Evaluación de las condiciones de temperatura, gases, ruido e iluminación en el Fab Lab de la Universidad Católica de Cuenca

Abstract

Fab Labs (manufacturing laboratories) have established themselves as spaces for innovation, allowing the creation of prototypes and the development of projects in various fields. This is the reason why safeguarding the integrity of those who are part of this area becomes a high-impact problem. Therefore, the present research aims to evaluate the temperature, gas, noise, and lighting conditions in the Catholic University of Cuenca “Fab Lab”. The methodology was based on data collection using measurement instruments and the application of established technical procedures and standards to guarantee a safe and healthy work environment. The results show that the university's laboratory analyses revealed significant temperature, noise, and lighting fluctuations throughout the day. In the morning, the temperature reaches 12.4 °C in open areas and drops to 8.4 °C in specific areas such as laser cutting. Noise levels peak at up to 110 dB, exceeding recommended limits. Lighting also varies, with levels up to 4,200 lux near windows and extreme lows of less than 100 lux in critical areas such as CNC machining. Measurements conducted in the “Fab Lab” revealed the presence of significant variations in temperature, noise, and lighting in some areas, which could threaten users' health and comfort.