General Background:  The AHJs throughout the country are reporting a growing trend in the utilization of what would traditionally be considered a seasonal cabin-like structure as housing for so-called seasonal campers. 

Chapter 24 of the Rhode Island Life Safety Code [RILSC] provides that [o]ne- and two-family dwellings shall be limited to buildings containing not more than two dwelling units in which each dwelling unit is occupied by members of a single family with not more than three outsiders, if any, accommodated in rented rooms.  (Emphasis added). 

Chapter 26 of the RILSC defines a lodging or rooming house as [a] building or portion thereof that does not qualify as a one- or two-family dwelling, that provides sleeping accommodations for a total of 16 or fewer people on a transient or permanent basis, without personal care services, with or without meals, but without separate cooking facilities for individual occupants. 

Accordingly, past (and current) practice has been to classify these structures as lodging or rooming houses in accordance with RILSC Chapter 26. 

Determination of the Board:  The Board finds that in order to address the need for these non-traditional sleeping arrangements, that certain relief may be warranted due to unanticipated and unreasonable hardship upon the general public and that it does not conflict with the general objectives of the Rhode Island State Fire Safety Code. 

Blanket Variance: The Board hereby approves the following amendments to the Rhode Island Life Safety Code: 

8.1.26	CHAPTER 26 - LODGING OR ROOMING HOUSES 

(Amd) 26.1.1.1 

The requirements of this chapter shall apply to buildings that provide sleeping accommodations for 16 or fewer persons on either a transient or permanent basis, with or without meals, but without separate cooking facilities for individual occupants, except as provided in Chapter 24 and/or 26.1.1.1.1 through 26.1.1.1.9 (Bed and Breakfast Homes, Congregate Family Living Facilities and Seasonal Camp Cabins) as outlined below. 

(Add) 26.1.1.1.9  For the purposes of this chapter, a "seasonal camp cabin" shall mean a structure for sleeping accommodations which meets all of the following criteria: 

(1) is located in an overnight camp setting; 

(2) has a sleeping capacity of sixteen (16) or fewer occupants with a total combined sleeping room floor area of 1200 square feet or less for all sleeping rooms; 

(4) has a strict NO SMOKING policy; 

(3) is limited to one story, without a basement; 

(4) is used and occupied only seasonally, and not year round; 

(5) has no cooking facilities, no heating systems, and no fuel-burning appliances; 

(6) has only sleeping rooms (including the necessary area for storing occupant belongings) and bathrooms; 

(7) has no interior corridors or separate common area rooms; 

(8) has at least two exits per sleeping room which are remote from each other, and which discharge directly to the building's exterior; 

(9) has exit doors that open in the direction of, and are non-locking against egress; and, 

(10) has approved smoke alarms installed in accordance with NFPA 72 Chapter 29 (Footnote 1) that are interconnected such that the activation of one alarm will activate all of the alarms in the cabin.  Only devices equipped with power supplies conforming to 72:29.9.1(1), (2) or (3) shall be permitted. 

(Add) 26.1.1.1.9.1  Any existing structure that is altered, enlarged or otherwise improved shall not be deemed to be a seasonal camp cabin (and shall not be subject to the exception set forth in 26.1.1.1.9.2) unless such structure, as so altered, enlarged or otherwise improved, satisfies all of the criteria set forth in this paragraph. 

(Add) 26.1.1.1.9.2  A seasonal camp cabin (as that term is defined above) shall be exempt from all other requirements of Chapter 26. 

Footnote 1: NFPA 72 section A.29.1.2 provides that the requirements of Chapter 29 are intended to apply to installations in the following new and existing locations:  (2) Sleeping rooms of lodging and rooming houses.