The board of appeals is an administrative body established to provide a check on the Authority Having Jurisdiction's (AHJ) application of the code. Its primary function is to hear and decide on appeals where it is alleged that the AHJ has misinterpreted the true intent of the code or that the provisions of the code do not fully apply. This process ensures that the code is applied fairly and correctly. The board's authority is strictly limited to matters of interpretation and the suitability of alternate materials or methods; it cannot waive code requirements for other reasons, such as financial hardship.

A. Financial hardship is explicitly not a valid basis for an appeal, as the board of appeals lacks the authority to waive code requirements for economic reasons.

C. The timing of a decision is a procedural detail that does not affect the substantive grounds for an appeal, which must relate to the code's interpretation or application.

D. While a new type of facility might lead to a dispute over interpretation, the novelty itself is not the basis for appeal; the appeal must challenge the AHJ's specific decision.

1. NFPA 1, Fire Code, 2021 Edition, Section 1.11.5.1, "Appeals." This section explicitly states, "Any person shall be permitted to appeal a decision of the AHJ to the board of appeals where it is claimed that... (1) The true intent of the Code has been incorrectly interpreted."

2. NFPA, Fire Protection Handbook, 20th Edition, Volume 1, Section 2, Chapter 10, "Enforcement of Codes and Standards," pp. 2-138. The text clarifies that the appeals board's purpose is to "provide for a reasonable interpretation of the code" and that it "cannot be used to waive requirements of the code for economic or other reasons."