As indicated in the file, a hearing involving the above-captioned property was conducted on Tuesday, June 25, 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 Filippi, Booth & Davison.
AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION: Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshals Wayne Clark and Chris Garofalo of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.
APPLICANT: Peter Iascone and Gregory Sorbello, Esq.
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 Gregory Sorbello, Esq. (authorized representative) of Guilded Age Properties, 117 Belleview Avenue, Newport dated June 7, 2019.
3.	The Application was received by the Board and File  190077 was opened on June 13, 2019.
4.	A hearing on the Application was conducted on June 25, 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 Commissioner Filippi and seconded by Commissioner Booth 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  190077 and are pertinent to the decision rendered:

1.	Variance Application  190077 dated June 7, 2019 and filed on June 13, 2019.
a.	Attached Plan of Action dated [undated].
2.	Newport Fire Marshals Office Inspection Report dated March 14, 2019.

EXHIBITS

The following documents were presented at the June 25, 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 Findings of Fact:

1.	The numbers of the Decision below correspond with those of the March 14, 2019 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 June 25, 2019 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the March 14, 2019 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 3-story above grade building without a basement level, classified as an apartment (16 unit) occupancy, consisting of approximately thirteen thousand seven hundred sixty-four (13,764) 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 (with deficiencies) partial automatic sprinkler 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

References to NFPA shall mean the National Fire Protection Association; references to the Rhode Island Fire Code [RIFC] shall mean NFPA 1, (2015 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, (2015 edition) as incorporated by reference and amended by 450-RICR-00-00-8.

1.	PROTECTION FROM HAZARDS: The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of thirty (30) days from the date of the decision to comply with the provisions of RIFC section 4.5.8.1 by developing and submitting a plan of action for the sealing of all penetrations in the fire barriers throughout the facility.  The Board further grants the Applicant an additional one hundred fifty (150) days in order to implement the above plan of action, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshals Office.  In consideration of the relief granted herein, the Board directs the Applicant to limit the use of the first floor to ordinary combustibles, with no storage of vehicles or flammable liquids.
2.	This deficiency has been corrected.
3.	This deficiency has been corrected.
4.	This deficiency has been corrected.
5.	EXTINGUISHMENT: The Board hereby grants the Applicant the time variance outlined in item 1 above to comply with the provisions of RIFC section 13.3.3.5.1.5 by providing this facility with approved automatic sprinkler system spare sprinkler heads, wrench and cabinet, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshal's Office.
6.	This deficiency has been corrected.
7.	ELECTRICAL SAFETY: The Board hereby grants the Applicant the time variance outlined in item 1 above to comply with the provisions of RIFC section 11.1.1 by correcting all electrical deficiencies throughout the facility, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshal's Office.
8.	This deficiency has been corrected.
9.	EXTINGUISHMENT: The Board hereby grants the Applicant the time variance outlined in item 1 above to install an approved automatic sprinkler head in the third floor common laundry room, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshal's Office.
10.	FIRE ALARM SYSTEM: The Board hereby grants the Applicant the time variance outlined in item 1 above to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 9.6.2.11 by providing this facility with approved heat detection in all dwelling unit kitchens, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshal's Office.
11.	This deficiency has been corrected.
12.	EXTINGUISHMENT: The Board hereby grants the Applicant the time variance outlined in item 1 above to install approved automatic sprinkler heads in the north stairs to the third floor, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshal's Office.
13.	FIRE ALARM SYSTEM: The Board hereby grants the Applicant the time variance outlined in item 1 above to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 9.6.1.3 by providing documentation of adequate fire alarm system sound pressure levels in the dwelling unit bedrooms of the facility, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Newport Fire Marshal's Office.

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 Newport 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 450-RICR-00-00-1.7.2(X).

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)].