As indicated in the file, a hearing involving the above-captioned property was conducted remotely by Zoom webinar on Tuesday, May 4, 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, Walker, Sylvester, Booth, Thornton and Muto.
AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION: Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Stephen Kapalka of the Warwick Fire Marshals Office.
APPLICANT: Frank Bragantin.
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 Frank O. Bragantin (authorized representative) of 558 Smithfield Avenue, Pawtucket, RI dated April 19, 2021.
3.	The Application was received by the Board and Files  2021041  043 were opened on April 22, 2021.
4.	A hearing on the Application was conducted remotely by Zoom webinar on May 4, 2021 at 1:00 PM before the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review.
5.	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 Pearson and seconded by Commissioner Sylvester to grant the Applicant the relief as outlined herein.  The motion passed on a 7 to 0 vote.

RECORD OF THE CASE

The following documents are part of the administrative record for Appeal  2021041-2021043 and are pertinent to the decision rendered:

1.	Variance Application  2021041  043 dated April 19, 2021 and filed on April 22, 2021.
a.	Attached Plan of Action dated April 8, 2021
b.	Letter of authorization for Frank O. Bragantin from John K. Cooper dated April 19, 2021.
2.	Applicants request for expedited hearing dated April 23, 2021.
3.	Warwick Fire Marshals Office Plan Review Report dated April 13, 2021.
4.	Scheduling emails to ADSFM Stephen Kapalka and Frank Bragantin dated April 22, 2021 and April 23, 2021.
5.	Zoom webinar invitation  89180035620 dated April 26, 2021.

EXHIBITS

The following documents were presented at the May 4, 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 Decision below corresponds with the April 13, 2021 plan review report compiled by the Warwick Fire Marshals Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Warwick Fire Marshals Office during the May 4, 2021 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the April 13, 2021 plan review 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 Board finds that the complex consists of three (3) apartment buildings [total of 97 units], each 3-stories in height, currently undergoing an elevator modernization project.  During the course of this project, the elevator in each building will be inoperative for a period of approximately four (4) weeks, as they are separately upgraded.
3.	The Board further finds that the Applicant is seeking to temporarily install a mechanized chair lift in one of the two exit stairways in each building as that buildings elevator is upgraded.  Installation of the proposed chair lift will decrease the clear width of the affected stairway to below the required thirty-six (36) inches to approximately 26.4 to 29 inches.
4.	Each building is provided with a compliant fire alarm system with emergency forces notification.
5.	There is no objection by the Warwick 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.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant a variance from the provisions of RILSC sections 31.2.2.3.1 and 7.2.2.2.1.1 by allowing the temporary installation of the proposed mechanized chairlift in one of the two exit stairways of each building, as that buildings elevator equipment is upgraded, for a construction period of thirty (30) days per building.  In consideration of the relief granted herein, the Board directs the Applicant to provide a project-specific evacuation plan to all residents of each building, the Warwick Fire Marshals Office and the State 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).

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)].