Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

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DECISION
FILE NO.: 110009
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 963 Chalkstone Avenue
APPLICANT: Mr. Robert M. Stillings Architectural Resources, Inc. 220 South Main Street Providence, RI 02903
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Apartment
DATE OF DECISION: 2011-04-21
The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on February 8, 2011 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Chairman Newbrook and Commissioners Pearson, Preiss, Blackburn, Dias and Jasparro were present.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Lisa Krapf of the Providence Fire Marshals Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Preiss and seconded by Commissioner Jasparro 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 1, 2010 plan review report compiled by the Providence Fire Marshals Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Providence Fire Marshals Office during the February 8, 2011 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the November 1, 2010 plan review 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 
	1-8.  It is the understanding and direction of the Board that the Applicant shall correct deficiencies 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Providence Fire Marshals Office.
	9.  The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of sections 31.2.2.3.1, 7.2.2.5.1.1 and 7.1.3.2.1(5) in order to allow the Applicant to continue to access the existing boiler from the stair enclosure of this facility.  In granting this variance, the Board notes that the Applicant maintains existing boiler room doors consisting of two (2) layers of 5/8 inch gypsum board on the boiler side and an additional layer of 1/2 inch gypsum board on the other side of the wall.  The Board further notes that the Applicant shall replace the door to the mechanical room and that the Applicant is providing this facility with an approved 13R sprinkler system and an approved fire alarm system.
	10.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant shall correct deficiency 10 by providing this facility with an approved municipally connected fire alarm system installed at the direction and to the satisfaction of the 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)].
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