A good swivel chair makes a big difference to the user. A well designed model offers good support and right sitting posture which would help prevent back pain associated with sitting for long period.
19 models of the swivel chairs, with price ranging from HK$139 to HK$1,039, were examined in the first ever safety test on swivel work chairs jointly conducted by the Consumer Council and the Occupational Safety and Health Council.
Swivel work chairs usually incorporate a gas spring for adjusting the height of the seat. The part that connects the seat to the gas spring should preferably be in one piece and should have smooth edge. Otherwise, upon long period of use, the gas spring might become deformed or its structure affected. Six of the tested samples had room for improvement in this regard.
According to the European standard for office work chair EN1335, all safety test items should be conducted in prescribed sequence on the same sample of each model. 2 samples stood out in the test conducted with reference to EN1335 and passed all the safety test items. The other samples showed different extent of damage during different items of the stringent safety tests which might result in them being assessed as unsuitable for subsequent test items. Highlights of the test include:
Strength of seat and back rest
During the seat and back rest static load test, a force of 1,600 Newton (about 163 kilogram-force) and 560 Newton (about 57 kilogram-force) was slowly exerted on seats and back rests respectively for about 10 seconds for 10 times. 7 samples remained intact after the test. The rest showed different extent of damage during this test or were not tested in this item due to damages resulted in previous test item.
Overturning test
4 samples passed the forward overturning test and 3 of them also passed the sideways overturning test.
Durability
8 samples passed the seat swivel durability test. Among them, 7 also passed the durability test on castor and chair base.
Consumers are advised to consult the October issue of CHOICE (No. 432), and to take note of the following when shopping for swivel chairs:
- Try out different settings to ensure it is comfortable to sit on.
- Some models can be fitted with castors for hard surface floor or carpet floor.
- Some retailers indicate if the models are for household or office use. In general, the latter is more suitable for long period use.
- Check if the chairs are said to be complied with safety standards. Those are usually of better quality.
- Check if there are delivery or assembly charges.
When using swivel chairs, consumers are recommended to:
- Adjust the seat height so that the desk surface is on the same level with elbows when sitting with hands down;
- Keep the back straight, rest against the back rest, or use soft cushion for better support;
- Check the screws on the chair regularly, tighten in case they have come loose;
- Avoid prolonged sitting, take a break or do stretching exercise from time to time.
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