Air Ventilation Quality Assessment for Laboratory in the New Normal Concept: Chiang Mai Rajabhat University, Wing Bua Campus

การประเมินการระบายอากาศของห้องปฏิบัติการภายใต้ความปรกติใหม่ ภายในมหาวิทยาลัยราชภัฏเชียงใหม่ ศูนย์เวียงบัว

Abstract

         This study aims to evaluate the ventilation performance of laboratories under the new normal concept, using Chiang Mai Rajabhat University’s Wiang Bua Center as a case study. The research examines the ventilation systems of 17 mechanically ventilated laboratories. Data were collected using a CO2 concentration meter based on the Non-Dispersive Infrared (NDIR) absorption principle. The recommended steady-state CO2 concentration was set at no more than 800 parts per million (ppm). Additionally, the air change rate (ACH) was required to be at least 3.5 to reflect the condition where users wearing face masks in the laboratory would have a COVID-19 infection risk of no more than 0.5%. The study found that among the 17 mechanically ventilated laboratories, 2 rooms had a suitable air change rate, 4 rooms had insufficient ventilation, and 11 rooms had air change rates that were inappropriate based on the maximum user capacity set by the university. The findings indicate a need to increase the air change rate through the use of exhaust fans at appropriate levels, following the recommendations for laboratory usage adjustments under the new normal concept proposed by the researchers.