Seismic Work at Various Campuses | P2S
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Seismic Work at
Various Campuses

Seismic Compliance

What is seismic compliance? What is the process for each?

NPC-5 is the highest level of seismic compliance for utility infrastructure systems at acute care hospitals in California. Administered by HCAI (formerly OSHPD), the standard ensures hospitals remain operational during and after major seismic events. To comply, facilities must install large storage tanks for water, sewer, and generator fuel—supporting critical hospital functions in the event of disrupted utilities. These tanks require substantial space, either underground or at grade level, making early planning and site coordination essential for successful implementation.

Hospitals serve as critical lifelines for communities—especially during earthquakes. To ensure continuous care during emergencies, facilities must remain operational with reliable access to utilities like water, drainage, and backup power. Achieving seismic compliance supports this goal by reinforcing the systems hospitals need to stay open and functional during California’s most severe seismic events.

All licensed acute care hospitals in California must achieve NPC-5 compliance by January 1, 2030. To meet this mandate, hospitals must follow a series of regulatory milestones. The first major deadline was January 1, 2024, which required a comprehensive campus assessment to determine utility storage needs during a seismic event, in accordance with HCAI and CDPH guidelines. From 2024 to 2030, additional steps—including design permitting and the start of construction—must be completed to ensure full compliance.

NPC-4D compliance will require anchoring MEP equipment and bracing ducts, pipes, and conduits serving the critical care areas. SPC compliance will require upgrading the building's structural systems. NPC-5 compliance will require installing water, sewer, and fuel tanks to ensure that the hospital can operate for 72 hours after a seismic event.

P2S' Role in Seismic
Compliance Projects

What is the role of P2S in seismic compliance projects?

P2S assisted many hospital owners across Southern and Northern California with the first step of the NPC-5 compliance path by submitting campus assessments in close collaboration with each campus and the HCAI Seismic Compliance Unit. Drawing on a broad base of experience, P2S tailored each assessment and compliance strategy to address the unique challenges of individual campuses—while optimizing for hospital operations, maintenance preferences, and reliability needs.

We are performing site investigations to confirm the existing utility routings and equipment for MEP systems serving the critical care areas and providing documentation to the structural engineer who will be providing the anchorage and bracing details. We are also working closely with the facility and the civil engineer to determine the emergency water, sewer, and fuel tank location on the campus.

Some of the older hospitals are lacking the plans showing the existing installations. The as built plans are essential to our NPC-4D design because we need to identify and show on the floor plan the MEP systems and utilities serving the critical care areas. The SPC projects will require the MEP systems to be routed or relocated around the new structural elements installed in the ceiling space, and minimize the system shutdowns at the same time to ensure the hospital's continuous operations.

The seismic upgrade projects will enhance safety for both patients and staff in the hospital after completion.

Ongoing Projects

  • Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital – NPC-4D & NPC-5
  • Ventura County Hospital – NPC-5
  • Saddleback Memorial Hospital – SPC/NPC-4D
  • California Hospital – SPC-4D
  • College Medical Center – NPC-4D & NPC-5
  • UCI Health – Lakewood – NPC-4D & NPC-5
  • Olive View Medical Center – NPC-4D & NPC-5
  • Santa Paula Medical Center – NPC-4D
  • Huntington Beach Hospital – NPC-4D & NPC-5
  • St. Francis Hospital – NPC-5
  • San Dimas Community Hospital –NPC-4D & NPC-5
  • Sherman Oaks Hospital – NPC-4D & NPC-5
  • Paradise Valley Hospital – NPC-4D & NPC-5
  • Shasta Regional Medical Center – NPC-4D & NPC-5
  • Chino Valley Medical Center – NPC-4D & NPC-5
  • West Anaheim Medical Center – NPC-4D & NPC-5
  • Centinela Hospital Medical Center – NPC-4D & NPC-5
  • Huntington Beach Hospital – NPC-4D & NPC-5
  • St. Francis Hospital – NPC-5
  • San Dimas Community Hospital – NPC-4D & NPC-5
  • Sherman Oaks Hospital – NPC-4D & NPC-5
  • Paradise Valley Hospital – NPC-4D & NPC-5
  • Shasta Regional Medical Center – NPC-4D & NPC-5
  • Chino Valley Medical Center – NPC-4D & NPC-5
  • West Anaheim Medical Center – NPC-4D & NPC-5
  • Montclair Hospital Medical Center – NPC-4D & NPC-5
  • La Palma Intercommunity Hospital – NPC-4D & NPC-5
  • Encino Hospital Medical Center – NPC-4D & NPC-5
  • Garden Grover Medical Center – NPC-4D & NPC-5

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