Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

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DECISION
FILE NO.: 070375
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 100 Marlborough Street, East Greenwich
APPLICANT: Mr. Jonathan Conklin 100 Marlborough Street East Greenwich, RI 02818
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Apartment
DATE OF DECISION: 2008-02-01
The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on September 11, 2007 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Acting Chairman Newbrook and Commissioners Richard, OConnell, Jasparro, Filippi, Walker and Preiss were present.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Susan Hawksley of the East Greenwich Fire Marshals Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Richard and seconded by Commissioner Filippi 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 29, 2006 inspection report compiled by the East Greenwich Fire Marshals Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the East Greenwich Fire Marshals Office during the September 11, 2007 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the March 29, 2006 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.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiency 1 by providing the apartments of this facility with approved doors, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the East Greenwich Fire Marshal's office.
	2.  The Board notes that any plaster within this facility is not required to be treated with a Class A material.  Accordingly, the Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of 120 days from the date of this decision in order to correct deficiency 2 by either removing the flammable and combustible materials from the front hall of this facility or by painting them with a Class A finish, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the East Greenwich Fire Marshal's office.
	3.  The Board hereby directs the Applicant to correct deficiency 3 immediately, by removing all potential fire hazards within the corridors of this facility.
	4.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiency 4 by providing this facility with approved emergency lighting.
	5.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiency 5 by providing this facility with approved exit signage.
	6.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiency 6 by providing this facility with an approved local fire system.  (Note:  during the hearing on this matter, the Applicant orally requested that the Board provide him with relief from quarterly testing of the fire alarm system.  However, this oral request was denied.)
	7.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiency 7 by providing approved single station smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout this facility.
	8.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiency 8 by providing portable fire extinguishers throughout this facility.
	9.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiency 9 by providing approved emergency instruction to each dwelling unit within this facility.
	10.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiency 10 by properly numbering and identifying this facility.

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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