Dining 'igloos' draw scrutiny from RI fire marshal The dome-shaped enclosures hit the chic rooftop dining scene long before COVID-19 shook up the restaurant industry. In Rhode Island, fire marshals noticed the igloo-like structures about a year before the pandemic, according to state Fire Marshal Tim McLaughlin. And since then, the transparent plastic domes have only grown in popularity, helping restaurateurs seat additional guests outdoors through the winter. However, McLaughlin told The Providence Journal he’s aware of only two brands of igloo enclosures that comply with the state’s fire code. Some local restaurants, perhaps as many as a half-dozen, erred by acquiring an enclosure manufactured by Alvantor, which in a restaurant setting does not comply with the standard established by the National Fire Protection Association, McLaughlin said.