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.: 070283
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 225 Weldon's Way, Block Island
APPLICANT: Mr. Stephen Papa PO Box 1440 Block Island, RI 02807
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Mixed
DATE OF DECISION: 2009-03-10
The above-captioned case was originally scheduled for subcommittee hearing on October 15, 2008 at 10:30 A.M. in the New Shoreham Town Hall complex.  At that time, Acting Chairman Newbrook and Commissioners Dias, Blackburn and Walker were present.  Commissioner Filippi was present, but recused herself from consideration of this and the other cases heard that day.  The fire service was represented by Deputy State Fire Marshal Arthur DaCosta of the State Fire Marshals Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Blackburn and seconded by Commissioner Dias to grant the Applicant relief as outlined herein.  The motion was unanimous.
	The subcommittee recommendations made in the above captioned case were thereupon scheduled for review by the State Fire Board on October 21, 2008 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Chairman Coutu, Vice Chairman Newbrook and Commissioners Blackburn, Preiss, Jackson, Walker, Pearson, Dias and Richard were present.  Commissioner Filippi recused herself from consideration of this case.  Upon review of the subcommittee recommendations, a motion was made by Commissioner Pearson and seconded by Vice Chairman Newbrook to approve the subcommittee recommendations and 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 October 3, 2008 inspection report compiled by the State Fire Marshals Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the State Fire Marshals Office during the October 15, 2008 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the October 3, 2008 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. 
	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, shall be understood to mean in accordance with the specific provisions related to the particular subject as are contained in the State Fire Code, or as approved in particular by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (the State Fire Marshal, his or her designated Deputy State Fire Marshals and/or Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshals).
CONCLUSIONS AND VARIANCE REQUESTS 
	1.  During the October 15, 2008 subcommittee hearing on this matter, the Board was advised and finds that the kitchen door of this facility has a threshold of approximately eight (8) inches in height in order to avoid flooding.  The Board was further advised and finds that the kitchen is accessible by ramps and that there is no public occupancy.  Accordingly, the Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 7.2.1.3.3 in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the existing eight-inch kitchen door threshold in this non-public area.
	2-5.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiencies 2, 3, 4 and 5 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the State Fire Marshal's office.
	6.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance until May 1, 2009 in order to correct deficiency 6 by providing the furnace room with an approved smoke partition, installed at the direction and to the satisfaction of the State Fire Marshal's office.
	7. It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiency 7 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the State Fire Marshal's office.
	8.  It is the understanding of the Board that deficiency 8 is moot an no longer a violation of the State Fire Code.
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 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).
	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 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).
The above approved subcommittee recommendations now have the status of a full Board Decision.  Pursuant to R.I.G.L. 23-28.3-5, if the Applicant is aggrieved by the approved subcommittee recommendations, the Applicant may appeal this Decision approving the subcommittee recommendations, within thirty (30) days of the mailing date below, by sending a request, to be heard before the entire Board, to the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal & Review, One Regan Court, Cranston, RI  02920.
rhode island coat of arms A Rhode Island Government Web site