Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

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DECISION
FILE NO.: 040283
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 34 Southwest Avenue
APPLICANT: Mr. Arthur H. Washburn, Jr. P.O. Box 172 Jamestown, RI 02835
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Industrial
DATE OF DECISION: 2005-07-21
The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on July 12, 2005 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Chairman Farrell, Vice Chairman Coutu and Commissioners Blackburn, Richards, Newbrook, Preiss, Evans, Burlingame, Pearson, Filippi and O’Connell were present.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshals Arthur Christman and Keith Godena of the Jamestown Fire Marshal’s Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Newbrook and seconded by Commissioner Filippi to grant the Applicant relief as outlined herein.  The motion was unanimous.

FINDINGS OF FACT
	
The numbers of the Decision below correspond with those of a July 7, 2004 inspection report compiled by the Jamestown Fire Marshal’s Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Jamestown Fire Marshal’s Office during the July 12, 2005  hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the July 7, 2004 inspection report as its initial findings of fact.  Any modification of the Board’s findings, such as correction of a deficiency by the Applicant, shall be noted herein. 
	
Any deficiency understood by the Board to have been corrected, which is not so corrected, shall be immediately corrected by the Applicant.  The term “approved”, as used herein, is understood to mean “in accordance with the specific provisions related to the particular subject as are contained in this Code, or as approved in particular by the State Fire Marshal”.

CONCLUSIONS AND VARIANCE REQUESTS
	
1.  During the July 12, 2005 hearing on this matter, the Board was advised that the Applicant now maintains suppression in both the paint booth and the mixing rooms.  The Board was further advised that the Applicant plans to provide this facility with an approved fire alarm system and requested a time variance from the Board to install this system.  Accordingly, the Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of thirty (30) days from the date of this decision in order to secure a written contract from a fire alarm company to install an approved fire alarm system, in accordance with the provisions of section 13.8.9.8.3.1, in this facility.  The Board hereby grants a second time variance of 120 days from the conclusion of the above thirty (30) day period during which time the Applicant is directed to provide this facility with the approved fire alarm system, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Jamestown Fire Marshal’s office.

STATUS OF DECISION AND APPEAL RIGHTS
	
This Decision represents a comprehensive, integrated plan of fire safety for the above-captioned facility under the above-cited use or occupancy.  Accordingly, every variance granted is conditioned upon the Applicant’s timely and continued compliance with all of the directives of the Board.  Every variance granted is further conditioned upon the continued use or occupancy of this facility under the above-cited classification reviewed by the Board. (See:  Board Rules and Regulations, section 6-2-17).
	
Failure of the Applicant to initially comply with the full Decision of the Board, within the stated time frame, shall void all variances granted herein.  (See: Board Rules and Regulations, section 6-2-18.)  In the event of complete, timely and continued compliance with the full Decision of the Board, the above cited variances shall be deemed to have vested in the above-captioned facility.  As long as this facility is in continued compliance with the full Decision of the Board, the above-cited variances shall remain with this facility in the absence of any change in use or occupancy mandating review under a separate classification of the Fire Code or a revision of the above-cited classification.  (See: Board Rules and Regulations, section 6-2-19).  

Such changes in use or occupancy of this facility, or failure to continually comply with the Board’s Decision shall void all variances granted under the above-cited use or occupancy.  If such change creates a new use or occupancy as outlined in R.I.G.L. 23-28.1-6, all variances granted under the original use or occupancy are void and this facility shall be reviewed under the newly created use or occupancy.  (See: Board Rules and Regulations, section 6-2-20).
	
The Applicant may appeal the Board’s Decision, within thirty (30) days of the mailing date of this Decision, by commencing an action against the State Fire Marshal in the Sixth division of the District Court.  Commencement of such an action does not operate as an automatic stay of this Decision [R.I.G.L. 42-35-15(c)].
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