Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

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DECISION
FILE NO.: 050345
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 2967 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI
APPLICANT: Mr. John Borden 41 Mill Lane Portsmouth, RI 02871
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Storage Buildings
DATE OF DECISION: 2007-10-25
The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on July 17, 2007 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Chairman Coutu, Vice Chairman Newbrook and Commissioners Blackburn, Jasparro, Preiss, Jackson, Walker, Filippi and Pearson were present.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Phillip Simmons of the Portsmouth Fire Marshals Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Blackburn 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 May 12, 2005 inspection report compiled by the Portsmouth Fire Marshals Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Portsmouth Fire Marshals Office during the July 17, 2007 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the May 12, 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.  The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of sections 42.2.4.1(1)(2)(3) in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the existing exit stairs as the one means of egress from each of the units of this facility.  This variance is based upon the Applicants voluntary installation of a radio master box as part of its long-term plan of action for this facility.  This variance is also based on the fact that the cited areas are not open to the public. 
	2.  The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 42.2.2.2 in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the existing cited sliding doors covering the two (2) small storage units being less than one thousand square feet each.  This variance is based upon the factors outlined in item 1 and the fact that the Portsmouth Fire Marshal's office has no objection.
	3-7.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance until December 30, 2007 in which to correct deficiencies 3, 4, 5, and 7 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Portsmouth Fire Marshal's office.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiency 6 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Portsmouth Fire Marshal's office.
	8.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant shall voluntarily comply with the sprinkler recommendations of the Portsmouth Fire Marshal's office prior to the further development of the commercial space within this facility.  
	9-10.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance until December 31, 2007 in which to correct deficiencies 9 and 10 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Portsmouth 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)].
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