Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
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FIRE SAFETY CODE - BOARD OF APPEAL AND REVIEW
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DECISION
FILE NO.: 160025
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 75 Brenton Road, Newport, RI
APPLICANT: Cluny School 75 Brenton Road Newport, RI 02840
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Educational
DATE OF DECISION: 2016-04-01
As indicated in the file, a hearing involving the above-captioned property was conducted on March 22, 2016 before the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review, pursuant to RI General Laws Section 23-28.3-5.
	In attendance at the hearing were the following:
COMMISSIONERS: Chairman Newbrook and Commissioners Richard, Jackson, Booth and Thornton.
AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION: Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Chris Mahoney of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.
APPLICANT: William Lippe.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: W. Keith Burlingame, Esq.

TRAVEL OF THE CASE

1.	This is an Application for Variance filed under R.I.G.L. Chapter 23-28.3, entitled Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review, and the Administrative Regulations promulgated thereunder.
2.	The Application was filed by William Lippe (authorized representative) of Cluny School, 75 Brenton Road, Newport, RI dated February 1, 2016.
3.	The Application was received by the Board and File  160025 opened on February 12, 2016.
4.	A hearing on the Application was conducted on March 22, 2016 at 1:00 PM before the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review.
5.	After all evidence was presented at the hearing, a motion was made by Commissioner Richard and seconded by Commissioner Thornton to grant the Applicant the relief as outlined herein.  The motion passed on a 5 to 0 vote.

RECORD OF THE CASE

The following documents are part of the administrative record for Appeal  160025 and are pertinent to the decision rendered:

1.	Variance Application  160025 dated February 1, 2016 and filed on February 12, 2016.
2.	Newport Fire Marshals Office Inspection Report dated November 23, 2015.
3.	Letter of Authorization for William J. Lippe from Sister Luke Parker dated February 11, 2016.

EXHIBITS

The following documents were presented at the March 22, 2016 hearing as exhibits:

1.	None.

FINDINGS OF FACT

	Based on the testimony and evidence introduced at the hearing and a review of the administrative file, the Board makes the following Finding of Fact:

1.	The numbers of the Decision below correspond with those of the November 23, 2015 inspection report compiled by the Newport Fire Marshals Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Newport Fire Marshals Office during the March 22, 2016 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the November 23, 2015 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.
2.	The building is an existing 2-story educational occupancy.
3.	The building is of Type III (200) construction and is provided with approved sprinkler protection and has a compliant fire alarm system.
4.	There is no objection by the Newport Fire Marshals Office to the granting of the relief outlined herein.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND
DETERMINATIONS ON VARIANCE REQUESTS

1.	The Board grants the Applicant a time variance until the commencement of the 2016  2017 school year to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 7.2.1.8.1 by installing approved magnetic hold-open devices for the doors of the teachers lounge, resource room and gym/cafeteria of the facility, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.
2.	This deficiency has been corrected.
3.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant the time variance outlined in item 1 above to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 7.2.1.8.1 by providing an approved self-closing device for the basement door of this facility, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshal's Office.
4.	This deficiency has been corrected.
5.	This deficiency has been corrected.

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).

STATUS OF DECISION AND APPEAL RIGHTS

1.	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: Fire Safety Code, section 6-2-22).
2.	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: Fire Safety Code, section 6-2-23.)  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: Fire Safety Code, section 6-2-24).
3.	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:  Fire Safety Code, section 6-2-25).
4.	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.  (See: Fire Safety Code, section 6-2-18).  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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