Boom Office Chair Safety Risks

A 'boom' office chair typically refers to a substandard office chair that poses an explosion risk, mainly due to poor-quality gas springs or the absence of explosion-proof steel plates.

Gas Spring Quality Issues Are the Core Hazard

Pneumatic swivel chairs achieve height adjustment through gas springs (pneumatic rods), which are filled with inert gas. The adjustment button controls seat height by varying pressure differences. If the gas spring has the following defects, the explosion risk significantly increases:

• Thin tube walls: To cut costs, inferior gas springs may use metal tubes with insufficient wall thickness, making them prone to rupture under pressure changes during prolonged use or frequent height adjustments.
• Impure inert gas: Qualified gas springs should be filled with high-purity nitrogen or other inert gases to suppress internal chemical reactions. If the gas is contaminated with oxygen or other reactive components, oxidation or combustion may occur, causing a sudden increase in internal pressure.
• Replacement of inert gas with compressed air: Some companies use ordinary compressed air instead of inert gas to save costs. Compressed air contains moisture and impurities that can corrode the tube walls. It is also highly sensitive to temperature changes, with significant volume fluctuations possible in hot summers or cold winters, potentially triggering an explosion.

Lack of Explosion-Proof Steel Plate Exacerbates Risks

An explosion-proof steel plate is a critical component that prevents fragments from flying out after a gas spring explosion. According to safety standards, a steel plate with a thickness of no less than 2 millimeters should be installed between the gas spring and the seat cushion to block the impact force and fragments from an explosion. However, some companies omit this component to reduce costs or simplify production, resulting in fragments directly striking the seat cushion and the user during an explosion, causing severe injuries. For example, in a 2017 office chair explosion in Anhui, the chair base separated from the seat, and fragments pierced through a computer case; in 2009, a 14-year-old boy in Jiaozhou, Shandong, died after a swivel chair explosion punctured his abdomen.

Preventive Measures and Recommendations

• Check certifications when purchasing: Prioritize products that have passed national safety certifications (e.g., GB/T 38032-2019) and verify whether the gas spring has explosion-proof markings.
• Confirm the presence of an explosion-proof steel plate: Press down on the underside of the seat cushion. If you can clearly feel a hard metal plate, it indicates that an explosion-proof steel plate is installed.
• Avoid rough use: Do not frequently or rapidly adjust the seat height or forcefully press down on the seat with your body weight to minimize pressure fluctuations inside the gas spring.
• Regular inspection and maintenance: If you notice difficulties in seat adjustment, unusual noises, or air leakage, stop using the chair immediately and contact after-sales service.