Rhode Island Code of Regulations Title 450 - Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review
Here’s a detailed overview of Rhode Island Code of Regulations Title 450 – Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review, current through the latest update:
🏛️ Title 450 Overview
Covers the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review, which administers the Rhode Island Fire Safety Code (Parts 1–10), including sections for existing buildings, fire alarms, life safety, and rehabilitation standards (rules.sos.ri.gov).
🔍 Key Parts & Content
Part 1 – Fire Safety Code Sections 1–6
Establishes policy, scope, applicability, and definitions that codify fire safety for all occupancy types, from residential to industrial .
Adopts national standards like NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code) 2018, issued and enforced by the State Fire Marshal, with administration and variances handled by the Board (rules.sos.ri.gov).
Parts 7–10 – Specific Code Adoption
Part 7 adopts the Rhode Island Fire Code (NFPA 1, 2018).
Part 8 adopts Rhode Island Life Safety Code—NFPA 101, amended by the Board (rules.sos.ri.gov).
Part 9 covers the Rehabilitation Building & Fire Code for existing structures (risos-apa-production-public.s3.amazonaws.com).
Part 10 covers the Rhode Island Fire Alarm Code (rules.sos.ri.gov).
🛠️ Board Structure & Authority
The Fire Safety Code Board is part of the Executive Department under the Department of Business Regulation, with 11 gubernatorial appointees (e.g., fire chiefs, building inspectors, architects, engineers, labor reps, and public members) (law.cornell.edu).
It is solely responsible for administration, including hearing appeals, granting variances and equivalencies, interpreting the code, and rulemaking (law.cornell.edu).
🧯 Enforcement & Appeals
State Fire Marshal enforces the Fire Safety Code and issues orders for unsafe conditions or abatement; may approve limited "AHJ modifications" (dimensional relief), which are permanent if conditions don’t change (rules.sos.ri.gov).
The Board handles:
Appeals of fire marshal orders
Variance and waiver applications (with documentation and fees)
Formal interpretations and rulemaking per APA (regulations.justia.com, regulations.justia.com).
Appeals must be filed with forms and fees; hearings occur within ~30 days, and decisions are final unless challenged in court .
📌 Summary Table
Area
Details
Parts
1–6 (policy), 7 (Fire Code), 8 (Life Safety), 9 (Rehab Code), 10 (Fire Alarm)
Board
11 members, appointed, oversees variances, appeals, code administration
Enforcement
State Fire Marshal handles enforcement & inspections, approves limited modifications
Appeals
Board hears appeals and issues formal decisions; public meetings weekly
✅ Want to Explore Further?
Let me know if you'd like:
The full text of variance or appeal filing procedures
Details on "AHJ modifications" or interpretation standards
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