As indicated in the file, a hearing involving the above-captioned property was conducted on December 2, 2014 before the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review, pursuant to RI General Laws Section 23-28.3-5.
	In attendance at the hearing were the following:
COMMISSIONERS: Chairman Newbrook and Commissioners Booth, Filippi, Jackson, Pearson and Thornton.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: W. Keith Burlingame, Esq.
AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION: Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal David Godin of the Central Coventry Fire Marshals Office.
APPLICANT: Thomas Amaral and Sharon Leach.
TRAVEL OF THE CASE

1.	This is an Application for Variance filed under Chapter 23-28.3, entitled the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review, and the Administrative Regulations promulgated thereunder.
2.	The Application was filed by Thomas Amaral (owner) of 51 Ames Street, Coventry, RI dated September 27, 2014.
3.	The Application was received by the Board and File  140128 opened on October 2, 2014.
4.	The matter was initially heard by the Board on October 28, 2014 at which time the Board directed the Applicant to correct items  7, 11 and 12 of the deficiency report within one (1) week of that date.  In addition, the Applicant was directed by the Board to return on December 2, 2104 with a plan of action for the correction of all remaining deficiencies in this facility.
5.	A subsequent hearing on the Application was conducted on December 2, 2014 at 1:00 PM before the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review.
6.	After all evidence was presented at the hearing, a motion was made by Commissioner Thornton and seconded by Commissioner Jackson to grant the Applicant relief as outlined herein.  The motion passed on a 6 to 0 vote.

RECORD OF THE CASE

The following documents are part of the administrative record for Appeal  140128 and are pertinent to the decision rendered:

1.	Variance Application  140128 dated September 27, 2014 and filed on October 2, 2014.
2.	Central Coventry Fire Marshals Office Inspection Report dated April 15, 2014.
3.	Reschedule Notice dated November 21, 2014.

EXHIBITS

The following documents were presented at the December 2, 2014 hearing as exhibits:

1.	Applicants photographs (3 pages).

FINDINGS OF FACT

	Based on the testimony and evidence introduced at the hearing and a review of the administrative file, the Board makes the following Finding of Fact:

1.	The Decision below corresponds with those of the April 15, 2014 inspection report compiled by the Central Coventry Fire Marshals Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Central Coventry Fire Marshals Office during the December 2, 2014 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the April 15, 2014 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.
2.	The building is an existing 2-story lodging or rooming house occupancy.
3.	The building is of Type V construction and is provided with sprinkler protection and does not have a compliant fire alarm system.
4.	There is no objection by the Central Coventry Fire Marshals Office to the granting of the relief outlined herein.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND
DETERMINATIONS ON VARIANCE REQUESTS

1.	The Board grants the Applicant a time variance of thirty (30) days from the date of the decision to comply with the provisions of RILSC sections 26.2.1.2 and 24.2.2.3.3 by developing and submitting a plan of action for the installation of approved escape windows in all sleeping rooms throughout the facility.  The Board further grants the Applicant an additional one hundred fifty (150) days in order to implement the above plan of action, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Central Coventry Fire Marshals Office.
2.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant the time variance outlined in item 1 above to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 26.2.2.1 by enclosing all stairways in the facility with approved fire barriers, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the central Coventry Fire Marshal's Office.
3.	This deficiency will be corrected with compliance of item 2 above.
4.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant the time variance as set forth in item  1 to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 26.3.3.2 by treating all wood paneling in the egress system of this facility with an approved flame spread material (intumescent paint), at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Central Coventry Fire Marshals Office.
5.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant the time variance as set forth in item  1 to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 26.3.3.3 by removing all unapproved carpeting from the egress system of this facility, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Central Coventry Fire Marshals Office.
6.	This deficiency has been corrected.
7.	This deficiency has been corrected.
8.	This deficiency has been corrected.
9.	This deficiency has been corrected.
10.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant the time variance outlined in item 1 above to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 7.2.4.3 by properly sealing all opening and penetrations throughout the facility, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Central Coventry Fire Marshals Office.
11.	This deficiency has been corrected.
12.	This deficiency has been corrected.
13.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant the time variance outlined in item 1 above to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 7.2.1.7.1 by providing all exit doors in this facility with approved panic hardware, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Central Coventry Fire Marshals Office.
14.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant a variance from the provisions of RILSC section 7.2.2.2.1 by allowing the existing stairways to remain in use based upon a structural hardship.
15.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant a variance from the provisions of RILSC section 7.2.2.2.2 by allowing the existing stairways to remain in use based upon a structural hardship.
16.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant a variance from the provisions of RILSC section 7.2.2.4.1.2 by allowing the existing stairway handrails to remain in use based upon a structural hardship.  In consideration of the relief granted herein, the Board hereby directs the Applicant to ensure that all existing handrails comply with provisions of section 7.2.2.4.3, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Central Coventry Fire Marshal's Office.
17.	This deficiency has been corrected.
18.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant the time variance outlined in item 1 above to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 8.3.5.1 by properly sealing all opening and penetrations throughout the facility, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Central Coventry Fire Marshals Office.
19.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant the time variance outlined in item 1 above to comply with the provisions of RIFC section 11.1 by properly removing all abandoned electrical wiring and properly covering all exposed electrical outlet boxes throughout the facility, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Central Coventry Fire Marshals Office.

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 understood to mean in accordance with the specific provisions related to the particular subject as are contained in this Code, or as approved in particular by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (State Fire Marshal, his or her designated Deputy State Fire Marshals and/or Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshals).

Finally, the Board hereby authorizes the Central Coventry Fire Marshals Office to extend the above timeline for good faith efforts being demonstrated by the applicant.

STATUS OF DECISION AND APPEAL RIGHTS

1.	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).
2.	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).
3.	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).
4.	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)].