Nanotechnology applications in interior design of hospitals to enhance thermal comfort and decrease the infection spread for the occupants

Research problem

The majority of hospitals in Egypt use poor materials in interior design finishes. This makes patients more susceptible to pandemics in hospitals as a result of high temperatures and the spread of bacteria and viruses on surfaces. All caused by the fact that the selecting of interior materials finishes in hospitals is synchronized with hospital patient health and well-being, which are important components of a sustainable environment in health care sector and a healthy community, particularly in the future after the pandemic.

Research aim

The research aims to investigate the effectiveness of nanomaterials application in healthcare sector in interior design in Egypt and to present the advantages of using nanomaterials on thermal comfort in interior spaces, the profound shifts they will bring about in society, and how they can be used to create interior environments that are sustainable.⁴

Literature review

The first part is a literature review on nanotechnology definition, database (shown in Table 1), then materials examples (shown in Table 2), then coatings (shown in Table 3), nano insulation (shown in Table 4) and finally textiles classifications and its application in healthcare interior spaces, resulting in the development of a framework and guidelines for the utilization of nano materials across various hospital zones.

Analytical phase

Second part is the analytical phase of the research examined three successful international examples using nano materials, leading to the creation of a checklist categorizing nanomaterials based on hospital zones. The three examples are firstly Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, then Katz Women’s Hospital and finally Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital

Base case study

Third part is a base case study (Elite Hospital) conducted in Alexandria, Egypt, where in the impact of nano coatings on air temperature, radiant temperature, and relative humidity was simulated using the DesignBuilder software (version 6.1.0.006). For readers and reviewers to replicate the study, I have included information on “OpenStudio” as an equivalent open-access software and by simulating the selected area four times, first simulation by using the located material used on the floor (ceramic) in the hospital to identify the room temperature and compare it with the three new temperatures results with nano materials used in the simulation. The three materials utilized in the simulation, namely ceramic with nano properties, epoxy with nano properties, and marble with nano properties, following this specified order.

The methodology of the research is designed to study the effectiveness of Nano materials in interior spaces on the thermal comfort in Egypt’s hospitals followed by the analysis of three successful international examples using nano materials with same conditions of the case study last but not least to propose a checklist of Nano materials applicable to hospitals interior finishes in Egypt and simulate the case study with DesignBuilder software and compare it with local materials used in the patient room.

Thus, the focus in the literature review on four concepts: Nano material products, Nano coatings, insulation and textiles to carry out the relevant features on hospitals in Egypt. then, the study of hospital buildings to analyse the effects of nano materials on the interior design environment and understand the application of Nano technology materials in hospital buildings to conclude with a checklist of Nano materials that will be applied to the case study building. “ELITE Hospital” in Alexandria, Egypt.

This research’s methodology involved simulating the case study building’s air temperature, radiant temperature and relative humidity in two stages using the Design Builder computer program.

Base case simulation

The following methodical and exacting procedure were followed in order to guarantee the applicability of the results produced by the Design Builder software:

Nano technology

The goal of “nanotechnology” is the study, design, combination and application of materials with the aim of controlling a substance at the nanoscale. These novel and precisely atomic structures like carbon nanotubes or the smallest instruments for viewing the human body mark the beginning of an as yet unfathomably advanced technological era. (Advanced and environmentally friendly technology), nanotechnology is a promising field of scientific research that promises “more for less.” It provides strategies for developing smarter, more efficient, lighter, cheaper, and faster gadgets that can accomplish more tasks with fewer resources and less energy use (Sustainable Environment). There are numerous instances of nanotechnology applications, ranging from straightforward to intricate.^11–13

For example, nano coatings can prevent hospital-borne infections from spreading or discourage dirt, reducing the need for hazardous cleaning agents.¹¹

In contrast to more modern engineering endeavours, nature created “Nanotechnologies” over billions of years by using enzymes and catalysts to precisely arrange various atoms and molecules into intricate microscopic structures that support life. These organic goods are incredibly powerful and possess incredible qualities, such as:

For Qualities differences in the behaviour of materials at the nanoscale, there are two main causes:

Because of quantum mechanical processes, materials created at the “Nanoscale,” which is commonly measured in nanometers, or billionths of a metre, occasionally exhibit special physical and chemical properties. Consumer products are beginning to use materials that have been nanoengineered, and electronic engineering now requires proficiency in these techniques. For example, Millions of microscopic “Nano whiskers,” each measuring about ten nanometers, have been chemically bonded to synthetic and natural fibres to add silver nanocrystals to bandages that inhibit infection and kill bacteria. Zinc oxide nanocrystals have been used to create UV-blocking invisible sunscreens.⁶

When discussing the advantages of new technologies and their impact on sustainable development, it is important to consider the following points, especially in the context of nanotechnology.

