OSP vs OPM — Which HCAI Program Do You Need?
Both are voluntary preapproval programs administered by OSHPD, the office within HCAI that acts as the building department for California healthcare construction, and both end in a public listing. They are not interchangeable: OSP addresses Special Seismic Certification of the component, OPM addresses preapproved seismic design of supports and attachments. Here's the plain-English comparison.
OSP vs OPM at a glance
| Feature | OSP — Special Seismic Certification Preapproval | OPM — Preapproval of Manufacturer's Certification |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | OSHPD Special Seismic Certification Preapproval | OSHPD Preapproval of Manufacturer's Certification |
| Question it answers | Does this nonstructural component have a preapproval addressing Special Seismic Certification? | Are these seismic supports and attachments preapproved for reuse? |
| Subject of the preapproval | The component itself, as tested/certified, with its mounting configuration | Seismic design of supports and attachments for nonstructural components |
| Voluntary program | Yes | Yes |
| Code basis | CBC §1705A.14.3 / ASCE 7 Ch. 13 special seismic certification, ICC-ES AC156 | ASCE 7 Ch. 13 support and attachment design, ACI 318-19 Ch. 17 anchorage |
| Shake table testing | Normally required for active equipment where operability must be demonstrated | Not the basis of the preapproval |
| HCAI policy bulletin | PIN 55 | PIN 62 |
| Typical engineering fee | $25,000 – $75,000+ with AC156 testing | $6,000 – $18,000 per detail family |
| Typical schedule | 14 – 30 weeks | 8 – 16 weeks |
| Listed publicly by HCAI | Yes (OSP number) | Yes (OPM number) |
| What it does NOT do | Does not replace project-specific anchorage design for the installed condition | Does not provide Special Seismic Certification, and does not establish the adequacy of the receiving structure |
When to pick OSP
- Active equipment (rotating, energized, pressurized)
- Ip = 1.5, post-earthquake function required
- Sold into many California hospital projects
- Need shake-table proof of operability
When to pick OPM
- Standard anchorage details reused across projects
- Passive equipment families (tanks, racks, panels)
- Wall- or floor-mount kits with consistent geometry
- Manufacturer wants a public HCAI listing without lab testing
Still unsure? Use this 30-second decision rule
If the equipment must keep running after the design earthquake → OSP, almost always with AC156 shake table testing.
If the value is in reusable seismic supports and attachments → OPM is the shorter path. It does not, however, satisfy a Special Seismic Certification requirement for the component.
If you ship multiple product lines into California hospitals → many OEMs end up with both: OSP for the components, OPM for the shared support and attachment details.
If no preapproval exists → both programs are voluntary. Where Special Seismic Certification applies, equipment can generally follow a project-specific certification path reviewed by HCAI instead of holding an OSP listing.
PANACHE ENGINEERING estimate as of September 2026. These are our engineering fee and schedule ranges, not HCAI-published values. Actual cost and schedule vary with equipment scope, whether testing is required, laboratory availability, HCAI review and back-check cycles, redesign, and the number of models, sizes and mounting configurations covered.
Primary sources
- HCAI — OSHPD Special Seismic Certification Preapproval (OSP) — HCAI program page describing OSP as a voluntary preapproval program
- HCAI — OSHPD Preapproval of Manufacturer's Certification (OPM) — voluntary preapproval of seismic design of supports and attachments for nonstructural components
- HCAI PIN 55 — Special Seismic Certification Preapproval (OSP)
- HCAI — Preapproval Programs index
Technical review: Ahmed Haider, Ph.D., PE· Last technically reviewed: September 1, 2026· General engineering information, not a substitute for project-specific review by the design professional or HCAI.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between OSP and OPM?
- They are two separate HCAI preapproval programs and are not interchangeable. OSP — OSHPD Special Seismic Certification Preapproval — answers whether applicable equipment has a preapproval addressing Special Seismic Certification, normally demonstrated by ICC-ES AC156 shake table testing. OPM — OSHPD Preapproval of Manufacturer's Certification — addresses preapproved seismic design of supports and attachments for nonstructural components. An OPM is not a product certification and is not a substitute for Special Seismic Certification, and it covers the supports and attachments themselves rather than the adequacy of the receiving structure, which remains project-specific design.
- Do I need both OSP and OPM?
- It depends on what you are trying to preapprove. Where Special Seismic Certification applies to the component, an OSP is the preapproval route; where the value is in reusable supports and attachments, an OPM is the route. Some manufacturers pursue both, for different aspects of the same product. Both programs are voluntary — where Special Seismic Certification applies and no OSP listing exists, equipment can generally follow a project-specific certification path reviewed by HCAI.
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