Maximum Allowable Quantities (MAQ) of Hazardous Materials

Researchers (PIs, Post-Docs, Graduate Students)

What are MAQs and how do they impact me?

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) and basement floors (below ground level) are more challenging for occupants to evacuate during emergencies. These upper and lower levels are also more challenging for first responders to access; therefore, MAQ limits are reduced on higher and lower 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.

What are my responsibilities?

• Ensure lab’s chemical inventory is up to date. Add and remove chemical containers in real time and reconcile at least once per year.
• Dispose of old, expired, and non-viable chemicals whenever possible.
• Pursue less hazardous alternatives wherever possible.
• Understand the specific MAQ limits for your control area by hazard class.
• Analyze current and future research needs and coordinate with UCI EHS, Fire and Life Safety, and Facilities Management to ensure the lab is equipped to store necessary hazardous materials.

Building Facilites/Space Manager

How do MAQs affect space assignments for chemical users in my building?

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.

MAQs and control area boundaries must be considered when planning new construction or renovation, such that any changes in infrastructure do not affect the integrity of the fire-rated construction that segregates control areas from one another.

Executive Leadership (VCs, Deans, Department Chairs)

UC Irvine is required to meet compliance with MAQs by 2030. UC Irvine has an Executive Official responsible for assuring our campus buildings are on track towards MAQ Compliance on or before this date.

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.