Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
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FIRE SAFETY CODE - BOARD OF APPEAL AND REVIEW
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DECISION
FILE NO.: 070306
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 23 Old Beach Road, Newport
APPLICANT: Mr. William H. Connerton 52 Hammond Street Newport, RI 02840
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Apartment
DATE OF DECISION: 2009-02-26
The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on January 13, 2009 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Chairman Coutu, Vice Chairman Newbrook and Commissioners Dias, Pearson, Walker, Jasparro, Preiss and Richard were present.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshals Wayne Clark and Kevin Garcia of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Pearson and seconded by Commissioner Walker 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 May 7, 2007 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 January 13, 2009 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the May 7, 2007 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 
	1-8.  The Board hereby directs the Applicant to correct deficiencies 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 at the direction, to the satisfaction and within a timetable established by the Newport Fire Marshal's office
	9.  It is the understanding of the Board that deficiency 9 is moot.
	10.  The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of sections 31.3.6.2 and 31.3.6.4 in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the existing historically significant doors, provided these doors are coated with an approved Class A material and equipped with self-closing devices, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshal's office.  As a further condition of this variance, the Board directs the Applicant to correct all unprotected vertical openings located under the stairs, also at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshal's office.
	11.  It is the understanding of the Board that deficiency 11 does not apply and is therefore moot.
	12-14.  The Board hereby directs the Applicant to correct deficiencies 12, 13 and 14 at the direction, to the satisfaction and within a timetable established by the Newport Fire Marshals office.
	15.  It is the understanding of the Board that item 15 does not apply and is therefore moot.
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 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.  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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