CCTV Inspection of Office Chairs

The results of CCTV's inspection of office chairs show that some products have quality and safety issues, with a relatively high non-compliance rate, and the problems with swivel chairs are particularly prominent.

I. Overall Inspection Situation The State Administration for Market Regulation conducted two inspections involving 101 batches and 90 batches of office chair products respectively, with non-compliance rates of 14.9% and 23.3%. Among them, the quality issues of swivel office chairs were more concentrated. Out of the 21 non-compliant products, 17 were swivel chairs, accounting for over 80%. The non-compliant items covered key indicators such as stability, caster wear, and formaldehyde emission, reflecting defects in raw material selection, production processes, and safety design among some enterprises.

II. Main Non-compliant Items and Risks

1. Unstable Stability: Seven batches of products were deemed non-compliant due to substandard stability. Such chairs are prone to tipping over when leaning forward, backward, or sitting sideways, potentially causing users to fall and get injured. Stability is a core indicator for assessing the safety of office chairs.
2. Non-compliant Caster Wear: Five batches of products had insufficient caster wear resistance. Long-term use can lead to casters falling off or getting stuck, affecting the smooth movement of the chair and even posing a tripping hazard.
3. Excessive Formaldehyde Emission: Four batches of products did not meet the standards for formaldehyde emission. Long-term exposure may irritate the human respiratory tract and skin, increasing the risk of cancer.
4. Explosion Risk: Some swivel chairs exploded due to the use of low-quality gas springs (such as thin tube walls, impure inert gases, or the use of compressed air as a substitute). If no explosion-proof steel plate is installed, the explosive impact force may directly harm the user.

III. Root Causes of Problems and Industry Risks The quality issues of swivel chairs are concentrated in components such as casters, bases, and pneumatic rods, exposing that some enterprises in the industry reduce costs by using low-quality materials or simplifying production processes. For example, gas spring explosions are often caused by insufficient tube wall thickness or substandard gas purity, and the lack of explosion-proof steel plates further amplifies safety hazards. In addition, the formaldehyde exceedance problem reflects that some enterprises do not strictly control the environmental performance of raw materials and ignore the health rights of consumers.

IV. Consumer Advice When purchasing office chairs, priority should be given to products that have passed national safety certifications, with a focus on indicators such as stability, gas spring quality, and formaldehyde emission. Avoid buying products with excessively low prices and no brand guarantees. During use, regularly check the wear of components such as casters and gas springs to ensure safety.