DRDO installs disinfection chamber at AIIMS on trial basis

In the ongoing fight against COVID-19 pandemic, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has installed its newly developed full body disinfection chamber at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

The chamber will help in controlling the spread of coronavirus. A senior DRDO officer told IANS, "It has been installed on trial basis. We are looking how it is working." The officer explained that once successful, it will also install as per demands from the respective organisations.

Last week, DRDO developed the full body disinfection chamber called as Personnel Sanitization Enclosure and face protection mask.

The Vehicle Research and Development Establishment in Ahmednagar, a DRDO Laboratory, had designed the full body disinfection chamber called as personnel sanitization enclosure.

"The walk through enclosure is designed for personnel decontamination, one person at a time. This is a portable system equipped with sanitizer and soap dispenser," the DRDO had stated.

The decontamination is started using a foot pedal at the entry. On entering the chamber, electrically operated pump creates a disinfectant mist of hyposodiumchloride.

The mist spray is calibrated for an operation of 25 seconds and stops automatically indicating completion of operation.

As per procedure, personnel undergoing disinfection will need to keep their eyes closed while inside the chamber.

The system consists of roof mounted and bottom tanks with a total of 700 litres capacity. Approximately 650 personnel can pass through the chamber for disinfection until the refill is required.

"The system has see through glass panels on side walls for monitoring purpose and is fitted with lights for illumination during night time operations. A separate operator cabin is provided to monitor overall operations," it said.

"The system has been manufactured with the help of Dass Hitachi Ltd, Ghaziabad, within a time span of four days. This system can be used for disinfection of personnel at the areas of controlled ingress and egress such as entry and exit to hospitals, malls, office buildings and critical installations," DRDO said.