Virtual Underwriter

© 2020 Stewart Title Company

Bulletin: RI2020002

Bulletins by State or Territory
Bulletins by Country

Bulletin: RI2020002

Bulletin Document
V 1
Date: March 20, 2020
To: All Rhode Island Issuing Offices
RE: UNDERWRITING - Emergency Rulings Regarding Smoke Detector Inspections

Dear Associates:

On March 18, 2020, the Rhode Island Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review issued two directives regarding the suspension of deadlines and inspections during the Governor’s Declaration of Emergency. 

The directives provide for a temporary suspension of all time-specific deadlines imposed by the State Fire Safety Code for the duration of the Declaration of Emergency and a suspension of the regulations mandating smoke carbon monoxide alarm inspections be completed within 10 days of a request by a property owner prior to their sale of the property. 

In lieu of the mandated inspections, the directive provides the following options: 

  1. Submitting a video recording of the device(s) being tested; or,
  2. Submitting evidence of an escrow of $150 payable to the buyer in the event of a subsequent failed inspection. Any inspection suspended pursuant to the directive shall, at the owner’s request, be performed within 60 days following the termination of the Declaration of 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 the above options, the fire department or State Fire Marshals Office shall issue a certificate of inspection.  

The full text of the directives may be found by clicking the following links: 

Interpretation 1

Interpretation 2

If you have any questions relating to this or other bulletins, please contact Shannon Coleman at scoleman@stewart.com or Paula Cuculo at paula.cuculo@stewart.com.  

For on-line viewing of this and other bulletins, please log onto www.vuwriter.com.

THIS BULLETIN IS FURNISHED TO INFORM YOU OF CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS. AS A REMINDER, YOU ARE CHARGED WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE CONTENT ON VIRTUAL UNDERWRITER  AS IT EXISTS FROM TIME TO TIME AS IT APPLIES TO YOU, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER INSTRUCTIONS. OUR UNDERWRITING AGREEMENTS DO NOT AUTHORIZE OUR ISSUING AGENTS TO ENGAGE IN SETTLEMENTS OR CLOSINGS ON BEHALF OF STEWART TITLE GUARANTY COMPANY. THIS BULLETIN IS NOT INTENDED TO DIRECT YOUR ESCROW OR SETTLEMENT PRACTICES OR TO CHANGE PROVISIONS OF APPLICABLE UNDERWRITING AGREEMENTS. CONFIDENTIAL, PROPRIETARY, OR NONPUBLIC PERSONAL INFORMATION SHOULD NEVER BE SHARED OR DISSEMINATED EXCEPT AS ALLOWED BY LAW. IF APPLICABLE STATE LAW OR REGULATION IMPOSES ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS, YOU SHOULD CONTINUE TO COMPLY WITH THOSE REQUIREMENTS.

References