Long-term demand will lead to the establishment of certain materials and goods while the eradication of others from the market. Because it responds to a constant need for innovation rather than being an aim in itself, the usage of nanotechnology can also be a marketing component.⁹ The following fields, independent of marketing considerations (economic sustainability), can benefit significantly from nanotechnology¹⁶:

Nano material definition

A nano technological approach grounded in materials science is used in the field of nanomaterials. It examines materials having nanoscale morphological characteristics, particularly those with unique properties resulting from their nanoscale dimensions.¹⁶ Although materials smaller than one micrometre are also occasionally referred to by this term, the conventional definition of the nanoscale is anything smaller than one tenth of a micrometre in at least one dimension.^4,17

An object with at the minimum one dimension in the nanometre scale is called a nanomaterial. Dimensions are used to categorize nanomaterials.¹¹

Nano material products & benefits

Sustainability and nanotechnology usage in construction and interior finishes are closely related. Many countries have said that they want to increase energy efficiency and cut greenhouse gas emissions. The Kyoto Protocol’s first phase comes to an end in 2012, and a subsequent accord will specify further measures.^8,14 By 2050, carbon dioxide emissions must be cut in half worldwide, and this can only be done via determined and, most importantly, quick action. Construction must consequently be energy efficient, especially given that it is a major source of CO₂ emissions.^13,14

It is up to planners and architects to come up with novel approaches to halting climate change and fusing ambitious design with energy efficiency. By means of creativity, architecture, interior design, and other associated fields can now utilise materials and surface qualities made feasible by nanotechnology to increase energy efficiency and build more sustainably as shown in Table 2.^3,12

Using nanotechnology to its fullest potential and fostering innovation through its assistance are the goals of nanomaterials. This ensures that nanotechnology is used for long-term benefits, independent of fads or trends. To realise the implications and design possibilities, one must have a basic understanding of the many functional options. Therefore, rather than listing the points in order of the physical or chemical principles upon which based, like photocatalysis, the following has been arranged in accordance with the qualities that surfaces and nanomaterials provide, like self-cleaning and air purification.^5,7

Coatings (Finishing materials)

Coatings for steel, glass, concrete, and other materials are being researched in the vast field of nanotechnology. In this work, a lot of different techniques like Spray, Meniscus, Dip, Vapour Deposition (CVD), and Plasma Coating utilized to form a layer that is bonded to the foundation material and produces a surface with the required functional or protective qualities.

One of the objectives of the research, as shown in Table 3, is to endow the ability to heal itself through a procedure known as “self-assembly” by using different types of coatings.^5,16

Nanotechnology is currently being used to make paints, which have insulating qualities due to the addition of nanoscale pores, cells, and particles. This results in extremely limited thermal conduction paths and doubles the insulating foam’s R values.⁵

Insulation

Nanotechnology and insulation have the potential to improve insulation’s efficiency, reduce its dependency on non-renewable resources, and lessen its toxicity. These promises are being fulfilled to a large extent already. According to manufacturers, insulating materials made possible by nanotechnology are roughly 30% more effective than conventional materials.⁹ Since they have a very high surface-to-volume ratio and can hold air in a layer of the substance, nanoscale materials have a lot of potential as insulators. As shown in Table 4 explains the insulating properties of nanomaterials, which are used in some designs as coatings, thin films, or sandwiched between rigid panels.^13,14

Three different kinds of insulating nanomaterials exist:

Textiles

Materials that eliminate bacteria, lessen moisture and odour, and stop static electricity are produced from fabrics that have been coated with nanoparticles at every stage of the manufacturing process. When polymer nanofiber coatings are applied to textiles, the material at one end of the polymer bonds to the coating, creating a surface covered in tiny, hair-like structures. Smart textiles are materials that possess the capacity to perceive and respond to external cues or triggers originating from mechanical, thermal, magnetic, chemical, electrical, or additional sources.¹⁴

Smart textiles classification: (as the following)

It functions similarly to the brain and possesses cognitive, logical, and activating abilities. The creation of extremely smart textiles is now possible thanks to the successful fusion of traditional textile and apparel technology with other scientific fields like artificial intelligence, biology, advanced processing technology, communication, material science, structural mechanics, sensor and actuator technology and more.¹⁵

Analytical examples

The aim of this section is to analyse in detail how previous researchers examined the nano materials performance in hospitals interior design. The example is chosen according to their proximity to the case study in terms of their location, scale and research techniques used. The selected examples were all designed by materials and technology used in Egypt. Therefore, the hospital had LEED certificate. The example presented varied between experimental usage of nano materials.

