[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hyowon] Modular building materials specialist company ESWY has completed the development of a ‘Mobile Modular Negative Pressure Ward’ using its patented technology. As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) spreads worldwide, the demand for isolation facilities has surged, leading to a flood of inquiries from various countries.
On the 7th, ESWY held a ‘Mobile Modular Negative Pressure Ward Development Completion Presentation’ where they conducted a sample ward inspection and isolation facility experience. Leveraging their experience in supplying tuberculosis patient isolation treatment wards to North Korea, they created a negative pressure ward that combines safety and cost-effectiveness.
A negative pressure ward is a special space designed to maintain different pressures inside and outside to prevent viruses from leaking out. ESWY’s negative pressure ward is made with SIP (Structural Insulated Panels). The materials are the same as those supplied for the tuberculosis patient isolation treatment wards in North Korea and the athlete support accommodations for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.
SIP is a material incorporating ESWY’s patented technology called ‘Camlock,’ which offers high airtightness. It has excellent insulation performance capable of withstanding severe cold in relatively low-temperature regions like North Korea and Pyeongchang. This provides a comfortable environment for users of the negative pressure ward.
The negative pressure ward is equipped with all living spaces such as bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms. Additionally, it includes an anteroom, mobile negative pressure machines, double windows, and pass-through boxes to strictly control virus ingress and egress. The virus control technology was developed in collaboration with Green F5, a disinfection and hygiene specialist company.
They also developed a walking-through (Walking thru) type ward that enables rapid non-contact screening. The walking-thru ward is designed as a positive pressure ward because medical staff enter the room to conduct examinations. This design considers both the convenience and efficiency of medical personnel.
Notably, ESWY’s negative pressure ward is modular and prefabricated, making transportation and installation easy. During the demonstration, ESWY moved one negative pressure ward unit using a small forklift. They explained that if a flat site is secured, the negative pressure ward can be installed within five hours. Its minimized volume also facilitates export.
In the future, once the COVID-19 situation stabilizes, this negative pressure ward can be repurposed as emergency disaster relief housing, accommodations, health clinics, or field offices. It can resolve issues arising from accommodating disaster victims in general auditoriums during natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes by providing negative pressure rooms.
The price is said to be about 20% of that of existing negative pressure wards. A company representative stated, “The full-option price, including medical facilities such as negative pressure equipment, CCTV, medical chairs, as well as various living conveniences like TVs and refrigerators, is around 36 million KRW. Rental options are also available for temporary use.”
Domestically, as the number of COVID-19 tests increases, the demand for negative pressure wards is rapidly rising. On the 7th, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced that they are considering installing negative pressure wards in national psychiatric hospitals nationwide. Additionally, with the increase in confirmed cases entering from overseas, rapid acquisition of negative pressure wards by medical institutions has become necessary.
Overseas, inquiries about negative pressure wards have already been made to ESWY. Through trading companies, export-related inquiries were received last month from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Peru, and it is known that Libya and Indonesia are also considering exports as of the day before yesterday.
ESWY CEO Jo Dooyoung said, “We contemplated how ESWY could contribute and respond efficiently to the global disaster of COVID-19. Therefore, we developed a negative pressure ward using ESWY’s technology that considers safety, convenience, economy, and efficiency all together.”
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