Forensic Engineering Analysis of Common Failures and Inspection Procedures for Residential and Commercial Chairs
By Anthony Sasso, PE
Abstract
Chairs have been designed, manufactured, and used by humans for thousands of years. Eventually, all chairs wear out and fail. When someone is injured due to this faliure, costly litigation can ensue. Forensic engineers are consulted to investigate the root cause of faliure, and whether the mechanism of faliure could have been detected prior to the accident to avoid injury. Materials used in chair manufacturing and several examples of failures are discussed in this paper. Industry safety standards and manufacturers' guidelines are used as a basis for a proposed inspection and maintenance program for chair owners.