Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

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DECISION
FILE NO.: 060137
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 395 Westminster Street, Providence
APPLICANT: Mr. Louis Peters 395-397 Westminster Street Providence, RI 02903
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Assembly
DATE OF DECISION: 2006-09-19
The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on May 16, 2006 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Chairman Farrell, Vice Chairman Coutu and Commissioners Burlingame, Pearson, Newbrook and Richard were present.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Richard Fournier of the Providence Fire Marshals Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Newbrook and seconded by Commissioner 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 January 23, 2006 inspection report compiled by the Providence Fire Marshals Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Providence Fire Marshals Office during the May 16, 2006 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the January 23, 2006 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, 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 State Fire Marshal or his or her designee.

CONCLUSIONS AND VARIANCE REQUESTS 
	1.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of thirty (30) days from the hearing date to provide the Providence Fire Marshal's office with an engineering report on the separation within this facility.  The Applicant would also correct any additional problems presented at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Providence Fire Marshal's office.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant a second thirty (30) day period from the end of the above thirty (30) day period in order to provide the Providence Fire Marshal's office with approved sprinkler drawings.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of 120 days from the July 1, 2006 sprinkler deadline in order to completely install the required sprinkler system within this facility.  The Board hereby directs the Applicant to reduce the occupancy of this facility beginning on July 1, 2006, by 20 (twenty percent), until such time as the sprinkler system has been put into full operation.

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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