The application process, technical requirements, AC156 shake-table protocols, and PIN bulletins are all the same.
OSHPD OSP and HCAI OSP refer to the same certification. Pre-2021 listings remain valid under their original OSP number. New submittals are issued under the HCAI name. Plan reviewers and AHJs accept both terms — most legacy drawings still reference OSHPD, while current submittals use HCAI.
Our HCAI OSP certification process
- 1
Kickoff & Test Plan
Equipment review, code identification (CBC, ASCE 7-22, AC156), and Required Response Spectrum development.
- 2
AC156 Shake Table Testing
Testing at Garwood Labs or partner facility — instrumentation, fixture, tri-axial protocol.
- 3
PE/SE Stamped Report
Engineering analysis of test data, anchorage calcs, full stamped report ready for HCAI.
- 4
OSP Submittal & Approval
HCAI submittal package, plan-check response, OSP number issuance for statewide use.
What's included in every OSP package
- Pre-approved listing on HCAI OSP database
- AC156 shake table testing program management
- PE/SE stamped engineering report
- Anchorage calculations per ACI 318-19 Ch.17
- HCAI submittal & plan-check response
- OSP number issuance support — kickoff to approval
Frequently asked questions
- Is HCAI OSP the same as OSHPD OSP?
- Yes. OSHPD was renamed HCAI in July 2021. The OSP program, requirements, and listing process are identical — only the agency name changed.
- Will an OSHPD OSP listing from before 2021 still be valid?
- Yes. Pre-2021 OSHPD OSP listings remain valid under their original OSP number, now administered by HCAI.
- Do plan reviewers still accept "OSHPD" on submittals?
- Yes — both terms refer to the same agency. Best practice today is to use HCAI on new submittals while acknowledging "formerly OSHPD" where helpful for clarity.
- How long does HCAI OSP certification take?
- Typically 4–6 months from kickoff to issued OSP number, faster with prior AC156 test history.
- Can you get an OSP by analysis, or only by shake table testing?
- The HCAI OSP program requires tri-axial shake table testing per ICC-ES AC156 — analysis-only certification is not accepted for OSP listing. Project-specific certification outside the OSP program can sometimes be done by analysis for rigid components.
- Do OSHPD OSP listings work outside California?
- OSPs are issued only for California hospitals, but engineers and AHJs outside California routinely accept them as evidence of AC156-tested compliance because the protocol meets or exceeds IBC §1705.13 and ASCE 7-22 Ch.13.
- What is the difference between an HCAI OSP and an OPM?
- OSP certifies nonstructural equipment (chillers, generators, switchboards). OPM certifies pre-engineered manufactured buildings and modular structures. See the full comparison.
Start your HCAI OSP submittal
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Frequently asked questions
- Is HCAI OSP the same as OSHPD OSP?
- Yes. OSHPD (Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development) was renamed HCAI (Department of Health Care Access and Information) in July 2021. The OSP program — Special Seismic Certification Pre-approval — and its requirements, listing process, and PIN bulletins are identical. Only the agency name changed.
- What does OSHPD OSP stand for?
- OSP stands for OSHPD Special Seismic Certification Pre-approval. Since OSHPD was renamed HCAI in 2021, the current expansion is HCAI Special Seismic Certification Pre-approval, but the OSP acronym was kept. It is a pre-issued certification confirming that a specific piece of nonstructural equipment meets the seismic requirements of the California Building Code for use in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities.
- Can you get an OSP by analysis, or only by shake table testing?
- The HCAI OSP program requires shake table testing per ICC-ES AC156. Analysis-only certification is not accepted for OSP listing. Project-specific seismic certification (outside the OSP program) can be done by analysis for certain rigid components, but to obtain an OSP number that is reusable across hospital projects, AC156 tri-axial shake table testing is mandatory.
- Do OSHPD OSP listings work outside California?
- HCAI OSP listings are issued only for healthcare facilities under California jurisdiction. However, specifying engineers, AHJs, and owners outside California routinely accept an OSP as evidence of AC156-tested compliance because the underlying test protocol meets or exceeds IBC Section 1705.13 and ASCE 7-22 Chapter 13 requirements. An OSP is not a substitute for project-specific seismic certification outside California, but it dramatically reduces the engineering burden.
- What replaced OSHPD?
- OSHPD was reorganized on July 1, 2021. Its facilities-development, plan-review, and seismic-certification functions transferred to the new Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI). The OSP program, PIN bulletins, and AC156 test protocols moved over unchanged.
- What is the difference between an HCAI OSP and an OPM?
- An OSP (Special Seismic Certification Pre-approval) certifies that a specific piece of nonstructural equipment meets HCAI seismic requirements. An OPM (Office of Preapproved Manufactured Building) certifies the structural components of a manufactured building or modular assembly. OSPs are for equipment (chillers, generators, switchboards, racks); OPMs are for prefabricated structures. Both reduce project-specific review time.
- Will an OSHPD OSP listing from before 2021 still be valid?
- Yes. Pre-2021 OSHPD OSP listings remain valid under their original OSP number. They are now administered by HCAI but do not need to be re-issued. New submittals after July 2021 are issued under the HCAI name.
- Do plan reviewers still accept the term "OSHPD" on submittals?
- Yes — OSHPD and HCAI refer to the same agency. Both terms appear on legacy drawings, specifications, and historical OSP listings. Current best practice is to use "HCAI" on new submittals while acknowledging "formerly OSHPD" where helpful for clarity.
- How long does HCAI OSP certification take?
- Typically 4–6 months from kickoff to issued OSP number, depending on equipment complexity, shake table availability, and HCAI review queue. Equipment with prior AC156 test history can move faster.