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.: 100255
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 34 Spring Street
APPLICANT: Mr. Alan G. Gustafson P.O. Box 20 Chepachet, RI 02814
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Apartment
DATE OF DECISION: 2011-03-03
The above-captioned cases were scheduled for hearing before a subcommittee of the Board on November 4, 2010 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, the fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Thomas Fagan of the Pascoag Fire District Fire Marshals Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Dias and seconded by Commissioner Filippi to recommend to the full Board that it grant the Applicant the relief outlined herein.  The motion was unanimous.  

The above recommendations were thereupon presented to the full Board on November 9, 2010 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Acting Chairman Newbrook and Commissioners Richard, Preiss, Walker, Jasparro, Dias and Filippi were present.  A motion to approve the subcommittee recommendations was made by Commissioner Richard and seconded by Commissioner Walker.  The motion was unanimous.  Accordingly, the subcommittee determination has the status of a full Board decision.

FINDINGS OF FACT
	The numbers of the Decision below correspond with those of two inspection reports dated September 9, 2010, covering the above captioned facilities.  The above reports were utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Pascoag Fire District Fire Marshals Office during the November 4, 2010 subcommittee hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the September 9, 2010 inspection reports 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 Pascoag Fire Marshals Office the authority to establish a timetable during which the Applicant is to bring the subject facilities into full compliance with the code, by providing these facilities with approved, upgraded local fire alarm coverage, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Pascoag Fire Marshals Office.  Once the systems are installed, the Board further directs the Applicant to provide third party inspections as outlined in the State Fire Code.  In granting this relief, it is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant maintains present fire detection systems of interconnected battery back-up hardwired smoke and CO detection in most of the bedrooms and further protection in the basement and common hallways of this facility.  This initial protection has provided the Board with a basis for allowing the parties the additional time to bring this facility into full compliance.

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 submitting a written appeal of the above subcommittee recommendations to the entire Fire Board for review, pursuant to Board Rule 6-2-9.  The Applicant shall thereupon be scheduled for hearing before the full Board of Appeal & Review.  Commencement of such an action does not operate as an automatic stay of this decision (RIGL 42-35-15(c)).
rhode island coat of arms A Rhode Island Government Web site