The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on December 4, 2012 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Chairman Newbrook, Vice Chairperson Filippi and Commissioners Dias, Pearson, Walker, Jasparro, Sylvester, Burlingame, Blackburn and Richard were present.  Commissioner Jackson recused himself from consideration of this case.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Christopher Mahoney of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Sylvester and seconded by Commissioner Richard 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 an October 19, 2012 plan review disapproval report compiled by the Newport Fire Marshals Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Newport Fire Marshals Office during the December 4, 2012 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the October 19, 2012 plan review disapproval 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 Authority Having Jurisdiction (State Fire Marshal, his or her designated Deputy State Fire Marshals and/or Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshals).

CONCLUSIONS AND VARIANCE REQUESTS
	1.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiency by providing approved hand rail and guard rails on the resubmitted plans.
	2.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant shall correct deficiency 2 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.
	3.  The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 39.3.1.1 in order to allow the Applicant to provide this facility with a new stairway protected to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshals Office, along with a full coverage municipally connected fire alarm system.  In granting this relief, it is the understanding of the Board that only the first floor is open to the public and that the upper levels are maintained with very limited occupancy.
	4.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant shall correct deficiency 4 by properly protecting the storage and furnace areas of this facility, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.
	5.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant shall correct deficiency 5 by properly submitting wall and ceiling cut sheets with the resubmitted plans.
	6.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant shall correct deficiency 6 by providing approved fire extinguishers within this facility.
	7.  The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 39.3.5.1 in light of the new code provisions to become effective on January 1, 2013, and in the absence of an objection by the Newport 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)].