The Control Area concept and MAQ (formerly exempt amounts) came from the 1988 Uniform Fire Code which merged with BOCA and SBCC in 2000 to become the IFC. It was a concept that was a challenge for the original NFPA 400 committee to grasp since we were consolidating 10 different NFPA Hazardous Materials Standard into one with uniform definitions
The IFC definition of a Control Area is
CONTROL AREA. Spaces within a building where quantities of hazardous materials not exceeding the maximum allowable quantities per control area are stored, dispensed, used or handled.
MAQs are the maximum quantities of hazardous materials that may be stored or used in an area before the area must be designated as a hazardous occupancy
Material quantity was chosen as the primary basis of regulation, and to address the other risk factors, the code varies maximum allowable quantities (MAQs) in non-hazardous uses based on:
• Different hazard categories.
• Different states of material (solid, liquid or gas).
• Different situations (storage, use-closed or use-open).
• Different protection features.
Occupancy will determine the MAQ for each hazard
NFPA 400
5.2.1.2 Assembly Occupancies. The MAQ of hazardous materials
per control area in assembly occupancies shall be as specified
in Table 5.2.1.2.
5.2.1.3 Educational Occupancies. The MAQ of hazardous materials
per control area in educational occupancies shall be as
specified in Table 5.2.1.3.
5.2.1.4 Day-Care Occupancies. The MAQ of hazardous materials
per control area in day-care occupancies shall be as specified
in Table 5.2.1.4.
5.2.1.5 Health Care Occupancies. The MAQof hazardous materials
per control area in health care occupancies shall be as
specified in Table 5.2.1.5.
5.2.1.6 Ambulatory Health Care Occupancies. The MAQ of
hazardous materials per control area in ambulatory health
care occupancies shall be as specified in Table 5.2.1.6.
5.2.1.7 Detention and Correctional Occupancies. The MAQ
of hazardous materials per control area in detention and correctional
occupancies shall be as specified in Table 5.2.1.7.
5.2.1.8 Residential Occupancies. The MAQ of hazardous materials
per control area in residential occupancies, including
lodging and rooming houses, hotels, dormitories, apartments,
and residential board and care facilities, shall be as specified
in Table 5.2.1.8.
5.2.1.9 Mercantile Occupancies. The MAQ of hazardous materials
per control area in mercantile occupancies shall be as
specified in Table 5.2.1.1.3, with increased quantities permitted
where storage or display areas comply with 5.2.1.13.
5.2.1.10 Business Occupancies.
5.2.1.10.1 The MAQ of hazardous materials per control area
in business occupancies, other than laboratories, shall be as
specified in Table 5.2.1.10.1.
5.2.1.10.2 The MAQ of hazardous materials per control area
in laboratories classified as business occupancies shall be as
specified in Table 5.2.1.1.3.
5.2.1.11 Industrial Occupancies. The MAQ of hazardous materials
per control area in industrial occupancies shall be as
specified in Table 5.2.1.1.3, with increased quantities permitted
where storage areas comply with 5.2.1.13.
5.2.1.12 Storage Occupancies. The MAQ of hazardous materials
per control area in storage occupancies shall be as specified
in Table 5.2.1.1.3, with increased quantities permitted
where storage areas comply with 5.2.1.13.
PERMISSIBLE STORAGE AND USE LOCATIONS 400-19
2013
There are also many use specific IFC chapters such as Semiconductor Fabrication, Aviation, Higher Education Laboratories, Motor Fuel Dispensing and Repair that may have different MAQs
Eugene Ngai
Chemically Speaking LLC
www.chemicallyspeakingllc.com
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU> On Behalf Of Eugene Ngai
Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2019 3:59 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Fire Code Help
A control area is an area that is fire separated from adjacent areas. A laboratory is typically a control area. The higher up you are in a building the less control areas are allowed. I will sent the exact definition once I get to my office
Chemically Speaking LLC
Sent from my iPhone. Please excuse the typos
Hello Everyone,
I am reaching out as I need to know the practical definition of a "control area". The NFPA definition is vague and has been interpreted by someone as the whole floor of our building. I find this hard to believe when it is often being used as "laboratory suite or control area" in the standards. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
--
Monique
_________________________________________________________
Monique Wilhelm, M.S., NRCC Certified CHO
ACS CHAS Secretary|2017 CERM E. Ann Nalley Award Recipient
Laboratory Manager|Adjunct Lecturer|Chemistry Club Advisor
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry|University of Michigan-Flint
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