Office Chair Explosion

Office chair explosion refers to the sudden explosive phenomenon of pneumatic lifting swivel chairs caused by component defects, which mostly occurs in low-quality pneumatic rod products.

Explosion Principle

The pneumatic rod is essentially a miniature high-pressure vessel, similar in principle to a bicycle pump, relying on the high-pressure gas inside to push the piston for lifting and lowering. In legitimate products, the pneumatic rod is filled with inert nitrogen, which is stable, safe, and controllable, and can easily withstand pressures of over a thousand kilograms. However, some unscrupulous manufacturers, in an attempt to reduce costs, replace nitrogen with ordinary compressed air. The oxygen in the air erodes the metal inner wall, making the steel brittle. Coupled with the heat generated by daily lifting and lowering friction, the internal pressure continues to rise. Under conditions such as high temperatures, frequent friction, sudden sitting, or the presence of tiny cracks inside, an explosion may occur.

Explosion Cases

• In 2007, a seat explosion incident occurred in Zhoushan, Zhejiang.
• In 2009, a 14-year-old boy in Jiaozhou, Shandong, died after a top rod pierced his body while adjusting a pneumatic chair.
• In 2013, Ms. Liu, after taking a shower, sat on a purchased lifting swivel chair to blow-dry her hair. The pneumatic rod pierced through the seat like a shell, seriously injuring her and causing her to fall into a coma. Dozens of metal fragments were removed from her abdomen and intestines.
• In 2017, an office chair explosion in Anhui damaged a computer case.
• In 2020, a spot check found that some staff chairs produced by certain enterprises posed an explosion risk. Over the past decade, more than forty similar tragedies have occurred in China.

Preventive Measures

• Choose products from legitimate manufacturers: It is recommended to select products priced above 200 yuan, as these products generally have stricter quality control and reduce the risk of using low-quality pneumatic rods.
• Check the smoothness of the pneumatic rod's lifting and lowering: Before purchasing or using, check whether the lifting and lowering of the pneumatic rod are smooth. If there are issues such as stuttering or abnormal noises, there may be component defects, and the chair should not be used.
• Ensure the installation of explosion-proof steel plates: An explosion-proof steel plate with a thickness of at least 2 millimeters should be installed between the seat cushion and the pneumatic rod. In the event of an abnormality in the pneumatic rod, the explosion-proof steel plate can provide some blocking effect and reduce the harm caused by the explosion.