Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

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DECISION
FILE NO.: 040269
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 1800 Mineral Spring Avenue, North Providence, RI
APPLICANT: Ms. Patricia C. Simone 1800B Mineral Spring Avenue North Providence, RI 02904
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Mercantile
DATE OF DECISION: 2006-02-01
The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on October 18, 2005 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Chairman Farrell and Commissioners Richard, Blackburn, Newbrook, Evans, Burlingame and OConnell were present.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal David Vartian of the North Providence Fire Marshals Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Evans and seconded by Commissioner Blackburn 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 June 24, 2004 inspection report compiled by the North Providence Fire Marshals Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the North Providence Fire Marshals Office during the October 18, 2005 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the June 24, 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, is understood to mean in accordance with the specific provisions related to the particular subject as are contained in this Code, or as approved in particular by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (State Fire Marshal, his or her designated Deputy State Fire Marshals and/or Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshals).

CONCLUSIONS AND VARIANCE REQUESTS
	1-5.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of 120 days from the date of this decision in order to correct the remaining deficiencies as outlined in items 1 through 5 of the North Providence Fire Marshals inspection report.
	6.  The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of sections 37.2.2.7.1, 7.2.6.1 and 7.1.5.1 in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the existing cited I-beam in the basement of this facility approximately sixty-eight (68) inches off the floor of the egress passageway.  In granting this variance on the basis of structural hardship, the Board notes that the basement shall be utilized for storage and not otherwise normally occupied.  The Board is further advised and finds that the basement shall be well lit, and finally, the Board directs the Applicant to properly mark the I-beam, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the North Providence Fire Marshals office within the above 120 day period.
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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