Best Practices for Project Management, Design, and Construction of ...

The Building Safety Section manages technical considerations relative to the design, inspection
and construction of new buildings and/or modifications to existing buildings. Within the Building
and Safety Section there are six regions, based on geographical assignments. Each region has
both an Architectural and Engineering Unit and a Field Compliance Unit to provide plan review
and field observation services.
Regional Architectural and Engineering Unit
The Architectural and Engineering Unit is responsible for ensuring that all plans for work within a
hospital building are properly prepared by California licensed design professionals, and that the
plans conform to the requirements of the California Code of Regulations (CCR). Each regional
Architectural and Engineering Unit is managed by a regional supervisor who oversees the work of
a staff of plan reviewers comprised of licensed architects and electrical, mechanical, structural
engineers, and engineering geologists, as well as fire and life safety officers.
Regional Field Compliance Unit
The Field Compliance Unit oversees the construction inspections of facilities within the
geographic boundary of their respective region. This oversight enhances the construction quality
of hospital facilities and fosters better lines of communication between OSHPD and the various
architects, geologists, engineers, inspectors and contractors involved in hospital construction. A
Regional Compliance Officer (RCO) supervises a staff comprised of compliance officers, district
structural engineers, and fire and life safety officers.
Details on working with OSHPD field staff can be found in Section 6 of this volume.
Structural Services Section
The Structural Services Section is charged with distinct responsibilities associated with structural
and seismic considerations of buildings and building system components. It is comprised of the
Seismic Compliance Unit and the Structural Support Unit.
Seismic Compliance Unit
The Seismic Compliance Unit is responsible for the management of ongoing compliance plans
and progress associated with the Hospital Seismic Retrofit Program. Senate Bill 1953 (SB 1953)
(Chapter 740, Statutes 1994) was enacted January 1, 1995. The bill was an amendment to and
furtherance of the Alfred E. Alquist Hospital Facilities Seismic Safety Act of 1983 (Alquist Act). SB
1953 (Chapter 740, 1994) is now chaptered into statute in Sections 130000 through 130070 of the
Alfred E. Alquist Hospital Facilities Seismic Safety Act and is part of the California Health and
Safety Code.
Structural Support Unit
The Structural Support Unit is responsible for the management, review, and processing for
approval of Geotechnical Reports and the Pre-Approval programs for equipment special seismic
certification, equipment anchorage and restraint, and standard details.
(OSHPD Best Practices) Page 4 DRAFT FINAL, Sept. 2011