Explosion of Office Chairs

The explosion of office chairs usually refers to the sudden explosion phenomenon caused by component defects in pneumatic lift office chairs, which mostly occurs in low-quality pneumatic rod products and seriously threatens the safety of users.

Causes of Explosion

1. Quality Issues with Pneumatic Rods
   • Improper Gas Composition: High-purity inert nitrogen is filled inside regular pneumatic rods, which is stable, safe, and controllable, and can withstand a pressure of 2000 pounds. However, some unscrupulous manufacturers use cheap compressed air instead of nitrogen to reduce costs. The oxygen in the air will react with the metal inner wall through oxidation, leading to rusting and heat accumulation. This causes the internal pressure of the pneumatic rod to continuously rise, the outer tube wall to become thinner and more brittle, and ultimately results in an explosion.
   • Insufficient Tube Wall Thickness: If the tube wall of the pneumatic rod is too thin, its pressure-bearing capacity will be reduced, making it prone to breakage under high-pressure conditions.
   • Insufficient Purity of Inert Gas: If the purity of nitrogen does not meet the standard, other active gases may be mixed in, accelerating the oxidation reaction and increasing the risk of explosion.
2. Improper Use
   • Sitting Down Violently: The impact force generated by sitting down quickly may exceed the instantaneous pressure-bearing limit of the pneumatic rod, causing the air pressure to be released instantly.
   • Frequent Height Adjustment: Repeatedly adjusting the height will accelerate the wear of internal parts of the pneumatic rod, reduce its stability, and increase the probability of explosion.

Consequences of Accidents

Such explosion accidents can have serious consequences and may even be fatal. For example, in 2013, Ms. Liu in Xiamen was sitting on an online-purchased swivel lift chair to blow-dry her hair when the chair suddenly exploded. A steel rod with a diameter of 3 centimeters pierced through her body from the bottom up and into her abdominal cavity. Doctors removed more than ten metal fragments from her abdominal cavity and intestines. According to statistics, more than forty similar accidents have been reported in China, involving multiple regions.

Preventive Measures

1. Choose Regular Products: Give priority to brand office chairs priced above 200 yuan and avoid buying low-priced and inferior products.
2. Check Pneumatic Rod Labels: Ensure that there are clear production labels and testing certifications (such as SGS and TUV certifications) on the pneumatic rod to confirm that it meets safety standards.
3. Test the Smoothness of Lifting and Lowering: Before purchasing, check whether the lifting and lowering of the pneumatic rod are smooth without any jamming or abnormal noises.
4. Confirm the Presence of Explosion-Proof Steel Plates: Ensure that an explosion-proof steel plate with a thickness of no less than 2 millimeters is installed between the seat cushion and the pneumatic rod, which can effectively block explosion fragments.
5. Standardize Usage Habits: Sit down gently to avoid violent impacts; reduce frequent height adjustments to extend the service life of the pneumatic rod.