The HCAI office of OSHPD has five separate preapproval programs that function under the Structural Support Unit (SSU) and Inspection Services Unit (ISU). The five programs are as follows:

OSHPD Preapproval Agency (OPAA):

This program is a voluntary program that is subject to review and preapproval of Agencies that provide Structural Tests & Special Inspection services utilized in California healthcare facility construction. OPAA is registered in compliance with PIN58 on the premise of an Agency’s accreditation or acceptance into the Division of the State Architects – Laboratory Evaluation and acceptance (DSA-LEA) Program based on ASTM E329. forth is for projects that will require longer than 2 hour review time by these disciplines. The goal for this program is to streamline and make healthcare facility construction easier and simpler to the owners, testing/inspection agencies, contractors, and consultants by providing these preapproved of testing and special inspection agencies.
For manufactures to apply for OPAA, they must submit an application for new application or renewal to HCAI. Application fees are $1,000 for new application as combined Testing & Inspection Agency, $500 for new application as either Testing or Inspection Agency only, and $250 for renewal of a previously approved application. Documents also must be submitted to verify the basis of approval such as Current Accreditation Certificate(s), if applicable, to include list of tests for which the agency is accredited. For agencies with DSA-LEA approvals, they shall submit forms from the DSA website such as DSA 100, 220, and DSA-LEA Laboratory Qualification as post at the DSA website. Refer to PIN-58 for further instructions on the appropriate methods of presenting these documents to HCAI for approvals.

OSHPD Preapproved Details (OPD):

This program is for preapproved standard architectural and engineering details to be presented in the construction documents and are developed by HCAI/OSHPD for use in the California healthcare facility construction. Since these details are prepared by HCAI/OSHPD, they allowed to be used with some conditions such as: (1) the use of these details are at the liability of the SEOR or AOR professionals on the OSHPD plans. (2) The application of these details shall be with the direction of the register design professional in responsible charge. They should review application of these details prior to presenting them in the construction documents and place project-specific details that match the conditions of the given project. (3) The use of these details does not permit the owner from avoiding the plan approval and building permit process. Any construction documents shall be submitted to HCAI for review and approval and issuance of a building permit prior to the start of construction. Refer to PIN-51 for further instructions on the requirements to use these perapproved details.

OSHPD Preapproved of Manufacturer’s Certification (OPM):

Issuance of an OPM Certification is based on the follow: (1) OPM is issued based on either testing or design analysis in accordance to the latest CBC or its reference standards or approved equivalent. (2) The tests shall be conducted by an independent approved laboratory/testing agency having accreditation ot the ISO 17025 (or equivalent) or shall be under responsible charge of an independent California licensed engineer in accordance with CBC Section 1703.4 or 1703A.4. Then these test shall be reviewed and accepted by an independent California licensed structural engineer. (3) All analysis shall be performed by a registered professional in accordance with the current California Administration Code (CAC) section 7-115.
To use an OPM in the construction documents, the register design professional for the project shall specify on the construction plans, submitted to HCAI for approval, the requirements for OPM by reference including specific details in the OPM as applicable. The read further application of this program, refer to PIN-62.

OSHPD Special Seismic Certification Preapproval (OSP):

Similar to the OPM program, this program is a voluntary program that is subject for review and preapproval of seismic certification for nonstructural components to be utilized in healthcare facility construction in California. This program is suited for equipment manufacturers and is limited to non-structural components that require special seismic certification in acute care facilities in emergency rooms that meet requirements of CBC section 1705.14.3, 1705A.14.3, or ASCE 7 Sec. 13.2.2.
Manufacturers that are interested in obtaining certification for some of their equipment and components offered to healthcare facilities shall conform to CBC sec. 1705A.13.3 which requires a minimum of two equipment and components to be tested from a product line with like structural configuration. When testing a variety of equipment, the two largest and smallest equipment and components shall be used for this test or other approved alternative representative equipment and components. However, when test product with single product line with no variations is attempted to be certified, performing only one test is permitted as long as it meets the International Standards Organization (ISO) 9001. All tests shall be conducted by an independent approved laboratory/testing agency having accreditation ot the ISO 17025 (or equivalent) or shall be under responsible charge of an independent California licensed engineer in accordance with CBC Section 1703.4 or 1703A.4. Then these test shall be reviewed and accepted by an independent California licensed structural engineer. Refer to PIN-55 for further requirements for certification basis.
To use an OSP product in the construction documents, the register design professional for the project shall specify on the construction plans, submitted to HCAI for approval, the requirements for special seismic certification for equipment and components in accordance with CBC sec. 1705.13.3 or CBC sec. 1705A.13.3. For equipment and components with an active OSP certification, the design professional shall provide the OSP number on the drawings, specifying the model number of the equipment or components used on the CDs as it is presented in the OSP, OSP certification does not certify the supporting structure as that would be left for the SEOR to verify and provide such attachments, and for custom equipment, such as air handling units, that do not have model numbers assigned in the OSP, submittal to HCAI shall include: (1) elevations and plans that resemble those in the OSP, (2) listing of major sub-assemblies and sub-components, and (3) average area/floor loading. Each equipment or components shall have a label in conformance to CBC sec. 1703.5 or 1703A.5. For implementation of equipment and components in the construction documents for HCAI projects, refer to PIN-55 for more details.

OSHPD Preapproved Prefabricated Components and Systems (PCS):

This program is a voluntary program that is subject for review and preapproval of prefabricated components and systems to be utilized in healthcare facility construction in California. This program allows for multiple disciples to be reviewed and approved which will make to review of construction documents submitted to HCAI for projects faster for the owners and design professionals. PCS also eliminates the need for manufacturers to find healthcare construction projects to get their system reviewed and approved, leading to time saving and certainty of receiving approval. PCS also provides opportunity to bring creative ideas without the need to wait for future code cycles. Bear in mind, this certification does not waive required on-sit or off-site inspections.
Examples of PCS such as Modular construction which will allow for manufacturer to obtain approval on their product including all the non-structural components before hand to facilitate approval during plan check, and another example is Simpson Yield Link which is now under review by HCAI and once approved, design professionals can specify these types of structural connections without submitting calculations, streamlining the plan check approval process.

For more information regarding these programs and how to apply for review and approval by HCAI, visit HCAI website at:
https://hcai.ca.gov/facilities/building-safety/preapproval-programs/