The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on December 14, 2010 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Chairman Newbrook and Commissioners Preiss, Richard, Pearson, Jasparro, Dias and Filippi were present.  The fire service was represented by Deputy State Fire Marshal and Chief Plan Review Office Wade Palazini of the State Fire Marshals Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Preiss and seconded by Commissioner Pearson 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 November 29, 2010 plan of action report developed and submitted by DBVW Architects.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the State Fire Marshals Office in the absence of an official plan review report from that office.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the November 29, 2010 plan of action 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 a variance from the provisions of section 7.1.5.3 in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the existing cited headroom at the basement stairs of this facility.  In granting this relief, it is the understanding of the Board that the headroom clearance cannot be otherwise remedied since the stairs and surrounding construction are cast in place concrete.  It is the further understanding of the Board in granting this relief that the stair is used for limited maintenance staff to access the basement only.
	2.  The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of sections 7.2.2.4.4.2 and 7.2.2.4.5.2(3) in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the existing guardrail heights of the existing stairs of this facility.  In granting this relief, it is the understanding of the Board that new wall mounted handrails will be provided in accordance with the RI State Building Code and the RI Accessibility Code and that the relief is only limited to the existing guardrails.
	3.  The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of Chapter 7 and Table A.7.6 in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the existing cited dead end corridors on the second, third and fourth floors of this facility.  In granting this relief, it is the understanding of the Board that these areas shall be strictly limited to residents and staff and not open to the public and that the State Fire Marshals Office has no objection.

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)].