The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on May 12, 2009 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Acting Chairman Pearson and Commissioners Dias, Filippi, Jasparro, Jackson, Preiss, Blackburn, Richard and Walker were present.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Wayne Clark of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Dias and seconded by Commissioner Filippi 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, 2004 inspection report compiled by the Newport Fire Marshals Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Newport Fire Marshals Office during the May 12, 2009 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the January 23, 2004 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 
	1-4.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiencies 1, 2, 3 and 4 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshal's office.
	5.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of thirty (30) days from the date of this decision in which to verify that the fire escape reaches the last third floor apartment unit of this facility and if not, to work with the Newport Fire Marshal's office in extending this egress to the third floor unit of this facility.  The Board further grants the Applicant an additional 120 days in which to complete the above work if necessary.
	6.  It is the understanding of the Board that deficiency 6 has been corrected by the Applicant.
	7.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of thirty (30) days from the date of this decision in order to secure verification on the cited combustible coverings within the egress system of this facility.  The Board grants an additional 120 days to allow the Applicant to upgrade the combustible coverings, if necessary, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshal's office.
	8.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of thirty (30) days from the date of this decision in order to develop a plan of action for providing this facility with handrails required by the Newport Fire Marshal's office.  The Board further grants the Applicant an additional 120 days in which to install any such handrails at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshal's office.
	9.  It is the understanding of the Board that deficiency 9 is not a violation.
	10.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of thirty (30) days from the date of this decision in order to develop a plan of action to provide the apartment doors with an approved finish and to further provide them with approved closers and/or spring loaded hinges.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant an additional 120 days in which to implement the above plan at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshal's office.
	11-12.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiencies 11 and 12.
	13.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of thirty (30) days from the date of this decision in order to develop a plan of action and an additional 120 days to implement the plan of action to correct deficiency 13 by either providing the furnace area with a rated door and/or a domestic sprinkler head, installed at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshal's office.
	14-15.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiencies 14 and 15 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshal's office.

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)].