Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

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DECISION
FILE NO.: 070478
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 1735 Mineral Spring Avenue, North Providence
APPLICANT: Ms. Michelle Tuck Tuck and Tuck Architects 29 Old Sugar Road Bolton, MA 01740
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Day Care Centers
DATE OF DECISION: 2008-03-19
The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on October 30, 2007 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Chairman Coutu, Vice Chairman Newbrook and Commissioners Pearson, Filippi, Preiss, Blackburn, Jasparro, Jackson, Walker and Richard were present.  By letter dated October 18, 2007, representatives of the State Fire Marshal's office advised the Board that they had no objection to the head room issue in the basement provided the occupant does not allow children to access this area and it is only used for storage.  They further advised the Board that they had no objection to the width of the new ramp because it appears to meet all Building and ADA Code requirements.  With regard to the ramp, the Board was advised that the hand rail issue will also be corrected by the Applicant.  Accordingly, a motion was made by Vice Chairman Newbrook and seconded by Commissioners Jackson and Richard 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 September 28, 2007 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 30, 2007 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the September 28, 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.  The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 7.1.5 in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the existing head room in the cited areas in the basement of this facility.  In granting this variance, it is the understanding and direction of the Board that the building will be fully sprinklered and that the basement shall only be utilized for storage and utilities, and in accordance with the State Fire Marshal's letter, the basement shall not be occupied by children.  In light of the above, it is the understanding of the Board that the State Fire Marshal's office has no objection.
	2.  The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 7.2.5 in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the existing forty-two (42) inch width.  In granting this variance, it is the understanding of the Board that the ramp is in full compliance with both Building Code and ADA requirements.  Additionally, it is the direction of the Board that the Applicant shall provide approved hand rails as deemed necessary by the State Fire Marshal's office, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the State Fire Marshal's office.  In light of the above, it is the understanding of the Board that the State Fire Marshal's office has no objection.
	3.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant shall correct deficiency 3 by correcting the cited hand rails as outlined above.

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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