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.: 080131
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 185 Pascoag Main Street
APPLICANT: Mr. Joseph R. DeSantis Tri-Town C.A.P. 1126 Hartford Avenue Johnston, RI 02919
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Day Care Centers
DATE OF DECISION: 2011-03-31
The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing before a subcommittee of the Board on January 19, 2011 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Chairman Newbrook and Commissioners Dias and Walker were present.  The fire service was represented by Deputy State Fire Marshal Christine Kent of the State Fire Marshals Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Dias and seconded by Commissioner Walker 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 February 8, 2011 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Chairman Newbrook and Commissioners Blackburn, Preiss, Jasparro, Dias and Pearson were present.  A motion to approve the subcommittee recommendations was made by Commissioner Jasparro and seconded by Commissioner Pearson.  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 in sequence with those of a June 4, 2010 inspection report compiled by the State Fire Marshals Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the State Fire Marshals Office during the January 19, 2011 subcommittee hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the June 4, 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.  (10-1327-VN).  During the January 19, 2011 subcommittee hearing on this matter, the subcommittee was advised and finds that the main entrance of this facility is equipped with a cloth canopy to provide protection from the elements.  The subcommittee further finds that the Applicant has certification of flame resistance for the above canopy, generated by Glen Raven Technical Fabrics, LLC (Patio 09-10-12/Reg. F-12102).  Accordingly, the Board hereby grants a variance in order to allow the State Fire Marshals Office to accept the above referenced flame resistance certification of the canopy as previously accepted by the California State Fire Marshals Office.
	2.  (10-1326-VN).  During the January 19, 2011 subcommittee hearing on this matter, the subcommittee was further advised and finds that the Applicant maintains what appears to be existing melt away poly styrene suspended ceiling tiles below its sprinkler heads in certain areas of this facility.  However, the subcommittee finds that the Applicant no longer has the original boxes containing the Factory Mutual approval of this material.  Accordingly, the Board hereby grants a variance to allow the Applicant to submit a letter to the State Fire Marshals Office from the Applicants ceiling tile supplier certifying that the existing poly styrene ceiling tiles are comparable in composition and function to the listed Re-Versa Tile expanded poly styrene melt away tiles that the Applicant now utilizes as replacement ceiling tiles.  In the event the Applicant is unable to secure the above letter of compatibility, the Board would direct the Applicant to replace the existing melt away ceiling tiles with the above approved replacement tiles at the direction and to the satisfaction of the State 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 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