Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
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FIRE SAFETY CODE - BOARD OF APPEAL AND REVIEW
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DECISION
FILE NO.: 040354
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 686 Hartfod Pike
APPLICANT: Scituate Early Learning Center 686 Hartford Pike North Scituate, RI 02857
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Day Care Centers
DATE OF DECISION: 2005-02-21
The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on October 26, 2004, at 1:00 P.M.  At that time, Chairman Farrell and Commissioners Newbrook, Evans, Burligame, Coutu, Filippi and O’Connell were present.  The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal Christine Kent of the State Fire Marshal’s Office.  A motion was made by Commissioner Newbrook and seconded by Commissioner Burlingame 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 17, 2004, inspection report compiled by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the State Fire Marshal’s Office during the October 26, 2004, hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the September 17, 2004, inspection 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 understood to mean “in accordance with the specific provisions related to the particular subject as are contained in the State Fire Code, or as approved in particular by the authority having jurisdiction (the State Fire Marshal or his or her designated Deputy State Fire Marshal or Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal)”.

CONCLUSIONS AND VARIANCE REQUESTS
	
1. The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of 120 days from the date of this decision in order to provide the fire alarm system of this facility with an approved drill switch installed at the direction and to the satisfaction of the State and Local Fire Marshal’s Office.
	
2. During the October 26, 2004 hearing on this matter, the Board was advised that the Applicant plans to move the existing heating system of this facility outside of the building.  The Board was further advised and finds that the project should be completed by September of 2005.  Accordingly, the Board hereby grants the Applicant an option with regard to the heating unit enclosures of the current system.  The Applicant may either enclose the existing system with an approved one (1) hour enclosure or provide the existing heating system with an approved domestically supplied sprinkler head.  The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance of sixty (60) days from the date of this decision in order to provide the heating unit with an approved domestically supplied sprinkler head installed at the direction and to the satisfaction of the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
	
3. The Board hereby directs the Applicant to correct deficiency #3 by providing the cited wood paneling located on all walls of this facility with an approved class “A” or “B” finish, installed at the direction and to the satisfaction of the State Fire Marshal’s Office within 120 days from the date of this decision.  The Board further directs the Applicant to provide the State Fire Marshal’s Office with an affidavit of compliance that the material is properly applied.

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)].

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