[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6076651,"mediaKeyId","2968349-3b4b068fa52aa73e1207117c51edc2fe","parentId",2968349,"title","Webinar clarifies seismic separation, utility and egress rules for converted or upgraded hospital buildings","audioSeconds",665,"startMs",1655000,"endMs",2320000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2968349-3b4b068fa52aa73e1207117c51edc2fe&start=1655&end=2320","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2968349-3b4b068fa52aa73e1207117c51edc2fe/thumbnail_1655000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6076651/California/Webinar-clarifies-seismic-separation-utility-and-egress-rules-for-converted-or-upgraded-hospital-buildings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076651-a6625b5e658d646a7a0ad977df913882/orig.mp4?Expires=1771005038&Signature=N4FovkdT38Ab-3xV5jBo~Ieq2jHuL2QCynIEAWDJPPN9VRHaPY0p03hFxF-bVeeH~K31OvTTwSLdpxZIzUHnklY8Or9B-aINP0dEFxgCdRGyt9frAM8ElPsn6BanlTxqVTv94x2dAIrLocSR7bVPXqKoJ8x~JiGr5BuyuE1KBhcreajKnUqzPRFu8OxoPCngL3LNd7Wam1gRhFViUuU7Cb3kUtprdgS9xTAGs~mOMFk0cR0ZM2LnIWwgyBI6v~BMgq8UVxjUvk7WZ-H6rOwarWk8ov-EfgVJZjsBiLFP9i5n81MG5xCYAwfnSKckEhJ~0BNehdbhLp7t3wTsbAxGuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Department of Health Care Access and Information","date","2025-04-12T11:21:22.203Z","article","HCAI’s Seismic Compliance Unit provided detailed guidance on seismic separations and the technical limits on utilities, egress and fire systems when a hospital building is converted to OSHPD 1R or upgraded to SPC 4D.

The webinar explained the difference between an architectural building and an SPC building: an SPC building is defined by an independent lateral and vertical load‑resisting system, whereas an architectural building is bounded by exterior walls and firewalls and may contain multiple SPC buildings. HCAI stressed that freestanding status—required for transfer of jurisdiction to local authorities—means structural and fire separation meeting California Administrative Code criteria within the same lot and appropriate height/area limits.

Technical rules emphasized in the webinar include:
- Seismic separations must be verified around the building; HCAI maintains public site plans that show seam lines where separations exist and owners should confirm those annotations.
- Utilities (power, fire mains, life safety systems) cannot originate in a building removed from general acute care and feed compliant acute‑care buildings; isolation devices and tamper switches must be installed on the compliant‑building side where sprinkler systems cross seismic joints.
- The main fire alarm control panel must be located in an acute‑care hospital building, not in an OSHPD 1R building.
- Patient access and primary entrances cannot be routed through an OSHPD 1R building; egress paths must comply with applicable code dimensions and cannot rely on removed acute‑care buildings.

HCAI presented adjacency checks and examples showing when gap size per story, floor alignment and relative building heights permit exceptions to collapse‑prevention gap checks, and when a full collapse‑prevention evaluation is required. Presenters recommended that designers verify separations at multiple points around a building (gaps at each story) because separations can vary across elevations.

Ending: HCAI advised owners to consult the department’s online site plans, discuss ambiguous cases with regional staff and submit proposed separation clarifications early to avoid protracted review during construction drawing submittal.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","HCAI Webinar | Seismic Performance Category (SPC) Compliance","oneSentenceSummary","HCAI clarified how seismic separations, freestanding definitions, utility origins, fire alarm location and patient access affect conversions to OSHPD 1R or SPC 4D upgrades.","taxTitle","Department of Health Care Access and Information, Agencies under Office of the Governor, Executive, California","taxId",16207,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6076656,"HCAI webinar highlights analysis choices: linear vs. nonlinear, SSI and time histories for SPC projects",480,4686000,5166000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2968349-3b4b068fa52aa73e1207117c51edc2fe&start=4686&end=5166","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2968349-3b4b068fa52aa73e1207117c51edc2fe/thumbnail_4686000.jpg","/articles/6076656/California/HCAI-webinar-highlights-analysis-choices-linear-vs-nonlinear-SSI-and-time-histories-for-SPC-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076656-28718ad7927a266c16ec3eea1eda6a97/orig.mp4?Expires=1771005038&Signature=BDTZLh6aZzAmKF49k3GE5WYy~2mEnlHEBM0Lgw-VUsI9vgIorwirEUIzfY5X8~Mj4zCOTFKHJ8AinGEVRE7GOWuC8ZW-NF4DYwNtJnh9BJMlk3JNpc8cFOEUyRRqiNoIfuxjtzylXNFfSm~ZjKLqc8U~CZSxFwN8WGAts4HwcmNcFGJ8GddIBCKJ1p8G19OM0H-H4cPzQVl6DVETxZrYU2QbvHcg8azcr86VfQbE2HPcrEykP7wvd9aerdPchnH1QSbyRt9zNuAKgTSRIW~0w~v46HUD5IpijYFvw61Ev~dsczKlbQQXryX8pl2KnEThFXRA055iMio9YAQiATpr2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Department of Health Care Access and Information’s Seismic Compliance Unit advised engineers on analysis approaches for SPC retrofit projects, emphasizing correct method selection, checks and common pitfalls.

