The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on August 8, 2000 at 1:30 P.M. At that time, Chairman Farrell and Commissioners Coutu, O’Connell, Richard, Filippi, Newbrook and Burlingame were present.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Joseph Barroso of the Woonsocket Fire Marshal’s Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Newbrook and seconded by Commissioner Filippi 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 April 17, 2000 inspection report complied by the Woonsocket Fire Marshal’s Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Woonsocket Fire Marshal’s Office during the August 8, 2000 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the April 17, 2000 inspection report as its initial findings of fact.  Any modification of the Board’s 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 defined in section 23-28.1-4(3) of the Rhode Island General Laws.

CONCLUSIONS AND VARIANCE REQUESTS

1. The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 23-28.16-2 in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the egress system of this facility as modified herein.  In granting this variance, the Board directs that the fire alarm system of this facility shall be deemed a required system for the purposes of maintenance.  Accordingly, the Applicant is directed to submit proof of testing of the system and to the Woonsocket Fire Marshal and to further repair maintain this system in accordance with the code.

2. The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 23-28.16-3 in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the existing fire escape and fire escape access from this facility.  In granting this variance, is the understanding of the Board that the Woonsocket Fire Marshal has no objection.  Finally, as a condition of this variance, the Board directs the Applicant to remove all locks and locking devices from those doors through which access to the fire escape system is achieved.

3. The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 23-28.16-5 in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the existing construction and rating of the cited egress system.  In granting this variance, the Board directs the Applicant to provide an approved Class A finish on the wood surfaces of the egress system.  The Board directs the Applicant to provide the above Class A finish within thirty days of the date of this decision.

4. The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 23-28.16-6 in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the existing solid core wood doors and spring-loaded hinges within the egress system of this facility.

5. Is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiency 5 by providing the common areas of this facility with approved fire extinguishers to the satisfaction of the Woonsocket Fire Marshal's 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 Applicant’s 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 Board’s 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 Board’s 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)].