diff --git a/src/ifcparse/IfcFile.h b/src/ifcparse/IfcFile.h
index 50c6897b75..1adcd1c7ae 100644
--- a/src/ifcparse/IfcFile.h
+++ b/src/ifcparse/IfcFile.h
@@ -245,6 +245,8 @@ public:
 
 	unsigned int FreshId() { return ++MaxId; }
 
+	unsigned int getMaxId() { return MaxId; }
+
 	void recalculate_id_counter();
 
 	IfcUtil::IfcBaseClass* addEntity(IfcUtil::IfcBaseClass* entity, int id=-1);