A whole new order

摘要

LAST MONTH, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) announced the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRO), which was due to become law in England and Wales in April, would be delayed till later in the year, giving businesses more time to prepare. The breathing space will probably be welcome to tens of thousands of people responsible for fire safety at commercial sites who will take on comprehensive legal duties to assess and manage fire risks under the new regime. What is the RRO intended to achieve? In the words of the explanatory notes to the original draft order.