Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
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DECISION
FILE NO.: 040355
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 1621 Smith Street, North Providence, RI
APPLICANT: Mr. john M. Sayig 192 Waterman Avenue East Providence, RI 02914
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Apartment
DATE OF DECISION: 2006-10-11
The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing by a subcommittee of the Board on June 14, 2006 at 9:00 A.M.  At that time, Chairman Farrell and Commissioners Burlingame, Blackburn and Pearson were present.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Michael DeMello of the North Providence Fire Marshals Office.  The subcommittee recommendation was reviewed by the full Board on June 20, 2006 and approved pursuant to a motion made by Commissioner Pearson and a second by Commissioner Newbrook.  Accordingly, the subcommittee recommendation now has the status of a full Board decision.  

FINDINGS OF FACT
	The numbers of the Decision below correspond with those of an April 6, 2006 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 June 14, 2006 subcommittee hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the April 6, 2006 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 State Fire Marshal or his or her designee.

CONCLUSIONS AND VARIANCE REQUESTS 
	1-8.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of 120 days from the date of this decision in order to correct deficiencies 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the North Providence Fire Marshal's office.
	9.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiency 9 by providing approved domestically supplied sprinkler heads in the boiler area of this facility, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the North Providence Fire Marshal's office.  The Board further grants a variance in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the existing fire escape access windows which the North Providence Fire Marshal's office has advised are slightly under the clear opening requirements.  In granting this relief, the Board directs the Applicant not to provide locks on the bedroom doors or to place air conditioning or other units within the subject windows.  Finally, the Board shall provide the Applicant with an additional 120 days to correct the remaining deficiencies as outlined in item 9.
	10-16.  The Board hereby directs the Applicant to correct deficiencies 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 within 120 days of the date of this decision.

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 subcommittees recommendation to the full Board, within thirty (30) days of the mailing date of this Decision, by requesting such review in writing in accordance with the provisions of RIGL 23-28.3-5(b)4.  Commencement of such an appeal does not operate as an automatic stay of this Decision [R.I.G.L. 42-35-15(c)].
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