Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
(401) 889-5551 phone
(401) 889-5279 fax
711 TTY
FIRE SAFETY CODE - BOARD OF APPEAL AND REVIEW
560 Jefferson Boulevard
Suite 202
Warwick, RI 02886
DECISION
FILE NO.: 150016
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 10 Broadway, Newport, RI
APPLICANT: Eric Barclay DeTolly 10 Broadway Newport, RI 02840
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Assembly
DATE OF DECISION: 2015-03-23
As indicated in the file, a hearing involving the above-captioned property was conducted on March 10, 2015 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 and Commissioners Booth, Filippi, Jackson, Richard, Sylvester and Walker.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: W. Keith Burlingame, Esq.
AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION: Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Chris Mahoney of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.
APPLICANT: Raymond Gomes.
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 Eric Barclay DeTolly (authorized representative) of 10 Broadway, Newport, RI dated January 29, 2015.
3.	The Application was received by the Board and File  150016 opened on February 6, 2015.
4.	A hearing on the Application was conducted on March 10, 2015 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 Richard and seconded by Commissioner Sylvester to grant the Applicant relief as outlined herein.  The motion passed on a 7 to 0 vote.

RECORD OF THE CASE

The following documents are part of the administrative record for Appeal  150016 and are pertinent to the decision rendered:

1.	Variance Application  150016 dated January 29, 2015 and filed on February 7, 2015.
2.	Newport Fire Marshals Office Inspection Report dated November 24, 2014.
3.	Decision  060622 (2/24/09).
4.	Reschedule Notice dated February 17, 2015.

EXHIBITS

The following documents were presented at the March 10, 2015 hearing as exhibits:

1.	Letter of authorization for Raymond Gomes from Larry Newsome dated March 10, 2015.
2.	Letter of authorization for Raymond Gomes from Eric Barclay dated March 10, 2015.
3.	Applicants revised Plan of Action [27 items] dated (undated).
4.	Applicants photographs (2).

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 numbers of the Decision below correspond with those of the November 24, 2014 inspection report compiled by the Newport Fire Marshals Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Newport Fire Marshals Office during the March 10, 2015 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the November 24, 2014 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.
2.	The building is an existing 3-story assembly occupancy.
3.	The building is of Type V(000) construction and is provided with non-compliant sprinkler protection and does not have a compliant fire alarm system.
4.	There is no objection by the Newport Fire Marshals Office to the granting of the relief outlined herein.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND
DETERMINATIONS ON VARIANCE REQUESTS

1.	This deficiency has been corrected.
2.	This deficiency has been corrected.
3.	This deficiency has been corrected.
4.	The Board grants the Applicant a time variance of thirty (30) days from the date of the decision to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 13.2.2.2.3 by developing and submitting a plan of action for the installation of approved panic or fire hardware on the egress doors throughout the 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 Newport Fire Marshals Office.
5.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of one (1) year from the date of this decision to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 7.2.2.2.1.1 by replacing or repairing the rear stairs of this facility, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshal's Office.
6.	This deficiency has been corrected.
7.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of one (1) year from the date of this decision to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 7.2.2.3.6.1 by replacing or repairing all stairs of this facility, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshal's Office.
8.	This deficiency has been corrected.
9.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of one (1) year from the date of this decision to comply with the provisions of RILSC sections 7.2.2.5.1.1 and 7.1.3.2.1 by replacing or repairing the two rear and center stairs of this facility, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshal's Office.
10.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant the time variance outlined in item 1 above to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 7.1.3.2.1 by providing this facility with approved self-closing devices on the stairway doors of this facility, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.
11.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant the time variance outlined in item 1 above to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 8.3.4.2 by providing approved rated stairway doors for this facility, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.
12.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant a variance from the provisions of RILSC section 7.5.2.1 by allowing the existing first floor egress through the kitchen area to remain in use based upon a structural hardship.
13.	This deficiency has been corrected.
14.	This deficiency has been corrected.
15.	This deficiency has been corrected.
16.	This deficiency has been corrected.
17.	This deficiency has been corrected.
18.	This deficiency has been corrected.
19.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of thirty (30) days from the date of this decision to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 13.3.5.1 by installing sprinkler protection in the two concealed spaces of this facility, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshal's Office.
20.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance until the next available crowd manager training class is presented by the State Fire Marshals Office to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 13.7.6.1, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshal's Office.
21.	This deficiency has been corrected.
22.	This deficiency has been corrected.
23.	This deficiency has been corrected.
24.	This deficiency has been corrected.
25.	This deficiency has been corrected.
26.	This deficiency has been corrected.
27.	This deficiency has been corrected.

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).

&8195;
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 6-2-22).
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 6-2-23.)  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 6-2-24).
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 6-2-25).
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.  (See: Board Rules and Regulations, section 6-2-18).  Commencement of such an action does not operate as an automatic stay of this Decision [R.I.G.L. 42-35-15(c)].
rhode island coat of arms A Rhode Island Government Web site