Seismic Compliance Unit staff said ASCE/SEI 41‑13 remains the governing standard for SPC 4D evaluation. For many projects designers use linear analysis, but HCAI cautioned that linear approaches have limitations for buildings with certain irregularities and should not be used where code or geometry disqualify them. The webinar recommended doing linear checks and a pushover analysis as a sanity check before committing to nonlinear time‑history analysis. Sumer said nonlinear methods often produce a more accurate model of damage behavior and can reduce retrofit scope, but they require specialized expertise.

Soil‑structure interaction (SSI): HCAI told attendees that for stiff, short‑period buildings (where the response spectra increases with decreasing period) SSI modeling may be required because softening of the structure in damage can paradoxically increase base shear. The unit offered two options where SSI effects matter: perform SSI modeling or adopt a conservative flat-top modification to the response spectrum (a commonly accepted simplification) when justified.

Other technical cautions in the webinar included checking diaphragm modeling (artificially low base shear can result from improper diaphragm assumptions), careful treatment of accidental torsion for semi‑rigid diaphragms, correct coupling‑beam modeling, and careful selection of ground‑motion records (ASCE 7‑10 site spectra were the default guidance cited). HCAI also noted growing experience with fiber‑reinforced polymer (FRP) solutions and that the Seismic Compliance Unit is collecting FRP tests under a preapproval program to inform future guidance.

Ending: HCAI encouraged owners to hire firms with demonstrated nonlinear analysis experience for complex projects, run linear sanity checks, and consult with the Seismic Compliance Unit early when advanced modeling choices or SSI issues arise.","HCAI staff reviewed analytical approaches for SPC upgrades, advising engineers to respect linear-analysis limitations, consider nonlinear time-history or pushover checks, and model soil‑structure interaction where required.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6076661,"HCAI stresses comprehensive material testing and phased sampling for SPC upgrades",300,3540000,3840000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2968349-3b4b068fa52aa73e1207117c51edc2fe&start=3540&end=3840","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2968349-3b4b068fa52aa73e1207117c51edc2fe/thumbnail_3540000.jpg","/articles/6076661/California/HCAI-stresses-comprehensive-material-testing-and-phased-sampling-for-SPC-upgrades","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076661-5de79686f27a44a48a16458da9abb69e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771005038&Signature=DrU-E9Hzht7xnTia6q0Auo~17BETZgPFicQV0Cow7eoaMM9BxGarlhNkkVu8ZGqFUKLejFKVYmkoPsZKpUhe2I6IvrkopiIXavRw0OZ4EM3B~bAHUNV750HIQIi90gTDmlSzYcb0oacHM4iBN94dLaojqZABkCblPzmQRBEpcAKsFetnQL7LF9aEfHYN2YMQvJfXpCZU2tUFcdMjMS11cGID-KyXYFxaYYCCE6ncNhr1HG6~j49o7jFLuM0N7nIpoRwidQZs06yrNJiFSmii9mZ3l3c8j4d~Lm6sOgWdJQbA1CTtV3q8ynDacrmUWVlGp6fO4egqrhpI2826mcW2~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","HCAI’s Seismic Compliance Unit emphasized that material testing and condition assessment are critical before retrofit design for SPC 4D projects and recommended a phased, risk‑based testing program to avoid unnecessary invasive sampling.

The webinar explained the distinction between material testing (destructive sampling, cores, prism tests) and condition assessment (opening spaces, verifying dimensions, documenting existing conditions). HCAI uses a Material Testing and Condition Assessment Program (MTCAP) and a Material Testing and Condition Assessment Results report (MTCAR) to structure planning, execution and reporting. Sumer said design professionals must lead the testing program and not delegate evaluation decisions to testing laboratories.

Key practical guidance from the webinar:
- HCAI requires verification of as‑built conditions before construction for SPC 4D upgrades; testing results must be available to inform retrofit design.
- Where code‑calculated sample counts would be very large, HCAI recommends a two‑phase sampling plan: take an initial sample set, evaluate correlation with assumptions, and proceed to additional sampling only if results are inconsistent.
- Prism tests for masonry are larger and more invasive than concrete cores; HCAI recommends minimizing prism counts and using phased sampling when many tests are required.
- Weld and weld‑electrode chemistry is often misleading because samples mix base metal and electrode; HCAI cautioned that many weld alloy tests are inconclusive and recommended relying on visual inspection and targeted destructive checks when necessary.
- Avoid cutting columns when possible; sample adjacent beams instead to reduce risk to primary elements.

