Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

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FIRE SAFETY CODE - BOARD OF APPEAL AND REVIEW
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DECISION
FILE NO.: 140098
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 189 Canal Street, Providence, RI
APPLICANT: Timothy Wensus c/o Hughes Associates 117 Metro Center Boulevard - Suite 1002 Warwick, RI 02886
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Business
DATE OF DECISION: 2014-08-28
As indicated in the file, a hearing involving the above-captioned property was conducted on August 19, 2014 before the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review, pursuant to RI General Laws Section 23-28.3-5.
	In attendance at the hearing were the following:
COMMISSIONERS: Chairman Newbrook, Vice-Chairperson Filippi and Commissioners Booth, Jackson, Pearson, Sylvester, Thornton and Walker.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: W. Keith Burlingame, Esq.
AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION: Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Scott Derry of the Providence Fire Marshals Office.
APPLICANT: Paul Mullen and Timothy Wensus (Hughes Associates).
TRAVEL OF THE CASE

1.	This is an Application for Variance filed under Chapter 23-28.3, entitled the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review, and the Administrative Regulations promulgated thereunder.
2.	The Application was filed by Timothy Wensus (Design Professional) of Hughes Associates, 117 Metro Center Boulevard -- Suite 1002, Warwick, RI  02886 dated [undated].
3.	The Application was received by the Board and File  140098 opened on August 18, 2014.
4.	A hearing on the Application was conducted on August 19, 2014 at 1:00 PM before the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review.
5.	After all evidence was presented at the hearing, a motion was made by Commissioner Sylvester and seconded by Commissioner Pearson to grant the Applicant relief as outlined herein.  The motion passed on an 8 to 0 vote.

RECORD OF THE CASE

The following documents are part of the administrative record for Appeal  140098 and are pertinent to the decision rendered:

1.	Variance Application  140098 dated [undated] and filed on August 18, 2014.
2.	Hughes Associates Plan of Action Report dated August 18, 2014.

EXHIBITS

The following documents were presented at the August 19, 2014 hearing as exhibits:

1.	None.

FINDINGS OF FACT

	Based on the testimony and evidence introduced at the hearing and a review of the administrative file, the Board makes the following Finding of Fact:

1.	The Decision below corresponds with the August 18, 2014 plan of action report compiled by Hughes Associates.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Providence Fire Marshals Office during the August 19, 2014 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the August 18, 2014 plan of action 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.
2.	The building is an existing 3-story business occupancy undergoing renovations and is currently providing primary electrical power by means of a diesel engine-driven generator while awaiting service from National Grid.
3.	There is no objection by the Providence Fire Marshals Office to the granting of the relief outlined herein.



CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND
DETERMINATIONS ON VARIANCE REQUESTS

1. The Board grants the Applicant a time variance of ninety (90) days from the provisions of NFPA 72 (2010 edition) section 10.5.5.1 allowing monitoring of the temporary engine-driven generator providing primary power for the fire alarm system to be through the buildings fire alarm system trouble signal in lieu of the required constant trained personnel, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Providence Fire Marshals Office.

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).

STATUS OF DECISION AND APPEAL RIGHTS

1.	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).
2.	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).
3.	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).
4.	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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