Office Chair Explosion in Shanxi

An office chair explosion incident occurred in Shanxi, primarily related to substandard gas springs, the absence of explosion-proof steel plates, and overheating from frequent adjustments. Reducing risks requires standardized purchasing and usage practices.

Analysis of Explosion Causes

1. Substandard Gas Springs: The gas spring is the core component of a swivel chair, with its wall thickness and purity of inert gas directly affecting safety. Some low-cost products use gas springs with overly thin walls or replace high-purity inert gases (such as nitrogen) with compressed air to cut costs. Under frequent use or excessive loads, the walls may rupture due to uneven pressure, triggering an explosion.
2. Absence of Explosion-Proof Steel Plates: Explosion-proof steel plates should be installed between the gas spring and the seat cushion, with a thickness of at least 2 millimeters. Their role is to block fragments and impact forces generated during a gas spring explosion. Some companies omit this component to save costs, resulting in fragments directly striking people or surrounding objects during an explosion, expanding the scope of injury.
3. Overheating from Frequent Adjustments: Gas springs achieve height adjustment through internal gas compression. If users repeatedly adjust the seat height in a short period, the internal temperature of the gas spring rises sharply, potentially causing gas expansion or wall softening, increasing the risk of explosion.

Recommended Preventive Measures

1. Purchase Certified Products: Prioritize well-known brands that have passed national safety certifications and avoid buying low-cost swivel chairs priced below 200 yuan. Low-priced products often use inferior materials, posing significant safety risks.
2. Inspect Key Components: When purchasing, ensure the gas rod adjusts smoothly without jamming and check whether an explosion-proof steel plate is installed beneath the seat cushion (confirm via the instruction manual or direct structural inspection).
3. Adopt Proper Usage Habits: Avoid frequent seat height adjustments to minimize internal temperature fluctuations in the gas spring. When not in use for extended periods, lower the seat to the lowest position to reduce pressure loads.

Regulatory Background

The State Administration for Market Regulation has conducted spot checks on office chairs, revealing a high failure rate, particularly among swivel chairs, with issues mainly involving gas spring safety and the absence of explosion-proof steel plates. Consumers can further reduce risks by checking product test reports or contacting manufacturers to verify safety parameters.