Selection criteria

The reason for choosing the hospitals were based on the following specific criteria:

Selected three examples

In the following part the three international examples are explained in Table 5 location, area, architect, hospital criteria to be selected and finally hospital description. Table 6 shows the materials and coating types used in the selected areas.

Example conclusion

The most common and used nano coatings and materials used in the three hospitals and were able to obtain the LEED certificate by examining Tables 4 and 5 and the previous example. As a result, the appropriate nanomaterials for operating rooms and patient rooms are listed in the following table (see Table 7).

“Elite hospital”

Project scope

The “Elite Hospital,” a hospital facility accredited by the Egyptian Ministry of Health, is selected as the case study for this paper. In order to measure the finishing materials used in interior design, air temperature, and radiant temperature through simulations in DesignBuilder software version for the local case and after adding nano materials application.

The “Elite Hospital” is situated eight kilometres down the Alexandria Mahmoudya desert road in Alexandria, Egypt. With an average maximum temperature for the day ranging from 19°C to 22°C in January and February are the coolest months in Alexandria’s Mediterranean climate. The warmest months are July, August, and September, when the average daily maximum temperature is between 24°C and 27°C.²⁰

Project design

The hospital is separated into three sections as shown in Figure 1 that are connected by hallways.²⁰

Figure 1. Elite Hospital plan.

Source: Plan edited by Author.

At an elite hospital, multidisciplinary care and patient wellness are key components of the standards of care that help keep patients in a healthy environment in the hospital. With that objective in mind, materials used in local healthcare in Egypt settings need to be assessed for their wider environmental effects in addition to their effects on the immediate patient environment.^20,21

A sizable healthcare system has actually created a master standard program that specifies products to be used throughout the system and a uniform quality level. The emphasis on interior finishing materials was not given much weight when these standards were first developed, and the system’s capacity to “standardize” healthier products was occasionally limited by the options and costs that could be chosen.²⁰

The Elite Hospital healthcare facility (as shown in Figure 1), which uses cutting-edge materials like non-adhesive wall finishing materials and easily cleanable ceramic, is a superb example of modern Egyptian architecture. However, this combination led to a number of issues within the building, including heat gain and glare from the lack of environmentally friendly materials and the spread of illnesses, which accelerated the hospital’s disease outbreak.¹⁹ Furthermore, the interior finishes of the building, particularly the patient rooms, lack sustainable materials. All of these issues combined make for a challenging problem that needs careful research to guarantee safe, comfortable conditions with little chance of disease transmission on the building’s interior surfaces (as shown in Table 9).

Selected space and possible solutions

Based on the patient’s most frequent area, choosing a standard patient room on the third typical floor on the South- west façade, which was observed to experience thermal gain.

For the purpose of comparative simulation, we propose the following changes to the patient room’s interior finishes (as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5) and the selected materials used as shown in Table 10 and for the surgery room and the selected coatings and materials shown in Table 11:

A) Patient room

B) Surgery room

Case study simulations and their subsequent implementation

The hospital patient room base case and the post-implementation results with Nano materials used in a patient’s room interior finishing are contrasted in the following analysis diagrams. Identifying how materials affect the results of thermal comfort effect simulations.

The three-dimension simulation for air temperature comparison chart (shown in Figure 2) is the baseline, and (shown in the Figures 3, 4 and 5) is the post-implementation. The Figures 2 and 3, 4 and 5 were obtained from the author’s work on the “Elite Hospital” patient room using Design Builder program.

Figure 2. Base case: shows the monthly simulation results for the chosen patient room’s air temperatures, radiant temperature, and relative humidity from January 1 to December 31, (2) Base case.

While working on the “Elite Hospital” patient room, the researcher took the Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5. the author used the computer programme “DesignBuilder” for simulation changes to the patient room space.

Figure 3. Post-implementation case: using ceramic with nano properties, Monthly results for Temperatures, heat gains of the specified patient room that contribute to disease spread from 1 January to 31 December (3) Base case.

The Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 were taken during the researcher's work on the “Elite Hospital” patient room, used the computer software "Design Builder" to simulate alterations to the area.

Figure 4. Post-implementation case: using epoxy with nano properties, N simulation monthly results for Temperatures, heat gains of the selected patient room which led to disease spread from 1 January to 31 December (4) Base case.

The Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 were taken during the researcher's work on the “Elite Hospital” patient room, where the author used the computer software “Design Builder” to simulate alterations to the area.

Figure 5. Post-implementation case: using marble with nano properties, Nano Marble was utilised in the patient room simulation to produce monthly data for temperatures and heat gains in the selected patient room, resulting in disease spread from 1 January to 31 December (5) Base case.

The Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 were taken during the researcher's work on the “Elite Hospital” patient room, where the author used the computer software “Design Builder” to simulate alterations to the area.

