Issues with Office Chairs
Common issues with office chairs mainly include quality non-compliance and safety hazards, gas spring problems, backrest problems, and wheel problems.
Regarding quality non-compliance and safety hazards: According to a sampling inspection by the State Administration for Market Regulation, the non-compliance rate of office chairs reached 14.9%. Among them, the problem of non-compliant stability was prominent, with 7 batches of products having this issue. When users lean forward, backward, or sit sideways, the chairs are prone to tipping over, which may lead to injuries. There were 5 batches with non-compliant reciprocating wear of casters, and the quality of casters is crucial for the service life of office chairs. Additionally, 4 batches of products had non-compliant formaldehyde emissions, and long-term exposure may pose health risks to the human body.
Gas spring problems are quite diverse: Firstly, there is the issue of scraping the ground, which is usually caused by component aging, base structure deviations, and mismatched ground environments. If the rubber ring at the bottom of the gas spring ages or its sealing performance decreases, the supporting force weakens, and the rod body may sink, causing the metal outer wall to touch the ground. Base structure problems such as abnormal inclination angles of the five-claw base, excessive design tolerances at the connection between the base of cheap swivel chairs and the gas spring, and deformation of the explosion-proof base steel plate, as well as poor adaptability between the ground and the chair wheels, can all trigger the gas spring to scrape the ground. Secondly, there are other problems. On January 16, 2025, the United States recalled WorkPro Momentum office chairs made in China because the bolts might fail, posing a falling hazard. Seven reports had been received, including two minor injuries.
Backrest problems should not be overlooked: On March 2, 2023, the United States and Canada recalled office chairs made in China because the backrests might break, posing a falling hazard. Twelve reports had been received, including ten injury reports.
Wheel problems: Office chair wheels have the problem of shedding debris, which not only affects the normal use of office chairs but may also cause pollution and damage to the ground.
