Stacking Chairs May Collapse Causing Serious Injury

MARCH 17, 1993 Release # 93-052 WASHINGTON, DC -- CPSC today is unilaterally warning consumers that certain inexpensive, upholstered, metal framed stacking chairs, manufactured and distributed by Flanders Industries, Inc. of Fort Smith, Arkansas from 1970 until 1985, may collapse during use. Flanders reportedly manufactured and distributed approximately one million of this commonly used type stacking chair prior to 1985. No other Flanders' products are involved in this warning. Flanders has informed CPSC that it has had reports of 26 incidents in which it is alleged that such a chair manufactured by Flanders collapsed. The Commission staff believes that the incidents occurred when the chairs broke in the area where the legs are joined to the frame. The failures reportedly cause the chair to collapse as the seat and leg sections separate. Several of the alleged injuries resulting from such collapse reportedly involve fractured bones and serious injuries to the back. These stacking chairs are inexpensive upholstered vinyl material with metal frames. They may be used by the public in various settings including hotels, offices and restaurants. In most cases, the chairs involved in known incidents of failure were in use for approximately five to 10 years prior to failure and may not have been regularly inspected for metal fatigue or damage which may occur as a result of normal wear and tear or abnormal abuse. Since the users of these chairs are constantly changing, a user will have no advance warning that a chair is defective and about to collapse. Since other manufacturers' stacking chairs may be of similar design and construction, CPSC urges owners of all stacking chairs to inspect the chairs thoroughly on a routine basis. Flanders has informed CPSC that it has evidence of other manufacturers' similar chairs collapsing after extended use and abuse. Moreover, since identification of the manufacturer of a particular chair may be difficult after the chair has been in use