The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on December 12, 2000 at 1:30 P.M. At that time, Chairman Farrell and Commissioners Newbrook, Coutu, Richard, Evans, Filippi and Burlingame were present.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal George Calise of the Providence Fire Marshal’s Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Newbrook and seconded by Commissioner Evans to grant the Applicant relief as outlined herein.  The motion was unanimous.

FINDINGS OF FACT
	
The numbers of the Decision below correspond with those of a September 10, 2000 preliminary plan review report complied by the Providence Fire Marshal’s Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Providence Fire Marshal’s Office during the December 12, 2000 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the September 10, 2000 preliminary plan review report as its initial findings of fact.  Any modification of the Board’s findings, such as correction of a deficiency by the Applicant, shall be noted herein. 
	
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 defined in section 23-28.1-4(3) of the Rhode Island General Laws.

CONCLUSIONS AND VARIANCE REQUESTS

1. The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of sections 26-2.2.3.1, 5-2.2.5.1 and 5-1.3.2.1(b) in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the construction, configuration and rating of the cited existing interior stairway as modified herein.  In granting this variance, the Board directs the Applicant to enclose this stairway with a one-hour wall and door assembly at the basement level.  The Board further directs the Applicant to maintain the unoccupied basement space mechanical purposes only.  As a further condition of this variance, the Board directs the Applicant to provide this facility with a new two-hour stair enclosure, and to further provide this facility with an approved sprinkler and fire alarm system.

2. The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 26-2.4 in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the two stairways, described in item 1 above, as the two means of egress from this facility.

3. The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 26-2.2.3.1 and table 5-2.2.2.1(b) in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the cited construction, dimensions and configuration of the existing interior stairway.  This variance is granted on the basis of structure hardship and in accordance with the conditions outlined in item 1 above.

4. The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 26-2.5.1 and 5-5.1.4 in order to allow the Applicant to maintain the existing remoteness between the cited stairways of this facility.  

5. The Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 26-2.7 and 5-7.2 in order to allow the Applicant the to maintain the existing interior stairway discharge as modified herein.  In granting this variance, the Board directs the Applicant to enclose interior stairway discharge area, with a sheetrock assembly, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Providence Fire Marshal's office where possible.  In granting this variance, the Board notes that this facility shall be fully sprinkled.

STATUS OF DECISION AND APPEAL RIGHTS
	
This Decision 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 Applicant’s 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: Board Rules and Regulations, section 6-2-17).
	
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: Board Rules and Regulations, section 6-2-18)  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 Fire Code or a revision of the above-cited classification. (See: Board Rules and Regulations, section 6-2-19).  

Such changes in use or occupancy of this facility, or failure to continually comply with the Board’s 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 R.I.G.L. 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: Board Rules and Regulations, section 6-2-20).
	
The Applicant may appeal the Board’s 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.  Commencement of such an action does not operate as an automatic stay of this Decision [R.I.G.L. 42-35-15(c)].

The decision was mailed on 1-04-01.