Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

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DECISION
FILE NO.: 040082
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 10 Dorrance Street
APPLICANT: Mr. Hank Suomnien Jr. 133 Pearl Street Boston, MA 02110
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Business
DATE OF DECISION: 2004-10-05
The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on April 27, 2004 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Chairman Farrell and Commissioners Wahlberg, Preiss, Newbrook, Evans, Coutu, Burlingame, Filippi, O’Connell and Pearson were present.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal George Calise of the Providence Fire Marshal’s Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Burlingame and seconded by Commissioner Wahlberg to grant the Applicant relief as outlined herein.  The motion was unanimous.

FINDINGS OF FACT
	
During the April 27, 2004 hearing on this matter, the Board utilized a February 23, 2004 partial plan review approval report complied by the Providence Fire Marshal’s Office.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the February 23, 2004 plan review approval report as its initial findings of fact.  Any modification of the Board’s 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 the State Fire Code, or as approved in particular by the authority having jurisdiction (the State Fire Marshal or his or her designated Deputy State Fire Marshal or Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal)”.

CONCLUSIONS AND VARIANCE REQUESTS
	
1. During the April 27, 2004 hearing on this matter, the Board was advised by the applicant that it would comply with the requirements outlined in the February 23, 2004 letter for 10th , 11th and 12th floors of this facility.  With regard to the 10th floor which is currently requesting to be occupied, the Applicant is requesting a temporary certificate of occupancy.  Accordingly, the Board hereby authorizes the Providence Fire Marshal’s Office to approve the issuance of a temporary certificate of occupancy for the 10th floor of this facility provided that the Applicant develop and submit a plan of action for correction of the water pressure for the sprinkler system covering the 10th floor within 90 days from the date of this decision.  The Board hereby leaves this file open in order to allow the parties to return in the event additional hearings are necessary.

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 Applicant’s 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 Board’s 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 Board’s 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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