Construction of a Low-Cost Electromagnetic Shielding Enclosure for Electronic Equipment in Hospital Environments in Benin City, Edo State

Background: Electromagnetic interference from mobile phones and other wireless devices poses risks to sensitive electronic medical equipment in Nigerian hospitals. Locally fabricated electromagnetic shielding enclosures can protect critical devices at affordable cost. Aim: This project constructed and tested a low-cost electromagnetic shielding enclosure for hospital electronic equipment protection in Benin City, Edo State, South South Nigeria. Methods: A Faraday cage enclosure was fabricated using galvanised steel mesh with 1 mm aperture spacing. Shielding effectiveness was measured using a signal generator and spectrum analyser across frequencies of 100 MHz to 2.4 GHz following IEEE 299 test methodology. The enclosure was evaluated at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital medical equipment store. Results: Shielding effectiveness ranged from 42 to 68 dB across the tested frequency range, with highest attenuation observed at 900 MHz. A reduction in equipment reset frequency from 3.1 to 0.4 incidents per week was recorded after enclosure deployment. Total fabrication cost was NGN 22,000. Conclusion: The galvanised steel mesh enclosure provides effective, affordable electromagnetic shielding for hospital settings. The study recommends adoption across Nigerian hospital medical equipment stores, with future evaluation of conductive polymer composite materials for weight reduction. Keywords: electromagnetic shielding, Faraday cage, hospital, Benin City, electromagnetic interference.