As indicated in the file, a hearing involving the above-captioned property was conducted by Zoom webinar on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 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 and Executive Order.

	Participating at the hearing were the following:
COMMISSIONERS: Chairman Newbrook and Commissioners Pearson, Walker, Sylvester, Booth, Thornton, Davison and ODonnell.
AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION: No representative of the Providence Fire Marshal's Office appeared.
APPLICANT: Albert Garcia.
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 Albert Garcia (authorized representative) of Kite Architects, One Central Street, Providence, RI dated August 16, 2020.
3.	The Application was received by the Board and File  2020054 was opened on August 18, 2020.
4.	The matter was initially before the Board by Zoom webinar on September 15, 2020 at which time it was reassigned for thirty (30) days for the Applicant to submit a revised plan of action.
5.	A subsequent hearing on the Application was conducted by Zoom webinar on October 20, 2020 at 1:00 PM before the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review.
6.	After consideration of the application, the testimony of the witnesses and of the entire record presented to the Board, and after carefully considering such information, a motion was made by Commissioner Thornton and seconded by Commissioner Davison to grant the Applicant the relief as outlined herein.  The motion passed on a 7 to 0 vote with Commissioner Sylvester not voting.

RECORD OF THE CASE

The following documents are part of the administrative record for Appeal  2020054 and are pertinent to the decision rendered:

1.	Variance Application  2020054 dated August 16, 2020 and filed on August 18, 2020.
a.	Attached [revised] Plan of Action dated October 12, 2020 and [original] Plan of Action dated August 16, 2020.
b.	Drawings (2 pages) dated February 14, 2020.
c.	Letter of authorization for Albert Garcia from Jennifer Borman of School One dated August 17, 2020.
2.	Providence Fire Marshals Office plan of action Report dated [undated].
3.	Scheduling email to ADSFM Jacqueline Davis and Albert Garcia dated September 17, 2020.
4.	Zoom webinar invitations  93481777945 dated September 4, 2020 and  96307378226 dated October 1, 2020.

EXHIBITS

The following documents were presented at the October 20, 2020 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 Decision below corresponds with the October 12, 2020 plan of action report compiled by the Applicant.  The above report was utilized by the Board and the Applicant during the October 20, 2020 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the October 12, 2020 plan of action 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.	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

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.	SPECIAL MEANS OF EGRESS: The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance until the commencement of the 2021 school year to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 15.2.11.1 by providing this facility with an approved automatic sprinkler system throughout the building, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Providence Fire Marshals 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 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 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)].