Engineers from the Bahrain International Circuit have designed and produced ventilators for COVID-19 patients and are now available following approval from the Ministry of Health. The blueprints will be made available worldwide for free.
Constructionweekonline.com 22 April, 2020
Bahrain’s F1 circuit will produce hundreds of ventilators for COVID-19 patients – and share the blueprints free of charge worldwide.
Engineers from the track, which hosts the Grand Prix championship race each year, have designed a breathing apparatus in just two weeks for non-ICU patients in need of respiratory assistance.
The device was built from scratch in partnership with intensive care doctors from Salmaniya Medical Complex’s Respiratory Therapy Department and Medical Equipment Department.
An order was placed for the first 100 machines, following extensive testing and approval by Bahrain’s Ministry of Health.
Bahrain International Circuit is also sharing the blueprints free of charge to organisations around the world amid global efforts to increase ventilator capacity.
Initially, two different machines were designed and both have been approved – the first by design team lead and BIC mechanical engineer, Kamel Al-Taan, and the other by Tareq AlTajer.
Commenting on the initiative, the chief operating officer at Bahrain International Circuit, Fayez Ramzy Fayez said: “At a time of global crisis, we have been seeking ways in which the BIC can support the fight against COVID-19. Our engineers have met that challenge by designing a ventilator system specifically to support those suffering from COVID-19.”
Bahrain International Circuit has hosted the annual Formula One Championship since 2004, but this year the race was postponed as a precautionary measure.
