As indicated in the file, a hearing involving the above-captioned property was conducted on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 before the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review [hereinafter the Board], pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws [RIGL] section 23-28.3-5.
	In attendance at the hearing were the following:
COMMISSIONERS: Chairman Newbrook and Commissioners Pearson, Jackson, Sylvester, Booth and ODonnell.
AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION: Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshals Kenneth Botelho and James Bellamy of the East Providence Fire Marshals Office.
APPLICANT: Thomas Maxfield, Jr.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: W. Keith Burlingame, Esq.

TRAVEL OF THE CASE

1.	This is an Application for Variance filed under RIGL 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 Thomas Maxfield, Jr. (authorized representative) of RISSPORT I, LLC, 20 Newman Avenue -- Suite 1005, East Providence, RI dated April 12, 2018.
3.	The Application was received by the Board and File  180052 was opened on May 2, 2018.
4.	A hearing on the Application was conducted on May 22, 2018 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 Sylvester and seconded by Commissioner Booth to grant the Applicant the relief as outlined herein.  The motion passed on a 6 to 0 vote.

RECORD OF THE CASE

The following documents are part of the administrative record for Appeal  180051 and are pertinent to the decision rendered:

1.	Variance Application  180051 dated April 12, 2018 and filed on May 2, 2018.
a.	Applicants plan of action with photographs (5).
2.	East Providence Fire Marshals Office Inspection Report dated March 28, 2018.
3.	Letter of authorization for Thomas Maxfield. Jr. from Jeffrey Spratt of Peregrine Property Management dated April 12, 2018.

EXHIBITS

The following documents were presented at the May 22, 2018 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 March 28, 2018 inspection report compiled by the East Providence Fire Marshals Office and the Applicants plan of action.  The above reports were utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the East Providence Fire Marshals Office during the May 22, 2018 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the March 28, 2018 inspection report and the Applicants plan of action 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 2-1/2-story apartment (18 unit) occupancy consisting of approximately ten thousand eighty (10,080) square feet (gross area) and originally built in 1970.
3.	The building is of Type V (000) construction, has a compliant fire alarm system and is not provided with an approved automatic sprinkler system.
4.	Hard-wired smoke alarms are provided in the buildings dwelling units.
5.	There is no objection by the East Providence Fire Marshals Office to the granting of the relief outlined herein.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND
DETERMINATIONS ON VARIANCE REQUESTS

1.	This deficiency has been corrected.
2.	This deficiency has been corrected.
3.	EGRESS: The Board hereby grants the Applicant a variance from the provisions of RILSC section 7.2.2.5.3 allowing the existing washer and dryer to remain located under the stairs on the rear lower level.  In consideration of the relief granted herein, the Board directs the Applicant to provide an approved 1-hour fire-rated separation for this space, maintain the existing system-connected heat detector and provide an automatic sprinkler head connected to the domestic water supply, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the East Providence Fire Marshal's Office.
4.	EGRESS: The Board grants the Applicant a time variance until June 30, 2018 to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 4.6.12.1 by repairing or replacing the carpeting on the exit stairs, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the East Providence Fire Marshals Office.
5.	EGRESS: The Board hereby grants the Applicant a variance from the provisions of RILSC sections 31.2.2.3.1 and 7.2.2.4.4.6 allowing the existing stair handrails to remain in their current location and configuration.
6.	EQUIPMENT ROOMS: The Board grants the Applicant a time variance until June 30, 2018 to comply with the provisions of RIFC section 10.19.5.1 by developing removing all combustible materials stored in the facility boiler room, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the East Providence Fire Marshals Office.
7.	This deficiency has been corrected.
8.	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).

Finally, the Board hereby authorizes the East Providence Fire Marshals Office to extend the above timeline(s) for good faith compliance efforts being demonstrated by the Applicant in accordance with the provisions of Blanket Variance  15-01A.

STATUS OF DECISION AND APPEAL RIGHTS

1.	This Decision constitutes a final order of the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review as set forth in RIGL section 42-35-12 and 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 [FSC] section 450-RICR-00-00-1.7.2(V)].
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: FSC section 450-RICR-00-00-1.7.2(W)].  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 FSC or a revision of the above-cited classification.  [See: FSC section 450-RICR-00-00-1.7.2(X)].
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 RIGL section 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:  FSC section 450-RICR-00-00-1.7.2(Y)].
4.	In accordance with RIGL section 23-28.3-5(e), any person who violates a final order of the Board may be subject to prosecution in the District Court with possible imprisonment for a term not exceeding one (1) year, or fined not more than one thousand dollars (1000) for each offense.
5.	In accordance with RIGL section 42-35-12, 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: FSC section 450-RICR-00-00-1.7.2(R)].  Commencement of such an action does not operate as an automatic stay of this Decision [See: RIGL section 42-35-15(c)].