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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Warwick, RI 02886
DECISION
FILE NO.: 150043
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 806 Providence Street, West Warwick, RI
APPLICANT: Jeff Rosa 19 Sweetwater Drive Coventry, RI 02816
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Apartment
DATE OF DECISION: 2015-05-15
As indicated in the file, a hearing involving the above-captioned property was conducted on April 28, 2015 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 and Richard.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: W. Keith Burlingame, Esq.
AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION: Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal James Bobola of the West Warwick Fire Marshals Office.
APPLICANT: Jeffrey Rosa.
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 Jeff Rosa (owner) of 19 Sweetwater Drive, Coventry, RI dated April 15, 2015.
3.	The Application was received by the Board and File  150043 opened on April 16, 2015.
4.	A hearing on the Application was conducted on April 28, 2015 at 1:00 PM before the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review.
5.	After all evidence was presented at the hearing, a motion was made by Commissioner Filippi and seconded by Commissioner Richard to grant the Applicant relief as outlined herein.  The motion passed on a 5 to 0 vote.

RECORD OF THE CASE

The following documents are part of the administrative record for Appeal  150043 and are pertinent to the decision rendered:

1.	Variance Application  150043 dated April 15, 2015 and filed on April 16, 2015.
2.	West Warwick Fire Marshals Office Inspection Report dated October 8, 2014.

EXHIBITS

The following documents were presented at the April 28, 2015 hearing as exhibits:

1.	None.

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 numbers of the Decision below correspond with those of the October 8, 2014 inspection report compiled by the West Warwick Fire Marshals Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the West Warwick Fire Marshals Office during the April 28, 2015 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the October 8, 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 apartment (6-units) occupancy.
3.	The building is of wood frame construction and is not provided with approved sprinkler protection and does not have a compliant fire alarm system.
4.	There is no objection by the West Warwick 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 section 31.3.4.4.1 by developing and submitting a plan of action for the installation of an approved fire alarm system 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 West Warwick 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 sections 31.3.4.5.1 and 31.3.4.6.1 by providing this facility with approved smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the West Warwick Fire Marshal's Office.
3.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant the time variance as set forth in item  1 to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 31.3.1.2 by properly sealing or repairing all penetrations in the boiler room ceiling, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the West Warwick Fire Marshals Office.
4.	This deficiency has been corrected.
5.	This deficiency has been corrected.
6.	This deficiency has been corrected.
7.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant the time variance outlined in item 1 above to comply with the provisions of RIFC section 10.12.1.1 by providing this facility with approved address numbers, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the West Warwick Fire Marshals Office.
8.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant the time variance outlined in item 1 above to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 31.2.2 by installing either steel or solid wood 1-3/4 doors, that are self-closing, in the existing door jambs in the egress system of this facility, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the West Warwick Fire Marshal's Office.
9.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant the time variance outlined in item 1 above to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 31.2.10 by providing this facility with approved emergency lighting and exit signage, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the West Warwick Fire Marshals Office.
10.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant the time variance as set forth in item  1 to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 10.2.6.1 by treating all wainscoting in the rear stairwell with an approved fire-retardant coating (intumescent paint), at the direction and to the satisfaction of the West Warwick Fire Marshals Office.
11.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant the time variance outlined in item 1 above to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 31.3.3.3 by removing or replacing the carpet in the stairwell, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the West Warwick Fire Marshals Office.
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 NFPA 54 (2010) section 5.7.2.2 by providing the area of the gas meters with approved physical damage protection (safety bollards), at the direction and to the satisfaction of the West Warwick 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 West Warwick Fire Marshals Office to extend the above timeline(s) for good faith compliance efforts being demonstrated by the Applicant in accordance with the provisions of Board Rules and Regulations, section 6-2-22.1.

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 6-2-22).
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 6-2-23.)  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 6-2-24).
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 6-2-25).
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.  (See: Board Rules and Regulations, section 6-2-18).  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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