Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

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DECISION
FILE NO.: 060054
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 228-230 Logee Street, Woonsocket
APPLICANT: Mr. Scott Donahue 350 Bryant Street Cumberland, RI 02864
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Apartment
DATE OF DECISION: 2008-05-22
The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on February 26, 2008 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Chairman Coutu, Vice Chairman Newbrook and Commissioners Richard, Blackburn, Preiss, Jackson, Jasparro and Filippi were present.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Francis Dunton of the Woonsocket Fire Marshals Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Filippi and seconded by Commissioners Richard and Jasparro 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 November 22, 2005 inspection report compiled by the Woonsocket Fire Marshals Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Woonsocket Fire Marshals Office during the February 26, 2008 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the November 22, 2005 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 
	1-14.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiencies 1 through 14 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Woonsocket Fire Marshal's office.
	15.  The Board grants a variance in order to allow the Applicant not to provide this facility with limited sprinkler coverage as outlined in item 15 provided the Applicant maintains a travel barrier to the basement of this facility installed at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Woonsocket Fire Marshal's office within sixty (60) days of the date of this decision.  The Woonsocket Fire Marshal's office is hereby granted the authority to extend the above deadline for good faith efforts being made by the Applicant.  In granting this relief, the Board notes that the travel distance from the top floor to the street level is only three (3) stories and that the basement has a direct exit to the outside.  Finally, the Board was advised that the fire department has access and can reach the top story of this facility with its existing equipment.  In granting this variance, the Board notes that the Woonsocket Fire Marshal's office has no objection due to the configuration of this building.

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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