As indicated in the file, a hearing involving the above-captioned property was conducted on Tuesday, June 26, 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 Filippi, Jackson, Sylvester and Davison.
AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION: Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Timothy Lutz, Sr. of the Providence Fire Marshals Office.
APPLICANT: Kevin Toomey.
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 Michael Guglielmo (authorized representative) of Brown University, 295 Lloyd Avenue - Box 1941, Providence, RI dated May 15, 2018.
3.	The Application was received by the Board and File  180066 was opened on May 29, 2018.
4.	A hearing on the Application was conducted on June 26, 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 Jackson 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  180066 and are pertinent to the decision rendered:

1.	Variance Application  180066 dated May 15, 2018 and filed on May 29, 2018.
a.	Attached Plan of Action dated May 9, 2018
b.	Letter of authorization for Jensen Hughes from Michael Guglielmo, Jr. of Brown University dated May 15, 2018 
2.	Providence Fire Marshals Office Plan Review Report (email) dated May 24, 2018.

EXHIBITS

The following documents were presented at the June 26, 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 May 9, 2018 plan of action compiled by Jensen Hughes.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Providence Fire Marshals Office during the June 26, 2018 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the May 9, 2018 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.	Further, the Board hereby accepts and approves the Applicants Fire Safety Evaluation System for Business Occupancies [NFPA 101A] dated May 8, 2018 in determining an equivalent level of life safety for the business occupancy portions of the building.
3.	The building is an existing 3-story with basement multiple/mixed use (assembly and business) occupancy consisting of approximately twenty-seven thousand one hundred (27,100) square feet (gross area).
4.	The building is of Type III (200) construction, will have a compliant fire alarm system with emergency forces notification and will be provided with an approved automatic sprinkler system.
5.	There is no objection by the Providence Fire Marshals Office to the granting of the relief outlined herein.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND
DETERMINATIONS ON VARIANCE REQUESTS

1.	EGRESS: The Board hereby grants the Applicant a variance from the provisions of RILSC section 7.2.2.2.2.2 by allowing the existing Stair 2 to remain in use without modifications due to structural and historical hardships.
2.	EGRESS: The Board hereby grants the Applicant a variance from the provisions of RILSC section 7.2.2.4.5.2 by allowing the existing guardrails on Stair 2 to remain in use without modifications due to structural and historical hardships.
3.	EGRESS: The Board hereby grants the Applicant a variance from the provisions of RILSC sections 7.2.2.2.1(b), 7.2.2.2.4.1 and 7.2.2.4.3 by allowing the existing Stair 3 to remain in use without modifications due to structural and historical hardships.
4.	EGRESS: The Board hereby grants the Applicant a variance from the provisions of RILSC sections 7.2.1.3.1 and 7.2.1.3.2 by allowing the existing Stair Stage to Exterior to remain in use without modifications due to structural and historical hardships.
5.	EGRESS: The Board hereby grants the Applicant a variance from the provisions of RILSC sections 7.2.2.2.4.1 and 7.2.2.4.3 by allowing the existing Stair Stage to Corridor to remain in use without modifications due to structural and historical hardships.

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 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)].