Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
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FIRE SAFETY CODE - BOARD OF APPEAL AND REVIEW
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DECISION
FILE NO.: 080294
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 495 Hope Street
APPLICANT: Mr. James M. Towers c/o Robert A Ragosta, Ltd. 481 Atwood Avenue Cranston, Ri 02920
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Business
DATE OF DECISION: 2009-03-20
The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on November 18, 2008 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Chairman Coutu, Vice Chairman Newbrook and Commissioners Dias, Filippi, Walker, Jasparro, Blackburn, Richard, Jackson and Preiss were present.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshals Robert Martin and John Woodard of the Bristol Fire Marshals Office.  A motion was made by Vice Chairman Newbrook and seconded by Commissioner Richard to grant the Applicant relief as outlined herein.  The motion passed over the opposition votes of Commissioners Jackson, Preiss and Blackburn.

FINDINGS OF FACT
	The numbers of the Decision below correspond with those of an August 26, 2008 inspection report compiled by the Bristol Fire Marshals Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Bristol Fire Marshals Office during the November 18, 2008 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the August 26, 2008 inspection report as its initial findings of fact.  Any modification of the Boards 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, shall be understood to mean in accordance with the specific provisions related to the particular subject as are contained in the State Fire Code, or as approved in particular by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (the State Fire Marshal, his or her designated Deputy State Fire Marshals and/or Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshals).

CONCLUSIONS AND VARIANCE REQUESTS 
	1-7.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiencies 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Bristol Fire Marshal's office.
	8.  The Board notes that deficiency 8 is moot and not a deficiency of the State Fire Code and that this facility is not subject to the provisions of RI Life Safety Code chapter 24.
	9.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of thirty (30) days from the date of this decision in which to design the required municipal fire alarm system for this facility and an additional 120 days, after the above thirty-day deadline, in which to install the required municipally connected fire alarm system within this facility, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Bristol Fire Marshal's office.  
	10.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiency 10 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Bristol Fire Marshal's office.
	11.  The Board notes that item 11 is moot and that RI Life Safety Code chapter 24 does not apply to this building.

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 Applicants 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 Boards 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 Boards 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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