Villagers
I'm Luc Doucette
Owner
Forestation Cafe
Rogersville, New Brunswick
What is your current job role and building code experience?
I’m a Project Coordinator at RJ Bartlett Engineering Ltd. I’ve been with RJB since 2006 and our company has been providing fire protection engineering solutions since 1987. Services are provided for clients and projects throughout Canada, several US states, Bermuda, the Caribbean, and Europe from its main offices in Fredericton, NB and Halifax, NS. Since 2017, I’ve been working remotely from Montréal, Québec.
RJ Bartlett Engineering Ltd specializes in fire protection engineering, building code consulting, and investigative engineering. Our capabilities include design of fire protection systems, building and fire code consulting, development of alternative solutions, fire hazard analysis, fire safety planning, commissioning, and investigative engineering.
WHAT IMPACT DO YOU HOPE TO HAVE AT KILO LIMA?
I hope that my experience as a designer of fire protection systems will allow me to shed some light on questions regarding design and implementation of these systems. I’m fortunate to work with a diverse clientele that allows me to touch on multiple applications and provide solutions for detection, protection and suppression systems. New technologies are key to providing innovative solutions for projects that push the boundaries of design.
Navigating the different standards that are referenced in the building codes can be overwhelming. Hopefully I, along with my colleagues at RJ Bartlett Engineering, will be able to offer insight for people that will help them get a basic understanding of the requirements, enough to feel confident to dive into those NFPA articles and sub-articles!
What are you passionate about outside the office?
My wife and I recently moved to Montreal and we enjoy the perks of proximity to services. The opportunities to take in events and meet up with friends at local parks and the spontaneity of the city is a welcomed change of pace for both of us.
We’ve always enjoyed travelling and camping and to stay in touch with nature more comfortably, I recently constructed a wooden teardrop trailer, now aptly named “Dorothée” or Dotty for short. We enjoy our weekend adventures exploring on our bikes and trekking new trails and Dotty keeps us nice and cosy.
I’ve been a Big Brother for almost 7 years now and that’s been a rewarding experience. I’ve been lucky to be involved in the lives of a couple kids who always make me life and get me to try new things.
WHAT’S BEEN A PIVOTAL PROJECT FOR YOU?
In 2013 we were engaged by the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (PCS) to design fire protection systems for their new aircraft hangar in Saskatoon. The hangar was going to house the private PCS jet and also include a bay for the STARS emergency air ambulance.
Several NFPA standards were consulted in the design of the fire protection system for the hangar. In addition to sprinklers and hand hose lines, five fixed high-expansion foam generator were mounted on the wall. This was the first hangar in Saskatchewan that was protected by a fixed foam generating system. As the water supply wasn’t adequate, two fire pumps were added in the building as part fo the design. Triple IR fire detectors were strategically mounted around the hangar to detect fire and release the foam-water systems.
The design of the systems was not unique, however working with PCS was. Their team was involved in the design throughout the project and allowed us to conduct full scale testing of the systems upon completion of the project. That meant covering the walls of the entire hangar and activating the foam systems to verify that at least 3′-0″ of foam was generated within 60 seconds of activation. PCS invited local fire departments and AHJ’s to witness the test.
The video of the test (pardon the camera work and language) is available here!
“That meant covering the walls of the entire hangar and activating the foam systems to verify that at least 3′-0″ of foam was generated within 60 seconds of activation.”
How can the industry contribute to global solutions for environmental, social and economic stability?
Life and fire safety is a crucial part of building design and should be treated as such. Too often, the prescriptive building and fire code requirements generate barriers to designers and architects and limit the boundaries for creative, custom designs.
The goal of code consultants on any project should be to ensure that the overall design meets both the fire protection and life safety objectives of the Codes and Standards as well as the requirements of the client/owner from both an economic and design standpoint.
Both new and existing buildings can provide a unique challenge to any designer in meeting code requirements. Where these requirements would normally impose impractical requirements on a design or could not feasibly be incorporated into a design, alternate solutions can be developed. This ensures that life and fire safety considerations for a project become part of the overall solution.
WHAT PROJECT OR INITIATIVE HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT LATELY THAT REALLY INSPIRES YOU?
We recently spent a week camping near Lac Mégantic, Québec. That City was devastated in July of 2013 when a train carrying crude oil derailed in the centre of Town. 47 people were killed and the Downtown was mostly eradicated. Clean-up and decontamination took place while residents grieved.
Seven years later, we were pleasantly surprised to find a Town that was consciously rebuilding itself. Its vision is to become an example of clean energy development and a downtown core that welcomes diverse neighbourhoods.
The City has implemented a solar power microgrid to provide power for the new Downtown developments and nearby Marina. More information on this great concept found here.
They’ve also just finished an inter-generational living facility where young families, young adults and seniors all live under one roof. Blending these generations together in social living activities builds a community that enhances our understanding of one another.
Lac-Mégantic has also developed a cycling path around their beautiful lake to entice residents and visitors to exercise while taking in the views of the lake and its surrounding mountains. It worked for us!
It is inspiring to see a Town rebuild itself with a purpose after such a tragedy.