As indicated in the file, a hearing involving the above-captioned property was conducted remotely by Zoom webinar on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 before the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review [hereinafter the Board], pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws [RIGL] sections 23-28.3-5, 42-46-3 and Executive Order.

	Participating at the hearing were the following:
COMMISSIONERS: Chairman Newbrook and Commissioners Pearson, Booth, Thornton, and Muto.
AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION: Deputy State Fire Marshal David DiMaio of the State Fire Marshals Office.
APPLICANT: Eric Sandler.
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 Eric Sandler (authorized representative) of Oak Hill Center, 544 Pleasant Street, Pawtucket, RI dated March 7, 2021.
3.	The Application was received by the Board and File  2020024 was opened on March 15, 2021.
4.	The property was previously before the Board on August 23, 2016 at which time Decision  160010 was issued dated September 14, 2016.
5.	A hearing on the Application was conducted remotely by Zoom webinar on April 6, 2021 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 Muto 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  2020024 and are pertinent to the decision rendered:

1.	Variance Application  2020024 dated March 7, 2021 and filed on March 15, 2021.
a.	Letter of authorization for Eric Sandler from John Fredette dated March 8, 2021.
2.	State Fire Marshals Office Inspection Reports dated January 15, 2020, February 3, 2020 and reinspection dated February 25, 2021.
3.	Decision  160010 dated September 14, 2016.
4.	Scheduling email to DSFM David DiMaio and Eric Sandler dated March 15, 2021.
5.	Zoom webinar invitation  84847760905 dated March 29, 2021.

EXHIBITS

The following documents were presented at the April 6, 2021 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 above inspection reports compiled by the State Fire Marshals Office.  The above reports were utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the State Fire Marshals Office during the April 6, 2021 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the above inspection reports 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 4-story above grade building without a basement level, classified as a health care (nursing facility) occupancy, consisting of approximately fifty-three thousand one hundred eighty-four (53,184) square feet (gross area) and originally built in 1940.
3.	The building is of multiple construction types, has a compliant fire alarm system with emergency forces notification and is provided with an approved automatic sprinkler system.
4.	The facility has been licensed by RIDOH for one hundred twenty-nine (129) clients.
5.	There is no objection by the State 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.	This deficiency has been corrected.
2.	This deficiency has been corrected.
3.	This deficiency has been corrected.
4.	This deficiency has been corrected.
5.	This deficiency has been corrected.
6.	This deficiency has been corrected.
7.	This deficiency has been corrected.
8.	This deficiency has been corrected.
9.	This deficiency has been corrected.
10.	This deficiency has been corrected.
11.	EGRESS: The Board hereby grants the Applicant a variance from the provisions of RILSC sections 19.2.1 and 7.1.5.3 by allowing the existing headroom in the northwest stairwell to remain as is without modification [69] based upon a structural hardship.  In granting this relief, the Board finds that this stair is used only by facility staff and that low clearance caution markings are presently provided.
12.	This deficiency has been corrected.
13.	This deficiency has been corrected.
14.	This deficiency has been corrected.
15.	This deficiency has been corrected.
16.	EXTINGUISHMENT: The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of ninety (90) days from the date of the decision to comply with the provisions of RILSC sections 19.3.5.1 & 9.7.1.1 and NFPA 13 section 8.15.7 by removing or relocating the outdoor patio canopy, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the State Fire Marshals Office.
17.	EGRESS: The Board hereby grants the Applicant a variance from the provisions of RILSC sections 19.2.1 and 7.2.5.1 by allowing the existing exterior ramp located at the first floor south stairwell exit to remain in use without modification based upon a structural hardship.
18.	This deficiency has been corrected.
19.	This deficiency has been corrected.
20.	This deficiency has been corrected.
21.	EXTINGUISHMENT: The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of ninety (90) days from the date of the decision to comply with the provisions of RILSC section 19.3.5.1 & 9.7.1 and NFPA 13 section 8.15.5.3 by providing the elevator machine room of this facility with an approved 2-hour fire-resistance rated separation, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the State Fire Marshals Office.
22.	This deficiency has been corrected.
23.	This deficiency has been corrected.
24.	This deficiency has been corrected.
25.	This deficiency has been corrected.
26.	This deficiency has been corrected.
27.	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)].