As indicated in the file, a hearing involving the above-captioned property was conducted on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 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, Vice-Chairman Blackburn and Commissioners Pearson, Sylvester & Thornton.
AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION: Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshals Christopher Koretski and Keith Maine of the Watch Hill Fire Marshals Office.
APPLICANT: Grant Simmons.
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 Elizabeth Bean (authorized representative) of Watch Hill Chapel Society, PO Box 173, Westerly, RI dated February 12, 2019.
3.	The Application was received by the Board and File  190021 was opened on February 19, 2019.
4.	A hearing on the Application was conducted on March 26, 2019 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 Vice-Chairman Blackburn 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  190021 and are pertinent to the decision rendered:

1.	Variance Application  190021 dated February 12, 2019 and filed on February 19, 2019.
a.	Letter of authorization for Grant Simmons from Elizabeth Bean dated February 12, 2019 
2.	Watch Hill Fire Marshals Office Inspection Report dated December 11, 2018.

EXHIBITS

The following documents were presented at the March 26, 2019 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 December 11, 2018 inspection report compiled by the Watch Hill Fire Marshals Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Watch Hill Fire Marshals Office during the March 26, 2019 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the December 11, 2018 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 above grade building with a basement level, classified as an assembly (place of worship) occupancy, consisting of approximately twelve thousand six hundred fifty-six (12,656) square feet (gross area) and originally built in 1890.
3.	The building is of Type V (000) construction, has an approved (with deficiencies) fire alarm system and is provided with an approved automatic sprinkler system.
4.	The maximum occupant load of the facility has been calculated at four hundred seventy (470) persons.
5.	There is no objection by the Watch Hill Fire Marshals Office to the granting of the relief outlined herein.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND
DETERMINATIONS ON VARIANCE REQUESTS

References to NFPA shall mean the National Fire Protection Association; references to the Rhode Island Fire Code [RIFC] shall mean NFPA 1, (2012 edition) as incorporated by reference and amended by 450-RICR-00-00-7; and, references to the Rhode Island Life Safety Code [RILSC] shall mean NFPA 101, (2012 edition) as incorporated by reference and amended by 450-RICR-00-00-8.

1.	This deficiency has been corrected.
2.	This deficiency has been corrected.
3.	FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS: The Board grants the Applicant a time variance of thirty (30) days from the date of the decision to comply with the provisions of RIFC sections 10.19.7 and 66.9.3.6 by removing all fueled equipment and fuel cans from the basement workshop, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Watch Hill Fire Marshals Office.
4.	This deficiency has been corrected.
5.	PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS: The Board hereby grants the Applicant thirty (30) days from the date of the decision to comply with the provisions of RIFC section 13.6.8.1.3.8.1 by properly mounting the Undercroft assembly room portable fire extinguisher, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Watch Hill Fire Marshals Office.
6.	PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS: The Board hereby grants the Applicant thirty (30) days from the date of the decision to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 29.3.5.8 by providing this facility with approved portable fire extinguishers, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Watch Hill Fire Marshals Office.
7.	FIRE ALARM SYSTEM:  The Board hereby grants the Applicant a variance from the provisions of RILSC section 9.6.7.3 by allowing the existing fire alarm system zone wiring and configuration to remain in use without modification.  In consideration of the relief granted herein, the Board directs the Applicant to provide an up-to-date annunciator zone map located at the fire alarm control unit, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Watch Hill Fire Marshal's Office.
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).

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)].