ALBANY — State officials are requiring alarms in new commercial and residential swimming pools in an effort to reduce child drownings.

The emergency regulations published today by the state Department of State were adopted this month by the state Fire Prevention and Building Code Council. They followed legislation and apply to pools built or substantially modified after Dec. 14, 2006.

The surface or subsurface alarms sound when sensors are activated by waves or wave-induced pressure. The estimated cost of one alarm, sufficient for most pools, is $150 to $200.

The National Center for Injury and Control says 26 infants and children under 14 drowned in New York in 2002. Others were treated at hospitals after nearly drowning.