today the fire precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 places a clear legal responsibility on the ‘user’1 of a building for the fire safety of that building (and its occupants) including the maintenance of fire safety equipment and, within this, the fire detection and alarm system. Soon, however, there will be newer and even clearer legislation by way of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (commonly referred to as the RRO, occasionally as the FSO and, in this article, the ‘Order’). The draft was laid before Parliament on the 10th May 2004 and the final Order is anticipated to come into effect early next year. When it does, it will amend or replace 118 pieces of legislation, the most significant being the repeal of the Fire Precautions Act 1971 and the revocation of Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 (which, in many ways, it develops and extends). In reality however, the responsibilities for good maintenance exist now and do not change under the Order. Further, now and under the Order, the responsibilities of the ‘user’ in current and impending legislation are focussed on the ‘Responsible Person’2 . Today, it must be true to say that relatively few users and even fewer responsible persons (or perhaps even the other way round!) are truly clear on their responsibilities (either pre or post THE VALUE OF GOOD MAINTENANCE PART I: RESPONSIBILITIES AND KEY ASPECTS the Order). The responsibilities are however, both clear and significant. Moreover, under the Order (which applies to the majority of premises and workplaces in the UK) there is, in addition to clear responsibilities, endorsement for the enforcing authority – normally the fire brigade but possibly also the HSE, MOD or local authority – to ensure it is enacted. Should the responsibilities not be met, the penalties range from fines to prison sentences.