Office Chair Load Explosion

The explosion of office chairs under load is mainly related to the quality issues of the gas springs. Inferior gas springs may cause serious accidents due to design flaws or improper use.

Causes of Explosion

1. Thin Wall of the Gas Spring Cylinder
   To reduce costs, inferior gas springs have insufficient wall thickness and cannot withstand normal pressure. When a person sits on the chair, the wall may rupture due to excessive pressure, causing the internal gas to be released instantly and triggering an explosion.

2. Insufficient Gas Purity
   Qualified gas springs should be filled with nitrogen with a purity of ≥99%. However, some manufacturers use compressed air instead. The oxygen in the air reacts with metal components through oxidation, generating heat and accumulating pressure, ultimately leading to an explosion.

3. Lack of Explosion-Proof Steel Plate
   Regular products require the installation of an explosion-proof steel plate with a thickness of ≥2 millimeters between the seat cushion and the gas spring to block flying debris from the explosion. Inferior products often omit this component, causing metal fragments to directly injure the human body during an explosion.

4. Improper Use
   Frequent lifting or sliding of the chair, prolonged exposure to sunlight, or proximity to heating sources can cause rapid changes in the internal pressure of the gas spring, increasing the risk of explosion. For example, gas expansion in high-temperature environments may exceed the limit that the cylinder wall can withstand.

Typical Cases

• In 2013, Ms. Liu was using an office chair with an inferior gas spring when the chair exploded, causing a 3-centimeter steel rod to penetrate her lower body. Dozens of metal fragments were removed from her abdominal cavity.
• In 2009, a 14-year-old boy in Jiaozhou, Shandong, died after a top rod from a gas-pressure chair pierced his body while he was adjusting it.
• In 2020, a national inspection showed that 23.3% of office chairs were unqualified, with 17 batches being swivel chairs. The main issues were the gas springs' failure to meet high- and low-temperature resistance standards and the lack of explosion-proof steel plates.

Preventive Measures

1. Choose Regular Products
   Look for标识 (marks) from regular manufacturers, quality certifications (such as SGS, ISO, QB/T2280-2016 standards), and 5G5-certified gas springs. Avoid purchasing low-priced products below 200 yuan.
2. Inspect the Appearance of the Gas Spring
   Check for scratches, deformation, or air leakage on the gas spring. Inferior products often have obvious flaws due to poor craftsmanship.
3. Standardize Usage Habits
   Avoid frequent lifting or sliding of the chair and keep it away from high-temperature environments (such as direct sunlight or heating sources) to prevent abnormal changes in the internal pressure of the gas spring.