Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

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DECISION
FILE NO.: 050621
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 171 Atwells Avenue, Providence, RI
APPLICANT: Mr. Anthony C. Merola, II 171 Atwells Avenue Providence, RI 02903
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Assembly
DATE OF DECISION: 2007-06-21
The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on December 5, 2006 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Chairman Coutu, Vice Chairman Burlingame and Commissioners Richard, Blackburn, Newbrook, Preiss, Filippi and OConnell were present.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshals Richard Silva and Richard Fournier of the Providence Fire Marshals Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Richard and seconded by Commissioner Newbrook 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 an August 18, 2005 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 December 5, 2006 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the August 18, 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 directs the Applicant to submit plans to provide a second approved means of egress from the second floor of this facility to the Providence Fire Marshal on or before January 31, 2007.  The Applicant shall then have a period of 120 days from the approval of the submitted plans by both the Building Official and the Fire Marshal's office in order to provide the second floor with an approved second means of egress.  In granting this relief, the Board notes that the third floor of this facility shall remain vacant and unoccupied.
	2.  The Board hereby directs the Applicant to correct deficiency 2 within the above time period as outlined in item 1.
	3.  The Board hereby directs the Applicant to provide the Providence Fire Marshal's office with a plan of action to address all of the deficiencies related to the tent in the rear of the building.  The Board hereby directs the Applicant to correct those deficiencies at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Providence 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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