As indicated in the file, a hearing involving the above-captioned property was conducted remotely by Zoom webinar on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 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, Davison, ODonnell and Muto.
AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION: Deputy State Fire Marshal William Leahy of the State Fire Marshals Office and ADSFM Marc Rizzo of the North Providence Fire Marshals Office.
APPLICANT: Carlene Casciano-McCann and Michael Paiva.
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 Carlene Casciano-McCann (authorized representative) of St. Marys Home for Children, 420 Fruit Hill Avenue, North Providence, RI dated January 24, 2022.
3.	The Application was received by the Board and File  2022019 was opened on February 7, 2022.
4.	A hearing on the Application was conducted remotely by Zoom webinar on March 8, 2022 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 Pearson and seconded by Commissioner Thornton 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  2022019 and are pertinent to the decision rendered:

1.	Variance Application  2022019 dated January 24, 2022 and filed on February 7, 2022.
a.	Letter of authorization for Carlene Casciano-McCann from Marisa Albanese dated January 24, 2022.
2.	North Providence Fire Marshals Office plan of action letter dated November 8, 2021.
3.	State Fire Marshals Office plan of action letter dated December 1, 2021.
4.	Scheduling notice to DSFM William Leahy, North Providence Fire Marshals Office and Carlene Casciano-McCann dated February 16, 2022.
5.	Zoom webinar invitation  89335538731 dated February 28, 2022.

EXHIBITS

The following documents were presented at the March 8, 2022 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 December 1, 2021 plan of action letter compiled by the State Fire Marshals Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the State Fire Marshals Office during the March 8, 2022 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the December 1, 2021 plan of action letter 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 residential board and care facility that is equipped with a compliant fire alarm system with emergency forces notification and is provided with an approved automatic sprinkler system.
3.	The Board finds that due to the nature of the clients residing in this facility, an ongoing malicious false alarm problem exists caused by the frequent activation of the facilitys manual fire alarm boxes located in proximity to the required exits.
4.	The Board further finds that the Applicant has tried several preventive measures including sounding devices and protective covers, all to no avail.
5.	There is no objection by the State or North Providence Fire Marshals Offices 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, (2018 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, (2018 edition) as incorporated by reference and amended by 450-RICR-00-00-8.

1.	FIRE ALARM SYSTEM: The Board hereby grants the Applicant a variance from the provisions of RILSC section 33.2.3.4.1.1(1) by allowing the removal of the existing manual fire alarm boxes located in proximity to the facilitys required means of egresses.  In consideration of the relief granted herein, the Board directs the Applicant to install a manual fire alarm box located at a convenient central control point under continuous supervision of responsible employees, at the direction and to the satisfaction of 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)].