MAQ / Control Area Calculator

MAQ / Control Area Calculator

Maximum Allowable Quantity (MAQ) / Control Area Calculator

Indoor control areas only (outdoor control areas not supported). Results are a screening tool—verify against adopted code and project conditions.

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Building & Code Basis

Select the MAQ table basis to use for compliance checking (IFC 2021 or NFPA 400 2022/2025).
Switch between US customary and SI display units. The tool converts your existing inputs where the conversion is meaningful.
Story factor reduces MAQs above/below grade. Values come from the provided floor level factor table (aligned with IFC Table 5003.8.3.2).
Must not exceed the maximum allowed for the selected story factor row (also indicates required fire barrier rating between control areas).
Choose the building-wide protection condition. This affects eligibility for sprinkler-based MAQ adjustments and, for some NFPA 400 entries, may be required to claim “NL” when NFPA 30 Chapter 16 protection criteria are met.
Material
Enter a descriptive material name (e.g., “Acetone”, “Sodium chlorate”, “Nitric acid”). Used for reporting only.
Hazard
Select the hazard category/class that governs MAQ (physical or health hazard). Some items are visible but flagged as “not supported—engineering evaluation required.”
State
Physical state / form that determines which MAQ column applies (solid, liquid, gas as volume, or gas as liquefied mass basis).
Activity
Storage vs use in closed systems vs use in open systems. MAQs can differ by activity and may be N/A for some states.
Quantity
Quantity must be entered in the MAQ unit basis for the selected hazard/state/activity (shown next to the input).
Ctrl area
Assign each line item to a specific control area on this floor. The tool groups and totals automatically by control area and hazard.
Protection
If you claim an MAQ increase for approved cabinets/enclosures (when the table allows), select the applicable protection. Some hazards require gas cabinets/rooms/enclosures.

Results

How to read results

The tool totals quantities by control area + hazard + state + activity, then compares to the applicable MAQ after story factor and any eligible footnote adjustments.

Summary

Add at least one line item and click Calculate.

Assumptions & applicability
  • No outdoor control areas: this tool evaluates indoor control areas only.
  • Cabinet/enclosure increases: applied only when the selected MAQ cell includes the relevant footnote and the user indicates qualifying protection.
  • Mixed protection: if a hazard group mixes “protected” and “unprotected” line items for the same control area/state/activity, the tool applies a conservative assumption (no cabinet/enclosure increase for that group).
  • Hazard classification: you must correctly classify materials (e.g., oxidizer class, peroxide type). The tool does not derive classifications from SDS data.
  • Engineering judgement: items marked “not supported—engineering evaluation required” are not automatically evaluated for compliance.
References
  • IFC 2021
  • NFPA 400 (2022).
  • NFPA 400 (2025).
AQ / Control Area Calculator

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