The above case was scheduled for hearing on at July 11, 2000 at 1:30 PM.  At that time, Chairman Farrell and Commissioners Burlingame, Wahlberg, Coutu, Evans, Fang and Richard were present.  The fire service was represented by an Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Gordon C. Duquenoy of the Pawtucket Fire Marshal's Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Richard and seconded by Commissioner Evans 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 March 15, 2000 inspection report compiled by the Pawtucket Fire Marshal's Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Pawtucket Fire Marshal's Office and the Applicant and during the July 11, 2000 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the March 15, 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 REQUEST

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.

2A. The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 23-28.16-3 in order to allow the applicant to maintain access to the interior stairway is through kitchens and access to the fire escape through bedrooms.  In granting this variance, the Board directs the applicant to remove all locks and locking devices from the cited bedroom doors.

2B. The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 23-28.16-3 in order to allow the applicant to utilize windows as a means of egress from this facility.

2C. The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 23-28.16-3 in order to allow the applicant to provide the existing stairway door jambs of this facility with approved solid core would doors maintaining an approximate Fire rating of twenty minutes.  The above door shall be further equipped with spring-loaded hinges.  It is the understanding of the Board that the applicant has provided this facility with the above doors.

3A. The grants a variance from the provisions of section 23-28.16-5 in order to allow the applicant to maintain the existing stairway construction, configuration and dimension within this facility.  In granting this variance, the Board directs the applicant to provide the cited wainscoting with approved Class A finish.

4. Is the understanding of the Board that the applicant has corrected deficiency 4 by providing the cited stairway doors with approved self-closing devices.

5. Is the understanding of the Board that the applicant has corrected deficiency 5 by providing this facility with approved fire extinguisher equipment at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Pawtucket Fire Marshal's Office.
	
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.
	
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.  In the event of complete, timely and continued compliance with the full Decision of the Board, the above cited variances shall be deemed to 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 of use or occupancy mandating review under a separate classification of the Fire Code or a revision of the above-cited classification.  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 of variances granted under the original use or occupancy are void and this facility shall be reviewed under the newly created use or occupancy. (Board regulations 6-2-17, 18, 19 and 20).
	
The applicant may appeal the Board's decision, within thirty days of the mailing date of this Decision, by commencing an action against the State Fire Marshal in 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) and Board regulation 6-2-16 ).