The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on July 31,2001 at 1:30 P.M. At that time, Chairman Farrell and Commissioners Wahlberg, Evans, Burlingame, Coutu, Richard and Pearson were present.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal and Chief Ernest Cimino of the Valley Falls Fire Marshal’s Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Evans 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 June 11, 1999 inspection report compiled by the Valley Falls Fire Marshal’s Office. The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Valley Falls Fire Marshal’s Office during the July 31, 2001 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the June 11, 1999 inspection report as its initial findings of fact.  Any modification of the Board’s 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 defined in section 23-28.1-4(3) of the Rhode Island General Laws.

CONCLUSIONS AND VARIANCE REQUESTS

1. The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 23-28.16-2 in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the existing egress system of this facility as modified below.

2. The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 23-28.16-5 in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the existing stairway wall construction.  In granting this variance, the Board directs the Applicant provide the wood wainscoting, on the stairway walls, with an approved Class-A finish installed at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Valley Falls Fire Marshal within thirty days of the date of this decision.

3(a). The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 23-28.16-6 in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the existing cited door swing.

3(b). The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 23-28.16-6 in order to allow the cited exterior doors to maintain the existing swing.

4. The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 23-28.16-6 in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the existing spring loaded hinges on the apartment doors of this facility.

5. The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 23-28.16-6 in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the existing solid core wood doors installed in the existing apartment door jambs of this facility.

6. It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiency 6 to the satisfaction of the Valley Falls Fire Marshal's office.

7. The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 23-28.16-5 in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the existing dimensions of the risers within the stairways this facility.

8. It is the understanding of the Board that deficiency 8 it is grandfathered and not being requested by the Valley Falls Fire Marshal's office.

9. The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 23-28.16-13 and NFPA standard 10, 1988 edition, in order to allow the Applicant to maintain approved fire extinguishers in each of the apartment units of this facility.

10. As a condition of all of the variances granted herein, the Board directs the Applicant to maintain the fire alarm system within this facility as a required system for the purposes of maintenance.

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 Applicant’s 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 Board’s 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 Board’s 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)].