Sumer said owners should document all outlier test results; HCAI looks for construction quality rather than averages. The presenter recommended keeping email records of any testing location changes and consulting HCAI when assumptions and test findings diverge.

Ending: HCAI recommended early coordination between owners, design professionals and the Seismic Compliance Unit on an MTCAP; phased sampling can reduce unnecessary damage and allow designers to refine retrofit work before construction.","The Seismic Compliance Unit recommended comprehensive material testing (MTCAP/MTCAR), cautioned about common sampling pitfalls and advised phased sampling to limit invasive testing during SPC 4D retrofit planning.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6076665,"HCAI outlines SPC 4D upgrade path and performance expectations for older hospitals",270,2640000,2910000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2968349-3b4b068fa52aa73e1207117c51edc2fe&start=2640&end=2910","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2968349-3b4b068fa52aa73e1207117c51edc2fe/thumbnail_2640000.jpg","/articles/6076665/California/HCAI-outlines-SPC-4D-upgrade-path-and-performance-expectations-for-older-hospitals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076665-08289ea529204aa311aa1efbd3f22b96/orig.mp4?Expires=1771005038&Signature=YbFVa4BVmbRnO-5NsAHN-5z3nm7sXXUK7JGYEYgS7IznIY0j1nn7bd~3NXQOlHrlSG4EOgLWpalogsELf1HHbaW04O0ZtyEmdWXnZVQo7EPqyAT6x0Zuzx1Hu3xdijBv1Aq7Ura9pXDMje9KyfpExa0CNaiO2mV8eJC2TvHqS134X3p1PpaZOrodMLT1zfwbD4HmL0WOZ37T11498XeUMKxmNs1xRZz-BPnjRZEQUbCjuVzxHWoxhKxKjbvRZxM3n1G7FXsTtAKN1prY4TtoHwovvcVT6q5m1i7C2HWVVwVFz5EZRO43edbk-VVeKV22O~MCQ3XeD0wLdibo2lJmCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Department of Health Care Access and Information’s Seismic Compliance Unit reviewed the SPC 4D upgrade option for pre‑1973 buildings and explained the expected performance, eligibility limits and design standards for hospitals seeking to operate beyond the statewide deadline. The unit’s supervisor, Ollie Sumer, said SPC 4D is an upgrade route that sits between older SPC categories and a new‑building standard and is targeted at retaining service beyond the compliance deadline with controlled, repairable damage.

Sumer said SPC 4D is not the same as an SPC‑4 or SPC‑5 new building rating; rather, it is an upgrade classification that accepts some expected damage while keeping the hospital functional. The unit has locked SPC 4D evaluations to ASCE/SEI 41‑13 (commonly referred to in the webinar as ASCE 41‑13) and the corresponding ASCE 7‑10 seismic hazard maps, to avoid shifting design bases midstream. The webinar noted that a 1980‑code prescriptive route remains an alternative in limited cases, but HCAI staff said the 1980 route is rarely feasible due to prescriptive detailing requirements.

Eligibility and limits: HCAI listed three building types that are not eligible for the SPC 4D route as left unchanged: buildings on active fault rupture traces, unreinforced masonry shear‑wall buildings (URMs) and certain precast concrete buildings. The presenter noted owners can change a building’s lateral system behavior through retrofit detailing so that it is no longer classified ineligible, but left the option and feasibility to owner/design teams to demonstrate.

Performance expectations: under ASCE 41‑13 guidance accepted by HCAI, the design earthquake performance target for most retrofit components will be damage‑control; collapse prevention is evaluated for more severe events. Sumer warned owners that SPC 4D upgrades generally permit visible cracking and some localized damage even when the building remains operational after an event; the standard is intended to reduce life‑safety risk without achieving “new building” performance.

Administrative note: there is no separate intermediate SPC deadline; the final compliance date for SPC work aligns with the statewide deadline of Feb. 1, 2030. HCAI advised owners to coordinate SPC planning with NPC (nonstructural) deadlines so construction work is sequenced to reduce repeated opening and closing of ceilings and walls and to save costs.

