Fire Prevention

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Smoke Detector Certificates Emergency Rulings 

The Rhode Island Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review issued an interpretations on March 18, 2020 to help real estate transactions continue to close during the Governor’s Declaration of Emergency.

One interpretation applies to One- and Two- Family Dwellings and Three Family Apartment Buildings and suspends the existing regulation which mandates smoke and carbon monoxide alarm inspections by the local fire department or the State Fire Marshal’s Office within ten days of a request. In lieu of the mandated inspections, the Interpretation gives two options:

  1. Submitting to the satisfaction of the Authority Having Jurisdiction (State Fire Marshal or the local fire department) a video recording of the device(s) in question being tested; or 
  2. Submitting evidence of an escrow account established by the seller in an amount of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) payable to the buyer in the event of a subsequent failed inspection. Any such inspection suspended pursuant to this Directive shall, at the owner’s request, be performed within sixty (60) days following the termination of the Declaration of Disaster Emergency. In the event of a failed inspection, the escrow account shall be forfeited to the buyer for the purpose of correcting any deficiencies. 

Upon determination of the compliance with one of these options, the fire department shall issue a certificate of inspection.