Maximum Allowable Quantities (MAQ) of Hazardous Materials
Overview
Maximum allowable quantities (MAQs) per control area. The maximum amount of hazardous material allowed to be stored or used within a control area inside a building or an outdoor control area. The California Fire Code (CFC) and California Building Code (CBC) establish these limits, which are broken down by hazard class and physical state (solid, liquid, or gas). Compliance with Fire Code hazardous materials regulations ensures that the minimum level of fire and life safety is met for building occupants and first responders.
Determining MAQs relies on many factors, including:
Quantities of hazardous materials
Types of hazardous materials
Physical state of hazardous materials
Method of storage and use
Occupancy type
Building and construction attributes
Building ventilation and automatic fire suppression system (sprinklers)
A space within a building where quantities of hazardous materials not exceeding the maximum allowable quantities (MAQs) per control area are stored, dispensed, used, or handled. Control areas can be indoors or outdoors. A single control area can span an entire building, floor, room, or contiguous suite of rooms. However, they must be separated from other control areas by fire-resistance rated construction.
Must be separated from each other by fire-resistance rated barriers on all six sides (floor, ceiling, 4 walls)
Number of control areas allowed and MAQs per control area vary with floor level, sprinkler status, and storage conditions of chemicals
Lab A + Lab B + Lab C + … Lab X = TOTAL Control Area MAQs
Hazard Categories
The California Fire Code (CFC) regulates hazardous materials that pose physical or acute health hazards. Materials are classified according to their CFC definitions for MAQ and regulatory purposes. These definitions are not always in alignment with OSHA definitions, which are based on the United Nation’s Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).
Per CFC, chemical mixtures shall be classified with hazards of the mixture as a whole. Mixtures of hazardous materials shall be classified in accordance with nationally recognized reference standards; by an approved qualified organization, individual, or Safety Data Sheet (SDS); or by other approved methods.
Fire Code Maximum Allowable Quantities (MAQs) are limits on types and quantities of hazardous materials (chemicals) that can safely be stored in buildings. MAQ limits are dependent on how the building was constructed, whether it has full automatic fire sprinkler coverage, and other variables such as which floor/level chemicals are being stored and used. MAQ limits are more restrictive for highly hazardous chemicals and on upper floors (above 3rd story).
MAQ limits for your lab are impacted by your specific building and lab space. For many buildings, you share the MAQ limits with other labs on the same floor as you. In other spaces, your lab may be surrounded on all sides by fire-resistant rated construction, keeping it as a separate “control area” from neighboring labs. If your lab is separated, MAQ limits are restricted to your individual control area.
Upper floors (higher than 3rd story) are more challenging for occupants to evacuate during emergencies. These upper levels are also more challenged for first responders to access, therefore the MAQ limits are reduced on higher levels relative to the first floor.
In many cases, your lab will need to reduce chemical quantities in order to be compliant with the California Fire Code. Operationally, this could mean lab cleanouts and removal of older chemicals, more frequent orders of common chemicals in smaller quantities (rather than bulk), sharing common chemicals within your lab (rather than each researcher having their own container), and reliance on stock rooms or re-use facilities for some chemicals.
Contact EHS or your Campus Fire Marshal to learn more about MAQ limits for your lab and control area.
Building Facilites/Space Manager
How do MAQs affect my building?
Fire Code Maximum Allowable Quantities (MAQs) are limits on types and quantities of hazardous materials (chemicals) that can safely be stored in buildings. MAQ limits are dependent on how the building was constructed, whether it has full automatic fire sprinkler coverage, and other variables such as which floor/level chemicals are being stored and used. MAQ limits are more restrictive for highly hazardous chemicals.
How do MAQs affect space assignments for chemical users in my building?
Fire Code Maximum Allowable Quantities (MAQs) vary tremendously on building attributes such as sprinkler coverage, fire-resistant rated construction, and where hazardous materials are being stored and used. Upper floors (higher than 3rd story) are more challenging for occupants to evacuate during emergencies. These upper levels are also more challenged for first responders to access, therefore the MAQ limits are reduced on higher levels relative to the first floor.
For building managers responsible for assigning new faculty to spaces, it is prudent to discuss the limitations of that space with EHS or the Campus Fire Marshal prior to space assignments. For example, synthetic chemistry research or users of toxic gases will be severely restricted on upper floors of most buildings.
Executive Leadership (VCs, Deans, Department Chairs)
UC Irvine is required to meet compliance with MAQs by 2030. UCI has an Executive Official responsible for assuring our campus buildings are on track towards MAQ Compliance on or before this date.
Fire Code Maximum Allowable Quantities (MAQs) are limits on types and quantities of hazardous materials (chemicals) that can safely be stored and used in buildings. These limits apply to all buildings on UC property. MAQ limits are dependent on how the building was constructed, whether it has full automatic fire sprinkler coverage, and other variables such as which floor chemicals are being stored and used. MAQ limits are more restrictive for highly hazardous chemicals and for chemicals stored and used on upper floors (greater than 3 stories). These limits can have a significant impact on existing research laboratories. In many cases, researchers will be asked to reduce the number of chemicals they are currently storing in their labs in order to become compliant with the California Fire Code. EHS and the Campus Fire Marshal can provide guidance on the MAQ Initiative.
