New Rule Seeks to Change Idaho School Fire Alarm Standards

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — State officials say Idaho school building with fewer than 50 students shouldn't be required to install fire alarms.

Steve Keys, an administrator with the state's Division of Building Safety, says the current code requires centralized fire alarms in educational buildings with an occupancy limit of 30 or more people. Keys added that the city of Boise requested the change and there is no opposition from schools or the state fire marshal.

The Senate Commerce and Human Resource Committee approved the rule change on Wednesday. However, Democratic Sen. Dan Schmidt of Moscow expressed concern about the more liberal safety code, saying the measure would put children attending smaller schools at risk.