Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

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DECISION
FILE NO.: 130035
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 100 Wampanoag Trail
APPLICANT: Administrator dawn Vandal Chestnut Terrace 100 Wampanoag Trail East Providence, RI 02915
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Health Care
DATE OF DECISION: 2013-06-06
The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on April 30, 2013 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Chairman Newbrook, Vice Chairperson Filippi and Commissioners Dias, Pearson, Jasparro, Sylvester, Blackburn and Richard were present.  The fire service was represented by Deputy State Fire Marshal Thomas Dettore of the State Fire Marshals Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Blackburn and seconded by Commissioner Sylvester 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 11, 2013 inspection report (12-1744-IS) 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 April 30, 2013 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the February 11, 2013 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 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.  (13-11-VN).  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiency 1.
	2.  (12-2056-VN).  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiency 2.
	3.  (12-2055-VN).  The Board hereby grants a variance in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the existing cited dead-end corridor with the following previously approved safeguards.  The Board notes that this facility is fully sprinklered and shall remain fully sprinklered.  The Board further directs the Applicant to provide an unobstructed egress path through Room 3 to the emergency exit discharge door leading directly to the outside from Room 3.  Specifically, Room 3 may be occupied by either staff or patients, but all furnishings shall be arranged to allow a reasonably unobstructed path of egress from the entrance door of Room 3 to the exit discharge door within Room 3, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the State Fire Marshals Office.  This variance is based both on structural hardship and the fact that the healthcare facility is primarily designed for defend in place occupancy.
	4.  (13-67-VN).  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiency 4.
	5.  (12-2039-VN).  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiency 5.

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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