The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on March 23, 2004 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Chairman Farrell and Commissioners Preiss, Evans, Burlingame and Coutu were present.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Claude LaFlamme of the Cumberland Hill Fire Marshal’s Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Preiss and seconded by Commissioner Coutu 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 March 11, 2004 inspection report compiled by the Cumberland Hill Fire Marshal’s Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Cumberland Hill Fire Marshal’s Office during the March 23, 2004 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the March 11, 2004 inspection report as its initial findings of fact.  Any modification of the Board’s 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 grants a variance from the provisions of sections 15.3.6 and 8.3.3 in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the existing wired glass side panels located next to the doors within the corridor system of this facility.  The Board hereby directs the Applicant to correct the remainder of this deficiency by addressing the permanently sealed transoms over the doors within the corridors.  Specifically, the Applicant is directed to either replace the existing transom glass with approved wire glass, or place a single sheet of 5/8 inch sheet rock over the existing glass of the transom or provide an approved metal covering over the existing glass of the transom at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Cumberland Hill Fire Department.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance in order to make the above correction on or before the commencement of the 2004-2005 school year.  Finally, the Board grants a variance from the above provisions in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the existing glass viewing panels located within the doors of the corridors of this facility.  Accordingly, the Applicant is only directed to modify the transoms within this corridor system.
	
2. During the March 23, 2004 hearing on this matter, the Board was advised that the oven within this facility is not used for cooking and that it has been shut off at the breaker.  However, the Cumberland Hill Fire Marshal’s Office has expressed concern that at some point in the future the oven may be used without the consent of the building’s owner.  Accordingly, the Applicant can either comply with the commercial cooking requirements outlined for this oven or remove the oven prior to the commencement of the 2004-2005 school year.

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 Applicant’s 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 Board’s 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 Board’s 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)].