Independent fire engineering consultancy
Clear, proportionate fire-safety advice for complex buildings—from design strategy to occupied-asset review.
Nearly 20 years of fire-engineering consultancy knowledge built into every commission25 years of frontline fire-service insight informing our approach
01 — Services
S5 provides clear technical input across design, construction and occupied use—from early strategy and performance-based analysis to retrospective appraisal and fire risk assessment.
Coordinated fire-safety strategies for new-build, extension and refurbishment projects, developed from concept through detailed design and construction.
Evidence-led strategies that explain how an existing or occupied building is intended to perform, drawing together available records, site evidence and operational constraints.
Proportionate assessment of fire hazards, people at risk, existing controls and management arrangements, supported by a prioritised action plan.
A structured engineering route for complex designs or justified departures from prescriptive guidance, using agreed objectives, credible fire scenarios and proportionate quantitative analysis.
CFD / smoke movementIndependent review of drawings, specifications and design changes against the agreed fire strategy, legislation and relevant guidance, from design through construction.
Independent technical challenge of fire strategies, calculations, modelling and specialist proposals, focused on material assumptions and matters requiring resolution.
Targeted appraisal of alterations, value engineering, refurbishment or change of use to establish the effect on the fire strategy, compliance and building risk.
Typical outputs
The precise scope and deliverables are agreed for each commission and kept proportionate to the decisions required.
02 — Approach
The design basis, limitations and recommendations should be easy for the whole project team to understand—and robust enough to be followed through construction and occupation.
Confirm the building, proposed work, project stage, stakeholders and decisions the commission must support.
Identify the relevant legislation, guidance, evidence, hazards, assumptions and—where required—acceptance criteria.
Assess escape, compartmentation, systems, external fire spread and fire-service access using proportionate calculation or modelling where needed.
Issue a coordinated output with transparent assumptions, conclusions, limitations, responsibilities and actions.
Project experience
03 — About S5
S5 Safety Solutions Ltd is an independent fire engineering consultancy led by Tom Sladden.
The practice combines nearly 20 years of fire-safety consultancy experience with 25 years of operational fire-service experience. That dual perspective helps keep recommendations technically grounded, proportionate and workable in the real building.
Design basis informed by relevant UK legislation, guidance and standards.
Start a conversation
Share the essential details and S5 can quickly establish the scope of advice required.
New project enquiry
Complete the form with the key building and project information. S5 will review the enquiry and respond to establish the appropriate scope, programme and next steps.
Prefer to speak first? Call 0333 070 4071 or email enquiries@s5safetysolutions.co.uk.
