An investigation has revealed that 4 out of 10 bidets manufactured in China lack or have poor flame retardant agents, and could cause burns to a user’s bottom. (Image : Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan.20 (Korea Bizwire) – An investigation has revealed that 4 out of 10 bidets manufactured in China lack or have poor flame retardant agents, and could cause burns to a user’s bottom.
According to the China Economic Daily, the government investigated bidets from 45 companies manufactured in 15 cities, and discovered that 40 percent of the devices lacked or had poor flame retardant agents, leading to burn risks when overloaded.
Flame retardants are substances added to non-metal ingredients to suppress the expansion of combustion.
Chinese tourists aware of the problem have been purchasing bidets in Japan, clearing the store shelves clean. Chinese tourists buying two or three bidets have been spotted at duty free stores in Akihabara. Ironically, the bidets were actually manufactured in China.
Some might argue that Chinese products are not very different from other foreign products, but authorities announced that problems related to heat resistance were found on many bidet products, saying that the businesses might not be aware of demands on heat resistance or are ignoring them to cut costs.
Fires caused by bidets are increasingly frequent, with major blazes reported in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 resulting in significant property damage.
Industry officials comment that there might be other factors contributing to the fires, but acknowledge that manufacturers are neglecting product inspection due to the costs.
In the meantime, bidets are a very popular item in China, with sales increasing between 20 and 30 percent year-over-year.
By Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
