As indicated in the file, a hearing involving the above-captioned property was conducted remotely by Zoom webinar on Tuesday, June 29, 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, Sylvester, Booth, Davison, ODonnell and Muto.
AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION: Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Andrew Went of the Providence Fire Marshals Office.
APPLICANT: Timothy Wensus, Kevin Baptista and Stephan Baptista.
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 Timothy Wensus (authorized representative) of Jensen Hughes, 117 Metro Center Boulevard  Suite 1002, Warwick, RI dated May 18, 2021.
3.	The Application was received by the Board and File  2021055 was opened on May 19, 2021.
4.	A hearing on the Application was conducted remotely by Zoom webinar on June 29, 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 reviewing such information, a motion was made by Commissioner Booth and seconded by Commissioner Muto 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  2021055 and are pertinent to the decision rendered:

1.	Variance Application  2021055 dated May 18, 2021 and filed on May 19, 2021.
a.	Attached Plan of Action dated May 18, 2021
b.	Letter of authorization for Timothy Wensus from Stephan Baptista dated May 18, 2021.
2.	Providence Fire Marshals Office plan of action letter dated May 17, 2021.
3.	Scheduling email to ADSFM Timothy Galego and Timothy Wensus dated May 20, 2021.
4.	Zoom webinar invitation  83227903519 dated June 21, 2021.

EXHIBITS

The following documents were presented at the June 29, 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 May 18, 2021 plan of action report compiled by the Applicant.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Providence Fire Marshals Office during the June 29, 2021 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the May 18, 2021 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.	The building is an existing 6-story above grade building without a basement level, classified as an apartment (99 units) occupancy, consisting of approximately twenty-nine thousand nine hundred sixteen (29,916) square feet (gross area) and originally built in 1980.
3.	The building is of Type II (000) construction, has a compliant fire alarm system with emergency forces notification and is provided with an approved partial automatic sprinkler system.
4.	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.	EGRESS: The Board hereby grants the Applicant a variance from the provisions of RILSC sections 31.2.1.2 and 24.2.2.3.3 by allowing the proposed replacement program for existing apartment windows to utilize the existing window openings without modification based upon a structural hardship.  In consideration of the relief granted herein, the Board directs the Applicant to provide kitchen cooking appliance suppression equipment for all rear-facing units on the 4th, 5th and 6th floors, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Providence Fire Marshal's Office.
2.	EGRESS: The Board hereby grants the Applicant a variance from the provisions of RILSC section 7.2.2.4.6.3 by allowing the existing stair guards in both stairways to remain in use without modification based upon a structural hardship.  In consideration of the relief granted herein, the Board directs the Applicant to provide additional fall protection modifications to the top level landing of each stairway, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Providence 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.
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)].