States are changing fire codes to make housing cheaper. Some safety experts are worried.

States and cities are relaxing building and fire codes to reduce construction costs and increase affordable housing, including allowing single-stairway apartment buildings. Critics, such as safety experts and planning professionals, warn these changes could compromise occupant safety by removing established protections. Recent legislative actions in Idaho, Colorado, and Texas exemplify this trend, with laws permitting single-stairway buildings under specific conditions.