Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

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FIRE SAFETY CODE - BOARD OF APPEAL AND REVIEW
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DECISION
FILE NO.: 150045
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 272 Great Island Road, Narragansett, RI
APPLICANT: Rick Hall 312 Waterman Avenue East Providence, RI 02914
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Business
DATE OF DECISION: 2015-05-22
As indicated in the file, a hearing involving the above-captioned property was conducted on May 12, 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, Vice-Chairman Blackburn and Commissioners Booth, Filippi, Jackson, Sylvester, Thornton and Walker.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: W. Keith Burlingame, Esq.
AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION: Deputy State Fire Marshal Robert Couture of the State Fire Marshals Office.
APPLICANT: Rick Hall.
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 Rick Hall (project manager) of Keough Construction Management, 312 Waterman Avenue, East Providence, RI dated April 22, 2015.
3.	The Application was received by the Board and File  150045 opened on April 24, 2015.
4.	A hearing on the Application was conducted on May 12, 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 Vice-Chairman Blackburn and seconded by Commissioner Walker to grant the Applicant relief as outlined herein.  The motion passed on an 8 to 0 vote.

RECORD OF THE CASE

The following documents are part of the administrative record for Appeal  150045 and are pertinent to the decision rendered:

1.	Variance Application  150045 dated April 22, 2015 and filed on April 24, 2015.
2.	Email from DSFM Robert Couture of the State Fire Marshals Office to the Board dated April 22, 2015.
3.	Building Description from Keough Construction Management [undated].
4.	Applicants Project  1401 drawings (11 pages) for 272 Great Island Road, Narragansett, RI [undated].
5.	Letter of Authorization for Rick Hall from KSJ Seafood, Inc. dated May 7, 2015.

EXHIBITS

The following documents were presented at the May 12, 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 Decision below corresponds with the proposed plan of action compiled by the Applicant.  The above plan of action was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the State Fire Marshals Office during the May 12, 2015 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the plan of action 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 a proposed 2-story business occupancy.
3.	There is no objection by the State Fire Marshals Office to the granting of the relief outlined herein.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND
DETERMINATIONS ON VARIANCE REQUESTS

1.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant a variance from the provisions of RILSC section 38.2.4.3(3)(a) by allowing the proposed single means of egress from the second floor to be unseparated (1st floor door opening) from the first floor below.  In consideration of the relief granted herein, the Board directs the Applicant to construct and maintain the space identified as Foyer 100 on drawing  A2.1 in accordance with the requirements of RILSC Section 7.2.6 as an exit passageway.

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).


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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