Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
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DECISION
FILE NO.: 140011
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 164 Delaine Street
APPLICANT: Director Kerry Hall 133 Delaine Street Providence, RI 02909
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Residential Board and Care
DATE OF DECISION: 2014-03-06
The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on 2/25/2014 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Chairman Newbrook, Vice-Chairperson Filippi and Commissioners Booth, Pearson, Thornton, Jackson, Richard, Blackburn and Burlingame were present.  The fire service was represented by Deputy State Fire Marshal Christine Kent of the State Fire Marshals Office.  The Applicant was represented by Mr. Richard Hemphill and Mr. Mario Cabral (letter of authorization on file).  A motion was made by Commissioner Blackburn 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 12/9/2013 inspection report 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 2/25/2014 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the 12/9/2013 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  6.  [13-1585-VN], [13-1586-VN], [13-1587-VN], [13-1588-VN], [13-1589-VN] and [13-1582-VN]  The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of thirty (30) days from the date of this hearing in which to develop and submit a plan of action for the installation of a new approved fire alarm system for this facility.  The Board further grants the Applicant an additional one hundred fifty (150) days in order to implement the above plan of action, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the State Fire Marshals Office.  In consideration of the above relief, the Board directs that single-station battery-powered smoke alarms be installed outside of each sleeping area within two (2) days of the date of this hearing; and further directs that the existing fire alarm system in the facility be inspected and brought into full compliance within fourteen (14) days of the date of this hearing.
	In granting the above relief, it is the understanding of the Board that there is no objection by the State 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)].
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