Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

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DECISION
FILE NO.: 050246
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 459 Promenade Street, Providence, RI
APPLICANT: Paul Cuffee School 459 Promenade Street Providence, RI 02908
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Educational
DATE OF DECISION: 2007-08-23
The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on March 27, 2007 at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, a subcommittee of the Board was present and heard this case.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Michael Brown of the Providence Fire Marshals Office.  The subcommittee recommendations were approved by the Board on April 3, 2007 pursuant to a motion made by Commissioner Richard and seconded by Commissioner OConnell.  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 12, 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 March 27, 2007 subcommittee hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the April 12, 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.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiency 1 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Providence Fire Marshal's office.
	2.  The Board hereby grants a variance in order to allow the applicant to maintain the doors of the five (5) administrative offices within this facility in the open position during periods of occupancy.  However, during a fire alarm situation, the Board directs the principal of this facility to ensure that a plan of action is in place for the closing off of all five (5) administrative office doors.
	3(a).  The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 15.2.1.1 and section 7.1.10.1 in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the cited wooden lockers in the corridor to the left of the main office on the first floor.  
	3(b).  The Board hereby directs the Applicant to correct deficiency 3(b) by removing the cited bench that impedes upon the six-foot width required for the corridor.
	3-8.  It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant shall correct the second deficiency 3 along with deficiencies 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 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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