The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on May 11, 2004 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Chairman Farrell and Commissioners Wahlberg, Preiss, Newbrook, Coutu, Burlingame and Pearson were present.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Timothy Hawthorne of the Cranston Fire Marshals Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Newbrook and seconded by Commissioner Burlingame 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 December 11, 2003 inspection report compiled by the Cranston Fire Marshals Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Cranston Fire Marshals Office during the May 11, 2004 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the December 11, 2003 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 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. The Board hereby directs the Applicant to correct deficiency 1 by repairing all exit signs and emergency lighting within this facility, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Cranston Fire Marshals Office, within 120 days from the date of this decision.
	2. The Board hereby grants a variance from the protection from hazards provisions and the archive provisions of the code, relating to separation, in order to allow the Applicant to provide three (3) domestically supplied sprinkler heads in each of the subjected areas or to provide the ceiling with approved spray on fire protection at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Cranston Fire Marshals Office.  The above modification shall be made within 120 days from the date of this decision.  In addition to the above sprinkler protection, the Board directs the Applicant to also provide 
an approved one (1) hour separation of these areas utilizing double 5/8 inch sheet rock with fire stopping to separate these areas vertically from the other occupancy.  Again, the Applicant shall have 120 days from the date of this decision to make the above correction.  The above horizontal separation with sprinkler coverage and/or fire proofing on the ceiling, coupled with the vertical fire separation of double 5/8 inch sheet rock and fire stopping, should provide these subject areas with sufficient protection. The Board notes that this protection shall be installed to the satisfaction of the Cranston Fire Marshal and once the Cranston Fire Marshal is satisfied the Board shall be satisfied.

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)].