Ending: HCAI advised hospital owners and engineers to consult early with the Seismic Compliance Unit about eligibility, and to plan whether the ASCE 41‑13 approach or the 1980 prescriptive route is the most appropriate for each building’s configuration and site seismicity.","HCAI staff described the SPC 4D upgrade pathway—an intermediate retrofit standard based on ASCE 41‑13 or a 1980-code prescriptive route—and clarified eligibility, expected damage levels and the locked design standards.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6076669,"HCAI webinar details process, deadlines for removing hospital buildings from general acute care",1510,1230000,2740000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2968349-3b4b068fa52aa73e1207117c51edc2fe&start=1230&end=2740","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2968349-3b4b068fa52aa73e1207117c51edc2fe/thumbnail_1230000.jpg","/articles/6076669/California/HCAI-webinar-details-process-deadlines-for-removing-hospital-buildings-from-general-acute-care","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076669-fc19c2603316c7ccafeb8fff0265c696/orig.mp4?Expires=1771005038&Signature=pBMsEC5oLB5ey1kLfqfE9rYLwTWDPydBPQCVxWN-auarnweUEt1kCH4yub9oVz611pWGTulsJaAZk42329v40VDzp4icKC-RmPejbutWZoL~rV23ULlvQvNusH4I-NdQhF-qzsehkAJaN-LUYNXrIx6Eh1~tSZCx1w3VHiZx2jic6x1lWR7AG9rt5JPRsD9ZkeCiZDBig-GOCmKkISKL0tc-L9N7Ha17Ku487k6r0B8naSL1-NTTXn-t3K4XD7EahyeYe60sGCNBL6cadMMYA-qmb-MnOVhRREsYNAZfiNrKMphLie2vnps9OpcSZrUcZKusOOaw8GLgc6HVy25sYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ollie Sumer, supervisor for the Seismic Compliance Unit at the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI), told a statewide webinar that hospital owners who plan to remove a building from general acute care service must file a letter of intent and follow a defined code and review process.

The move to an OSHPD 1R designation begins with an owner’s letter of intent stating the building will not provide general acute care beyond the statewide compliance deadline. Sumer said, “First, we need to get a letter of intent that you are thinking to remove, from acute care.” The webinar reiterated two near-term administrative deadlines: seismic compliance plans are due Jan. 1, 2026, and construction documents for an OSHPD 1R conversion must be submitted by March 1, 2026. HCAI said construction for the conversion must be complete by Feb. 1, 2030, unless an owner has an approved AB 869 extension that revises that date for the building’s final construction.

Why this matters: owners of older hospital buildings face a choice—upgrade to a higher seismic performance category, convert the building away from general acute care, or demolish it. The OSHPD 1R pathway preserves HCAI jurisdiction while removing general acute care functions, but it requires a formal planning and construction program and specific separations so a 1R building cannot adversely affect remaining acute care operations.

Under HCAI guidance, a building becomes OSHPD 1R only if it remains under HCAI jurisdiction; HCAI cannot accept a building handed back from a local authority and then redesignate it 1R. Conversions commonly require design drawings and construction that separate structural systems and fire protection so that collapse or failure of the 1R building will not impair functioning acute-care buildings. The webinar stressed that a 1R building must meet separation and fire-safety rules in the California Existing Building Code (noted in the webinar as CEB 312.3.1) and related OSHPD requirements.

The presenter highlighted common technical constraints for 1R conversions: the OSHPD/ HCAI-controlled building cannot supply primary utilities to acute-care buildings (fire alarm control panels must be in an acute-care building), sprinkler mains that cross seismic joints must include isolation valves and tamper switches on the compliant-building side, and services such as patient access routes must not pass through an OSHPD 1R building. The webinar also explained the concept of “freestanding” for transfers to local jurisdiction: buildings must have structural and fire separation that satisfies the California Administrative Code and height/area limits on the same lot before a local authority may take jurisdiction.

HCAI staff said some services are permitted to remain in 1R buildings (outpatient services, skilled nursing, acute psychiatric care and related services) under the existing-code exceptions; the transcript referenced the CEB provisions that allow certain duplicative services when a building is adapted for these uses. HCAI also enforces signage and record-keeping requirements after conversion (entrance placards and inventory updates).

Sumer advised owners and design professionals to meet early with HCAI regional architects and the Seismic Compliance Unit to get project-specific guidance and preliminary comments, and to submit a preliminary OSHPD 1R project to the region for early feedback. He said the region architects can advise on site-specific requirements and help avoid surprises before construction documents are prepared.

Ending: HCAI’s Seismic Compliance Unit reiterated that the OSHPD 1R route is a legitimate compliance option for some hospitals, but owners should engage HCAI staff early, confirm whether their building is freestanding for transfer to local jurisdiction, and plan construction and utilities work to meet the stated regulatory deadlines.","Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) staff outlined the OSHPD 1R conversion path for hospitals that plan to remove buildings from general acute care use, including required letters, deadlines and technical separations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Webinar clarifies seismic separation, utility and egress rules for converted or upgraded hospital buildings

HCAI webinar highlights analysis choices: linear vs. nonlinear, SSI and time histories for SPC projects

HCAI stresses comprehensive material testing and phased sampling for SPC upgrades

HCAI outlines SPC 4D upgrade path and performance expectations for older hospitals

HCAI webinar details process, deadlines for removing hospital buildings from general acute care