Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

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DECISION
FILE NO.: 120034
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 28 Fish Road
APPLICANT: Mr. Ernest Benoit P.O. Box 9488 Fall River, MA 02720
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Assembly
DATE OF DECISION: 2012-04-19
The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on April 10, 2012 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Chairman Newbrook, Vice Chairperson Filippi and Commissioners Dias, Pearson, Walker, Jasparro, Jackson, Sylvester, Burlingame, Blackburn and Richard were present.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Daniel Murphy of the Tiverton Fire Marshals Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Walker 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 February 29, 2012 inspection report compiled by the Tiverton Fire Marshals Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Tiverton Fire Marshals Office during the April 10, 2012 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the February 29, 2012 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.  During the April 10, 2012 hearing on this matter, the Board was advised and finds that the Applicant has an operational suppression system in place and that this facility is fully sprinklered and fire alarmed.  The Board was further advised and finds that the Applicant has a K-type extinguisher.  The Board further directs the parties to train the people utilizing this kitchen in the operation of the K-type extinguisher.  In light of the above, the Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of thirty (30) days from the date of this decision in which to submit a plan of action for the correction of the hood system within the basement kitchen.  The Board further grants the Applicant an additional 150 days in order to correct the hood system at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Tiverton Fire Marshals Office.  Finally, the Board notes that the Tiverton Fire Marshals Office may extend either or both of the above timelines for good faith efforts being shown by the Applicant.

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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