Rhode Island General Laws Title 23. Health and Safety § 23-28.3-1. Definitions

(1) “Amendment” means any modification or change in the code that shall be formulated, adopted, and issued by the board;

(2) “Blanket variance” means generalized relief from any provision of the fire safety code, including, but not limited to, time deadlines, when, in the opinion of the fire safety code board, these provisions have been rendered obsolete and/or impose an unanticipated, unreasonable hardship upon the general public, and the board finds that the decision to grant a blanket variance will not conflict with the general objectives of the code.  All blanket variances shall only be effective until the next code adoption process by the board;

(3) “Board” means the fire safety code board created by this chapter;

(4) “Building” includes new and existing buildings and facilities, except private dwellings occupied by one, two (2), or three (3) families, in the various cities and towns in this state;

(5) “Code” means the minimum standard body of rules for fire safety known as the Fire Safety Code, chapters 28.1 -- 28.39 of this title, or the rehabilitation building and fire code for existing buildings and structures, chapter 29.1 of this title;

(6) “Variation or variance ” means a special limited modification or change in the code, including, but not limited to, time deadlines, which is applicable only to a particular type of building, structure, facility, regulated process or hazardous activity upon the petition of the person owning the building, structure, or facility, or maintaining the regulated process or hazardous activity.  All variances shall be, to the extent practicable, in keeping with recognized national standards.