Rhode Island General Laws Title 23. Health and Safety § 23-27.3-100.3. Construction

(a) This code shall be construed to secure its expressed intent which is to insure public health, safety, and welfare insofar as they are affected by building construction, through structural strength, adequate egress facilities, sanitary conditions, equipment, light and ventilation, and fire safety; and in general, to secure safety to life, property, and community from all hazards incidental to the design, erection, repair, removal, demolition, or use and occupancy of buildings, structures, or premises.

(b) The intent of this code is also to effect the establishment of uniform standards and requirements for construction and construction materials, compatible with accepted standards of engineering and fire prevention practices and public safety; the adoption of modern technical methods, devices, and improvements which may reduce the cost of construction without affecting the health, safety, and welfare of the occupants or users of buildings; and the elimination of restrictive, obsolete, conflicting, and unnecessary building regulations and requirements which may increase the cost of construction and maintenance over the life of the building, or retard unnecessarily the use of new materials, or which may provide unwarranted preferential treatment of types of classes of materials, products, or methods of construction without affecting the health, safety, and security of the occupants or users of the buildings.