Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

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DECISION
FILE NO.: 130048
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 42 River Avenue
APPLICANT: Ms. Nancy Kim 42 River Avenue Providence, RI 02908
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Mixed
DATE OF DECISION: 2013-07-24
The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on June 18, 2013 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Chairman Newbrook, Vice Chairperson Filippi and Commissioners Booth, Thornton, Jackson, Sylvester, Burlingame, Blackburn and Richard were present.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Keith Maine of the Providence Fire Marshals Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Blackburn and seconded by Commissioner Jackson 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 March 4, 2013 inspection 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 June 18, 2013 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the March 4, 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
	1-5.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of thirty (30) days from the date of this decision in which to develop and submit a plan of action for the correction of deficiencies 1 through 5 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Providence Fire Marshals Office.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant an additional 150 days in order to implement the above plan of action and correct deficiencies 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Providence Fire Marshals Office.  The Board hereby authorizes the Providence Fire Marshals Office to extend either or both of the above timelines for good faith efforts being demonstrated by the Applicant.  Finally, the Board notes that the fire code allows for the use of properly zoned sprinkler heads to substitute for heat detection within a compliant fire alarm system.  The Board notes that this may be an option available to the Applicant in light of the fact that the building currently maintains a full coverage sprinkler system.
	6.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of thirty (30) days from the date of this decision in order to correct deficiency 6 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Providence Fire Marshals Office, by submitting plans and securing approvals from the AHJs designated by that 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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