The addition of Nano material to the building’s interior finishing and the installation of walls, as per the air temperature analysis, led to more evenly distributed colder temperatures, improving thermal comfort and limiting the spread of disease. The average temperature for the user area in Figure 1, which depicts the three-dimensional thermal distribution in the basic case patient room to cover less space, is between 19.05 °C and 19.21°C (coloured blue, yellow, light green, and green). On the other hand, the Figures 3, 4 and 5 shows the 3D temperature distribution after the patient room’s temperature rises as a result of the addition of nanomaterials to the floor and wall finishes. When compared to the useful zone temperature data, which range from 18.92°C to 18.05°C (colour indication: cyan, green, and light green), the blue zone colouring has faded, indicating. a temperature. zone of 19.33°C. The average temperature decreased by 1.16°C as a result, an improvement of 7%.

The air temperature decreased by 4.3% in January, 5.2% in February, 6.1% in March, 4.4% in April, 3.1% in May, 2.6% in June, 2.5% in July, 2.4% in August, 3.6% in September, 4.3% in October, 5.8% in November, and 4.5% in December (according to Figures 3, 4, and 5).

January through December saw reductions in relative humidity of 34.5 %, 34.1%, 33.9 %, 30.5%, 24.3%, 20.2%, July, and August by 22.1%, 27.9 percent, 33.4 percent, September, October, and November by 35.6 percent, and December by 34.3 % (as shown in to Figures 3, 4, and 5).

Air temperature, radiant temperature, and relative humidity were all reduced by 7% in January, 6.5% in February, 6% in March, 6% in April, 3% in May, 4% in June, 7% in July, 1.7% in August, 1.8% in September, 2% in October, 3.4% in November, and 8.3% in December (see Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6).

Figure 6. Air Temperatures, radiant temperature, and relative humidity of the selected patient room from first of January to thirty-one of December (2) Base case, (3) (4) (5) using different criteria on nano materials.

The Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 were taken during the researcher's work on the “Elite Hospital” patient room, where she used the computer software “Design Builder” to model modifications in the patient room area.

In addition, in numbers, nano materials have proven their ability in hospitals to reduce temperature and provide a healthy environment for patients. The most applicable materials used to prevent the spread of bacteria and epidemics on the hospital’s interior surfaces are nano-modified materials, better than the traditional materials used in most hospitals.

Case study results and conclusion

The models demonstrate that.by utilizing nano materials in Egyptian hospitals to floors and walls coverings by using DesignBuilder on the selected patient room of the case study, the air temperature was decrease after using nano materials by an average of 12.3-16.7% throughout the year, radiant temperature decreased by 3-4.2% and relative humidity decreased by 7-12% through the year when it is designed by nano materials on walls and floors coverings to the room materials so reduce of bacterial infection in the room. Lastly, adding one of the recommended nano materials to walls and floors enhanced the transfer of bacteria on surfaces by air distribution, and air temperature. Direct contact of the viruses and bacteria to the surface of nano material reduce 18% than basic material used in hospitals.

Research conclusion and recommendation

Nanotechnology is generating hygienic items without endangering the environment or human health. Additionally, it is regarded as the answer to environmental issues, particularly those that relate to structural issues. The study’s main goal was to examine the effects of nanotechnology applications on the environment inside of the building. By utilizing nanotechnology, healthcare facilities may be kept in the highest possible quality and efficiency thanks to the use of nanoparticles that make them more durable, environmentally friendly, and long-term damage resistant.

Then because of the properties of these materials, maintenance costs are minimized. Therefore, applications of nanotechnology are seen as a revitalization and upgrade process for the building to protect it against various bacterial, tearing, and damage factors that affect the building’s performance inside or outside.

The study advises designers and architects to select finishing materials using the most recent techniques, especially for healthcare and medical buildings, to keep them as safe as possible over time and prevent any flaws from developing and endangering them. Like in all industrialized countries, because it helps to increase the efficiency of healthcare buildings, applying nanotechnology techniques to the interior finishing materials specially in healthcare and medical facility designs in Egypt is essential.

The ability. to work. from. the “bottom” of material design to the “top” of the constructed environment is provided by nanotechnology, which is the antithesis of the conventional top-down approach to construction—or, for that matter, any production technique. The new properties of nanomaterials in hospital interior finishes have an impact on people’s lives, the environment, and the economy by helping to achieve sustainability and biological properties (biological materials in terms of functional form).

Lastly, nanomaterials will lead to lighter, smaller and more durable buildings, and more sustainable interior finishes, reducing construction costs and preserving Flat Earth for generations to come. In addition, it will protect the topography of mountains, plains, and forests, as well as other natural resources that support the idea of sustainability.