IIT Ropar develops Negative pressure room design to check spread of coronavirus

The Indian Institute of Technology Ropar has developed a design of the Negative Pressure Room, to avoid the spread of COVID-19 through the air among the health staff working in isolation wards and testing labs.

In order to avoid transmission of the novel coronavirus through the air among the health care workers working in the isolation wards and testing labs, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar has developed a design of the Negative Pressure Room (NPR). 

This is been done to avoid transmission of the viruses through the air, said Dhiraj Mahajan, Associate Professor, IIT Ropar.

Meanwhile, Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank appreciated the work and invention done by the IIT Ropar team. 

"Congratulations to team IIT Ropar led by Dhiraj K Mahajan for working out engineering aspects of Negative Pressure Rooms to create facilities for mass screening for COVID-19. It will help to contain the rapid spread of the virus," the minister twitted.

While explaining the concept of NPR, Mahajan said it includes a ventilation system that generates a negative pressure in the room. This allows the air to flow into the insolation room and flow out from the room, carrying the virus along.

This will prevent in spread of coronavirus patients' droplets in the air if they are coughing in the room, he added.

The cost of setting up this negative pressure room for a patient will be Rs 9,000. It mainly includes exhaust fans, fine grade plastic sheets, etc., Mahajan said.

Mahajan, however, sought help from the Punjab government in giving them relaxation from curfew restrictions in sourcing necessary equipment for making the NPRs.

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