Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
(401) 889-5551 phone
(401) 889-5279 fax
711 TTY
FIRE SAFETY CODE - BOARD OF APPEAL AND REVIEW
560 Jefferson Boulevard
Suite 202
Warwick, RI 02886
DECISION
FILE NO.: 100202
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 555 Woonasquatucket Avenue
APPLICANT: Mr. Anthony T. Zompa 40 Beechnut Drive Johnston, RI 02919
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Apartment
DATE OF DECISION: 2010-12-23
The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on September 21, 2010 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Acting Chairman Newbrook and Commissioners Dias, Walker, Blackburn, Preiss and Jasparro were present.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshals Gregory Unsworth and John Horan of the North Providence Fire Marshals Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Blackburn and seconded by Commissioner Walker 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 February 23, 2010 inspection report compiled by the North Providence Fire Marshals Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the North Providence Fire Marshals Office during the September 21, 2010 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the February 23, 2010 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, 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 or his or her designee.

CONCLUSIONS AND VARIANCE REQUESTS 
	1.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of thirty (30) days from the date of this decision in which to submit plans for the installation of an approved fire alarm system within this facility.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant an additional 150 days in which to implement the above plans at the direction and to the satisfaction of the North Providence Fire Marshals Office.  In granting this relief, it is the understanding of the Board that the North Providence Fire Marshals Office has no objection.
	2-10.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of one (1) year from the date of this decision in which to correct deficiencies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the North Providence Fire Marshals Office.  In addition, as a point of clarification, the Board notes that the Applicant may install solid core wood doors with an approximate fire rating of twenty (20) minutes within the existing door jambs of this facility, provided that these twenty-minute doors are equipped with approved spring loaded hinges or other approved self-closers, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the North Providence Fire Marshals 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 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)].
rhode island coat of arms A Rhode Island Government Web site