Environmental Health & Safety (EHS)
EHS staff assist in managing chemical inventories for UC Irvine and are familiar with RSS Chemicals, but PIs and researchers are ultimately responsible for updating their chemical inventory. EHS acts as the liaison between chemical users and regulatory agencies and the Campus Fire Marshal, and are familiar with the objectives of MAQ compliance and how they impact chemical users.
Campus Fire Marshal
The Campus Fire Marshal identifies control areas and/or lab suites for buildings at UCI. This is accomplished by identifying fire-resistant rated construction from record drawings. Fire barriers used to separate control areas are field verified for integrity.
Design & Construction Services
Fire Code Maximum Allowable Quantities (MAQs) are limits on types and quantities of hazardous materials (chemicals) that can safely be stored and used in buildings. MAQ limits are dependent on how the building is constructed, whether it has full automatic fire sprinkler coverage, occupancy type, and other variables such as which floor/level chemicals are being stored and used. For all new projects (new building or TI project), inquire as to whether or not any hazardous materials will be stored in the new space. Labs, shops, storage facilities, diesel generators, research support buildings, energy storage, facilities supporting custodial or maintenance are some examples of spaces which may contain hazardous chemicals.
In the earliest planning phases, discuss any planned chemical storage with your Campus Fire Marshal. They can provide guidance on the most appropriate type of building and/or occupancy type for planned chemical usage. Hazardous Materials Inventory Statements (HMISs) will be required prior to submittal of new projects.
Fire Code Maximum Allowable Quantities (MAQs) vary tremendously on building attributes such as sprinkler coverage, fire-resistant rated construction, and where hazardous materials are being stored and used. Upper floors (higher than 3rd story) are more challenging for occupants to evacuate during emergencies. These upper levels are also more challenged for first responders to access, therefore the MAQ limits are reduced on higher levels relative to the first floor.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Maximum allowable quantities (MAQs) are the maximum amount of hazardous materials allowed to be stored or used within a control area in a building. These limits are established by the California Fire Code (CFC) and are broken down by hazard class. The MAQs are intended to ensure the quantities of hazardous materials in a building are within the safe operating levels for the fire and life safety elements to which the building is designed and operated. Adhering to these limits is essential for ensuring a building is safe for its occupants and first responders.
A control area is a space within a building where hazardous materials are stored, dispensed, used or handled. Control areas are constructed with features like fire rated walls that prevent the spread of fire to and from other areas in the building, allowing for safe emergency egress and fire department response. The number of control areas on a floor varies greatly across UCI buildings.
Determining MAQs is complex and relies on several structural and operational factors.
The most common factors that determine MAQs at UCI are:
► Which floor your lab is located (see Fig. 1 below) ► Whether a fire sprinkler system is installed throughout the building ► Use of approved storage cabinets
As emergency response and egress become increasingly difficult with building height, the quantity of hazardous materials that can be safely used and stored decreases. For example, the MAQs on floors 9th and above are 5% of those allowed on the 1st floor.
On the other hand, if the entire building is equipped with a sprinkler system or approved storage cabinets, the MAQ may be increased if all fire code requirements are met.
Please contact EHS at 949-824-6200 or email safety@uci.edu for information about your MAQ status and whether you are compliant.
MAQs are set by the Fire Code to keep building occupants and first responders safe. Exceeding MAQs puts everyone at risk and is considered a serious offense. If your control area exceeds the MAQ, EHS will contact you with recommended corrective actions.
Examples of corrective actions include decreasing the quantities of hazardous materials you store and using approved storage cabinets.
UC Chemicals: Searching your chemical inventory by hazard class will provide a list of chemicals that fall into that hazard.
1. Search your UC Chemicals inventory for the hazard category of interest.
2. Select Advanced Search
3. Select the “Classification” dropdown menu
4. Once the classification is selected the search will automatically update.
Strategies to reduce the chemicals you store include:
Purchase smaller quantities of chemicals (e.g. 1 L rather than 4 L)
Do not purchase duplicate chemicals or cases
Share chemicals where possible
Maintain an accurate inventory
Update your online inventory every time a chemical is purchased or discarded
Reconcile your inventory at least annually
Dispose of any expired or unneeded chemicals and update your inventory
Consolidate chemicals since each bottle counts as if it were full
MAQs are largely determined by building construction. Building construction (e.g. installing fire sprinklers and fire rated walls) can increase the limit; however it can be very costly.
MAQs can also be increased by storing all chemicals in approved storage cabinets (e.g. flammable storage cabinets, gas cabinets). Due to their complexity, MAQ increases must be addressed on a case-by-case basis.
It is a major safety issue if a MAQ is exceeded and unable to be resolved. The issue will be escalated to Campus leadership and enforcement will be determined on a case by case basis.
MAQs have always been enforced at UCI. However, this process is lengthy, expensive, and each individual control area needs to be evaluated.
UCI is in the process of implementing a new chemical inventory software (UC Chemicals) that allows facile and quick reports of MAQ compliance in real time.
As the campus grows, new PIs are added, and current PIs move into renovated spaces as MAQ issues are identified and evaluated.
