There is a lot of confusion around what OSHPD and OSHPD OSPs actually are. OSHPD is now HCAI, but the industry still commonly uses “OSHPD OSP” to refer to HCAI Special Seismic Certification Preapproval. This article defines both the agency terminology and the OSP program.
Short answer
OSHPD OSP stands for OSHPD Special Seismic Certification Pre-approval. So, by name, it is a pre-approval. Pre-approval in this sense means that the equipment has already been reviewed and approved for use on projects under HCAI’s jurisdiction. Therefore, an OSHPD OSP is a product certification that meets the requirements of HCAI and the California Building Code.
Please note: as I’ll discuss below, an OSHPD OSP is only meant for hospital projects in California. However, they are often accepted in other jurisdictions throughout the country.
What is the OSHPD OSP program, and how do you obtain an OSP?
Key HCAI and code resources:
- OSHPD pre-approval program
- PIN 55 — OSHPD Special Seismic Certification Preapproval
- OSHPD OSP presentation
- Active and expired OSPs (numerical)
- Active and expired OSPs (by category)
- California Building Code
- HCAI website
The OSHPD OSP program was created by OSHPD as a voluntary program to reduce the time needed to complete project specific seismic certification reviews. The word voluntary is often misunderstood here. Seismic certification is mandatory on projects; using the pre-approval program is voluntary. If you don’t use the OSP program, you would still need to perform seismic testing and/or analysis on the equipment in question.
So, why use the program? It makes selling to multiple hospital projects streamlined and straightforward. Once a manufacturer has an OSP, they do not need to worry about time-consuming or complex project submittals. They can simply reference the approved OSP.
How do you get an OSP?
Shake table testing. That is the only way. Although seismic certification can be done using analysis in certain situations, the OSHPD OSP program only allows seismic testing. Analysis alone cannot be used to obtain an OSP.
The specific requirements depend on the type of equipment, but the following requirements apply broadly:
- Minimum of two test units per manufacturer per mounting configuration
- Test the largest unit of each material available
- Units must maintain structural integrity and functionality after the test
What OSHPD is
OSHPD stood for Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development of California. The agency is now named HCAI, the Department of Health Care Access and Information. HCAI regulates health care facilities, and it only does so in California. It has no jurisdiction over other types of buildings in California, and it has no jurisdiction whatsoever outside of California.
Per its website (hcai.ca.gov), HCAI monitors construction, renovation, and seismic safety for hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. HCAI, in conjunction with the California Building Code, creates the requirements for seismic safety of those facilities.
What OSHPD is not
OSHPD is not a national regulatory agency, and OSHPD does not create or impose requirements outside of California.
Although OSHPD/HCAI requirements show up on projects across the country, HCAI has nothing to do with projects outside of healthcare in California. Specifying engineers, building departments, and building owners often put OSHPD requirements on their project because they know HCAI is a recognized authority and that equipment meeting those requirements will likely meet or exceed the requirements of the project.
For project-specific questions, contact Derek at derek@manwillse.com.