In a move seen as a boon for economic development in Windham, the Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday to update the town’s Fire Prevention Code, now known as Fire Prevention and Life Safety.

The changes loosen the standards that require the installation of sprinkler systems in newly constructed commercial buildings and multi-family dwellings. The new standards vary depending on whether the building in question has access to public water for fighting fires. To access public water, the building must be within 1,000 feet of a fire hydrant.

The changes, which do not apply to single-family homes or duplexes, will go into effect by June 6.

The town’s previous fire prevention code, adopted in 2010, required a sprinkler system to be installed in commercial and multifamily buildings that exceed 2,000 square feet in floor area. More stringent than in other surrounding communities, that standard was often a barrier for commercial development because of the added cost, said commercial broker Larry Eliason.

Eliason, a resident, broker at Butts Commercial Brokers in Windham and a board member of the Windham Economic Development Corp., wanted the council to adopt a code “more aligned with other communities.” Gorham and Raymond, according to their fire safety codes, defer to the national standard for sprinkler systems, which require the installation of sprinklers in commercial buildings that are 10,000 square feet or greater.

Under Windham’s new life safety code, commercial buildings 7,500 square feet and larger that have access to public water will be required to install sprinklers. A sprinkler system will also be required in buildings 4,000 square feet and larger that do not have access to public water.

According to a memo from Town Manager Tony Plante to the council, roughly 56 percent of the town is not served by public water.

The new, 7,500 square-foot standard “will benefit our community overall,” said Council Chairwoman Donna Chapman.

Councilor Dennis Welch said he thought the standard was “a good compromise” between the town’s previous standard and the standard nationwide.

While the square footage requirement applies generally to all new buildings, certain uses – such as woodworking – are required to install sprinkler systems regardless of square footage due to the level of risk, said Fire Chief Brent Libby.

Libby addressed the council, explaining fire department staffing levels and capabilities. According to Libby, his department meets federal standards for fire response capabilities, determined primarily by staffing levels.

Libby said that while the 2,000-square-foot standard is ideal from a safety perspective, “looking at all the information we’ve gone through, there are options. We’ll still be able to do the very best we can to maintain people’s property and their life safety.”

The new standards may apply to existing buildings if they undergo a major renovation or significantly change their use. Whether a renovation will be affected by the standard is determined by the life safety code and reviewed by both the fire department and the Code Enforcement Office.

Eliason said such individual reviews, which were not addressed or changed in the updated life safety code, are also restricting business in Windham by creating more hurdles for developers.

Libby said reviewing the business plans to determine fire risk is an important part of fire safety prevention.

Also at the meeting Tuesday, with a split vote, the council rejected a motion to reconsider a proposal for tax-increment financing for development at Mallison Falls Mill.

The project, led by Portland-based Hardypond Construction, would have converted the mill in South Windham into market-rate apartment units. The tax-increment financing proposal, a public financing method considered by the contractor to be a critical piece of the funding, was rejected by the council at a meeting April 26.

After hearing from the contractor and residents both in favor and opposed to the project, the council voted 3-3 (Nadeau, Nangle and Moore in favor) to reconsider the public financing method.

Fire Chief Brent Libby addresses the Windham Town Council at Tuesday’s meeting on the Fire Prevention and Life Safety Code. The council voted unanimously to adopt a new standard for requiring the installation of sprinkler systems in commercial buildings.