Interlock System Prototype for Sterilization Room Doors in Hospitals Based on Electric Contactors

Abstract

Access control in hospital sterile rooms requires a secure, integrated, and reliable locking system to prevent cross-contamination that could endanger both patients and medical personnel. One of the solutions implemented is the use of an interlock system based on electric contactors, designed to regulate door opening and closing automatically, ensuring that only one door can be opened at a time. This study aims to design and test a prototype of an interlock system for sterile room doors in hospitals, utilizing electric contactors as the main control component. The research method refers to the stages of prototype design, testing, and performance evaluation. The system is engineered to automatically lock and unlock doors using solenoid door locks controlled by a contactor circuit. Testing was carried out to measure the output electric current from the contactors and the response speed of the solenoids during the locking and unlocking process. The test results show that contactor 1 produces an output current of 7.63 mA, while contactor 2 produces 7.64 mA. Solenoid door lock 1 operates at an average speed of 0.80 seconds with a delay of 0.89 seconds, while solenoid door lock 2 operates at 0.96 seconds with a delay of 0.97 seconds. The performance of this system indicates that the interlock device can operate stably and meets the access control requirements for sterile room doors in accordance with applicable safety standards. Based on these findings, the electric contactor-based interlock system has the potential to be applied in hospital facilities to improve security and efficiency in sterile room access control. Furthermore, this system can be enhanced by integrating remote monitoring features and automatic alert systems to support better operational supervision of sterile environments.