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.