Office Chair Gas
The gas mainly involved in office chairs is nitrogen, which is used in the pneumatic rods of pneumatic lift chairs to adjust the seat height.
Characteristics of Gas in Standard Pneumatic Rods
The pneumatic rods produced by reputable manufacturers are filled with high-purity nitrogen. Nitrogen is an inert gas with extremely stable chemical properties, making it difficult to react with other substances under normal temperature and pressure conditions. This characteristic makes nitrogen an ideal choice for filling pneumatic rods. A qualified pneumatic rod can withstand a weight of one ton, ensuring the safety of office chairs during daily use.
Risks of Substandard Pneumatic Rods
The situation is quite different if substandard pneumatic rods are used or if the gas filled has insufficient purity. Under conditions of frequent lifting, high temperatures, etc., the pressure inside the pneumatic rod may rise sharply, posing an explosion risk. For example, when the gas filled in the pneumatic rod contains impurities such as oxygen, the oxygen in the air will slowly react chemically with the inner wall of the steel pipe in the sealed metal pipeline, causing the pipe to rust. The heat generated by the rust will cause the gas to expand, leading to an increase in the pressure on the pipe wall and potentially causing an explosion.
Incidents of Pneumatic Chair Explosions Causing Injuries
There have been several incidents in China where pneumatic chairs have exploded, causing injuries. Between 2007 and 2020, there were reports from various places about pneumatic lift swivel chairs exploding and causing injuries or fatalities. For instance, in 2007, a chair exploded in Zhoushan, Zhejiang, piercing through the chair and sending debris up to ten centimeters into the body. In 2009, a 14-year-old boy in Jiaozhou, Shandong, was injured when a pneumatic chair exploded while he was adjusting it, with the rod piercing his buttocks and causing death from excessive blood loss. These tragic accidents serve as a warning that the quality issues of pneumatic chairs cannot be ignored.
Office Chair Quality Inspection Results
According to a sampling inspection by the State Administration for Market Regulation, the failure rate of office chairs reached 23.3% in 2020, with 17 batches being swivel chairs. The main problems were that the pneumatic rods did not meet the high- and low-temperature resistance standards and that explosion-proof steel plates were not installed. This indicates that there are serious safety hazards in some office chairs on the market. Consumers should choose products from reputable manufacturers when purchasing and carefully inspect the quality of the pneumatic rods and relevant safety labels.
