Explosion of the Bottom of an Office Chair

The explosion of the bottom of an office chair is usually closely related to the quality issues of the gas spring and can be triggered by various factors, posing a serious threat to personal safety.

The gas spring is essentially a miniature high-pressure container. In legitimate products, it is filled with high-purity inert nitrogen, which is stable and safe to control. However, some unscrupulous manufacturers reduce costs by substituting nitrogen with ordinary compressed air. The oxygen in the air reacts with the metal inner wall through oxidation, leading to rusting and heat accumulation. This causes the internal pressure of the gas spring to continuously rise, while the external tube wall gradually becomes thinner and more brittle, ultimately potentially causing an explosion. Additionally, a thin tube wall of the gas spring, insufficient purity of the inert gas, or the use of compressed air in place of inert gas can all reduce its pressure-bearing capacity. If the chair is frequently raised and lowered, friction-generated heat can further exacerbate the internal pressure, becoming a trigger for explosion.

The absence of an explosion-proof steel plate is another major hazard. The role of the explosion-proof steel plate is to prevent the gas spring from puncturing the seat surface in the event of an explosion, avoiding direct impact from metal fragments on the human body. Without this protective device, the impact force generated by the explosion could eject the steel column or fragments inside the gas spring at high speed, causing serious injuries. There have been several related accidents in history: In 2013, Ms. Liu from Xiamen was sitting on an online-purchased adjustable swivel chair while blow-drying her hair when the gas spring exploded, piercing her body with a steel column 3 centimeters in diameter. Dozens of metal fragments were removed from her abdomen and intestines. In 2009, a 14-year-old boy in Jiaozhou, Shandong, was severely injured in an explosion of a swivel chair at home and ultimately died despite rescue efforts. These cases all indicate that quality issues with the gas spring and the lack of explosion-proof measures are the core reasons for the accidents.

Preventive Measures:

1. Choose legitimate products: When purchasing, ensure that the gas spring has passed safety certifications (such as SGS, BIFMA, etc.) and avoid low-priced, inferior products.
2. Check for explosion-proof steel plates: Legitimate office chair bases are usually equipped with explosion-proof steel plates. You can observe the structure of the chair base or consult the merchant to confirm.
3. Avoid frequent raising and lowering: Reduce friction-generated heat in the gas spring to extend its service life.
4. Regular inspection and maintenance: If you notice air leakage from the gas spring, difficulty in raising and lowering, or unusual noises from the base, stop using it immediately and replace it.