Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

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DECISION
FILE NO.: 150031
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 979 Branch Avenue, Providence, RI
APPLICANT: Ernest Spaziano 5 Gibbs Street North Providence, RI 02904
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Hotels and Dormitories
DATE OF DECISION: 2015-04-08
As indicated in the file, a hearing involving the above-captioned property was conducted on March 24, 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, Pearson, Sylvester and Thornton.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: W. Keith Burlingame, Esq.
AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION: Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Keith Maine of the Providence Fire Marshals Office.
APPLICANT: Edward Spaziano and Rev, Edward Cardente.
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 Edward Spaziano (Executive Director) of Holy Family Home; 979 Branch Avenue, Providence, RI dated February 13, 2015.
3.	The Application was received by the Board and File  150031 opened on March 3, 2015.
4.	A hearing on the Application was conducted on March 24, 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 Pearson 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  150031 and are pertinent to the decision rendered:

1.	Variance Application  150031 dated February 13, 2015 and filed on March 3, 2015.
2.	Providence Fire Marshals Office Inspection Report letter dated March 3, 2015.

EXHIBITS

The following documents were presented at the March 24, 2015 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 numbers of the Decision below correspond with those of the March 3, 2015 inspection report letter compiled by the Providence Fire Marshals Office.  The above report letter was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Providence Fire Marshals Office during the March 24, 2015 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the March 3, 2015 inspection report letter 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 2 1/2-story former educational occupancy that is proposed to be used as an emergency shelter.
3.	The building is of ordinary construction and is provided with sprinkler protection and will have a compliant fire alarm system.
4.	The required low-frequency notification appliances that are compatible with the buildings fire alarm system are currently in production and will not become available until on or after April 1, 2015.
5.	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 one hundred fifty (150) days from April 1, 2015 to comply with the provisions of NFPA 72 section 18.4.5.3 by installing low frequency notification appliances in the sleeping areas of this facility, 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).

Finally, the Board hereby authorizes the Providence Fire Marshals Office to extend the above timeline for good faith compliance efforts being demonstrated by the applicant.

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)].
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