Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sing Intarachuto, Head of the Advisory Committee at the Research and Innovation for Sustainability Center (RISC by MQDC) announced that the Research and Innovation for Sustainability Center, under Magnolia Quality Development Corporation Limited or RISC by MQDC, reinforces its strategy to enhance well-being for all lives, or For All Well-Being, which includes not only residents but also the broader community. Therefore, in collaboration with EEC Engineering Network Co., Ltd., a national and international engineering systems partner, they have developed and launched the innovation of the “Negative Pressure Emergency Room (ER) with 100% Fresh Air”, which is being piloted at the Central Hospital of the Bangkok Medical Office to serve patients during the severe COVID-19 outbreak, focusing on air quality equivalent to that of an operating room. All components are designed to be easily assembled and disassembled for convenient relocation and can be installed outside the hospital, in field hospitals, or as an extension near the emergency room (ER) to accommodate the transfer of infected patients.

“With the commitment of RISC by MQDC and a network of experts in enhancing quality of life and well-being, we aim to create benefits for society, recognizing the widespread COVID-19 situation that has resulted in insufficient safe working spaces for medical teams. There is a shortage of ER rooms or intensive care rooms needed for urgent procedures. We believe that a room capable of accommodating patients requiring urgent care and emergency procedures that require ventilators (red patients) is crucial to alleviate the shortage of ER rooms and facilitate patient care more effectively, ensuring safety and full operational efficiency in limited spaces for frontline personnel,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sing.


Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sing Intarachuto, Head of the Advisory Committee at the Research and Innovation for Sustainability Center (RISC by MQDC)

RISC by MQDC has partnered with EEC, a company specializing in building systems, to create the Negative Pressure Emergency Room (ER) with 100% Fresh Air as an innovation that utilizes a unidirectional airflow air quality control system to reduce the spread of infection, thereby increasing the capacity to accommodate patients and alleviating the issue of insufficient care for critically ill patients requiring safe procedures.

The Negative Pressure Emergency Room (ER) with 100% Fresh Air is designed in accordance with health and well-being principles, ensuring safety with an air flow control system within the room, as well as energy-efficient design that is flexible for use, easily movable, and incorporates principles of good mental health design into the external walls of the room to help relax patients waiting for examination. The use of blue light helps reduce stress three times faster than white light for patients, which also alleviates stress for relatives and passersby,” Dr. Sing stated.

“The Negative Pressure Emergency Room (ER) with 100% Fresh Air has been developed by RISC by MQDC in collaboration with EEC, designed to maintain a negative pressure of 12 Pa (the minimum requirement for a negative pressure room is 7.5 Pa). The doctor’s entrance (Anteroom) is prepared with a negative pressure of 5 Pa to ensure that air inside the room with infected patients does not flow outside, preventing the spread of infection. The room is designed with separate areas maintaining different negative pressures, with one-way entry and exit routes to reduce both the risk of infection and the spread of pathogens within the room.

Additionally, the design includes a system that directly extracts air from the patient to prevent outbreaks within the room, using HEPA filters to purify the air and trap pathogens before releasing it outside, ensuring safety both inside and in the surrounding area. Fresh air (100% Fresh air) is continuously supplied to the room to ensure constant air exchange, avoiding the recirculation of stale air. The air conditioning system is designed to control the direction of airflow, separating each area as follows:
1. The doctor’s entrance (Anteroom) is designed for an air exchange rate of 10 air changes per hour.
2. The procedure area is designed for an air exchange rate of 13 air changes per hour.

*Medical standards require a minimum air exchange rate of 12 air changes per hour for ER rooms.

The architectural design of the room considers preventing the growth of pathogens on surfaces and energy conservation, aligning with hygiene principles and flexibility for assembly and installation, occupying minimal space and allowing for easy relocation. The room includes the following details:
• ISO WALL surfaces that are resistant to mold and easy to clean.
• All doors are seal doors to prevent air leakage for safety in the surrounding area, with the main door wide enough for gurneys and equipment transport.
• The room can accommodate one patient bed and support emergency procedures requiring ventilators (red patients).
• The floor is covered with rubber tiles according to clean room standards.
• The lighting inside the room uses a color temperature of 4000K, with lights installed in procedure areas.
• The interior surfaces are predominantly white to enhance brightness, allowing doctors to see clearly during treatment and procedures, and easily spot abnormalities in the room.

External details of the room include:
• ISO WALLs installed with 2-inch fire-resistant polyurethane insulation to prevent external heat and air leakage, reducing electricity consumption within the room.
• The room can be placed outdoors, protecting against sun and rain.
• All components of the room can be disassembled for easy relocation.
• The room is designed to be compact for use in any location, even in limited spaces.
• The external walls can change color according to the time of day to provide relaxation and ambient light.

RISC by MQDC emphasizes designs that positively impact mental health, with the external walls designed to change color over time. At night, warm white lights are used, while during the day, blue lights are activated (Blue Light) at wavelengths of 470-480 nanometers. Research shows that blue light reduces stress three times faster than white light and stimulates the prefrontal cortex (PFC), aiding in thought management, emotional regulation, and direct relaxation.

Mr. Kesha Thirakomen, Chairman of EEC Engineering Network Co., Ltd. stated, “EEC has collaborated with RISC by MQDC to develop and launch the first Negative Pressure Emergency Room (ER) with 100% Fresh Air, installed at the Central Hospital of the Bangkok Medical Office. As a leading engineering company both nationally and internationally, I am honored to contribute to the development of the Negative Pressure ER with 100% Fresh Air, which will facilitate hospitals and medical personnel in their duties and assist COVID-19 patients in overcoming this crisis together.


Mr. Kesha Thirakomen, Chairman of EEC Engineering Network Co., Ltd.

EEC has contributed to the design and engineering of the “Negative Pressure Emergency Room (ER) with 100% Fresh Air,” which measures 2.50 meters wide, 6.00 meters long, and 2.75 meters high, or an area of 15.00 square meters, accommodating one patient bed and supporting emergency procedures requiring ventilators (red patients). The design clearly separates the entry and exit paths for patients and personnel, with an anteroom before entering and exiting the negative pressure-controlled area, equipped with seal doors to prevent pathogen leakage outside. The air conditioning system in the area is designed as a 100% Fresh Air system (not recirculating stale air), controlling temperature, humidity, and cleanliness through HEPA filters, providing uni-directional airflow within the room to effectively manage air direction, ensuring safety for personnel during treatment. Additionally, the system directly exhausts contaminated air from the patient at the head of the bed through HEPA filters for purification before being released outside, ensuring safety for the surrounding area,” Mr. Kesha stated.

Those interested can watch a video telling the story of the “Negative Pressure Emergency Room (ER) with 100% Fresh Air” at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1w6mbLh8bju-UQBFXT1n11GxcLpuu5Jy9/view?usp=drivesdk
VDO Click: https://youtu.be/s49YzVCV6Kk