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The quality of smart toilet products still needs improvement

2016-01-28View Original

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Recently, the **General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine released the ‘Notice on the Supervisory Sampling Inspection of the Quality of 3 Types of Water-Saving Products in 2015, including Ceramic-Plate-Sealed Faucets’, issued by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, the Ministry of Water Resources, and the National Water Conservation Office’ (Guo Jian Zhi Jian Lian [2015] No. 622). The quality issues related to smart toilets have drawn widespread attention from the public. According to the notification: In 2015, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, in conjunction with the Ministry of Water Resources and the National Water Conservation Office, carried out **supervisory spot checks on toilets. A total of 97 batches of products manufactured by 97 enterprises in 15 provinces (municipalities) were inspected, including 52 types of ordinary toilets, 25 types of integrated smart toilets, and 20 types of separate toilet cleaners (electronic toilet seats). Upon inspection, 18 batches of products manufactured by 18 companies did not meet the standard requirements, with a pass rate for the products sampled at 81.4%. The substandard products identified through random inspections were all smart toilet models, with quality issues mainly focusing on heat and flame resistance, technical requirements for safe water levels, and the safe water level of the water tank. In addition, there are also issues with grounding measures, input power and current, heat generation, and solid emission functions. Specifically: First, the flame resistance of the seat ring in smart toilet products does not meet the standard requirements. Heat resistance and flame resistance are mandatory requirements under electrical safety standards. If the non-metallic materials used in electrical products do not meet these requirements for heat and flame resistance, accidents such as smoking or fires may occur when the product malfunctions or is overloaded, posing a direct threat to the safety of users. Among the 45 batches of smart toilet seats sampled this time, 17 batches failed the flammability test for their seat material; the main reason was that the manufacturers did not add flame retardants during the production of these seat materials, or added insufficient amounts of such agents. Secondly, the technical requirements for the safe water level of intelligent toilets and the safe water level of their water tanks do not meet the standard specifications. The technical requirements for the safe water level, as well as the safe water level of the tank, refer to the safe range between five specific water levels: the effective operating level, the overflow level, the critical level, the excess water level, and the lowest level at the unsealed openings, once the tank components are installed inside the tank. Failure to meet these requirements may lead to cross-contamination of the water in the tank with the water in the supply pipes during use of the toilet, or it may cause water to leak out of the toilet’s tank. The random inspections revealed that the technical requirements regarding the safe water level for 4 batches of products did not meet the standard specifications, and the safe water level in the tanks of 6 batches of products was also not in compliance with the standards. The main reason for this was that the manufacturing companies failed to carry out quality control and testing of the products in accordance with the standard requirements. Third, the grounding measures for intelligent toilet products do not meet the standard requirements. The grounding measures for smart toilet products are mandatory requirements under electrical safety standards; they represent safety techniques designed to prevent indirect electric shock. Failure to meet these requirements can lead to electric shock accidents. Among the 45 batches of smart toilet products inspected this time, 3 batches were found to have grounding measures that did not meet the requirements. Fourth, the input power deviation of smart toilet products does not meet the standard requirements. The standard requires that the input power deviation of combined appliances be limited to between -10% and +5%. Among the 45 batches of smart toilet products inspected this time, 3 batches were found to have input power deviations that did not meet the requirements; in all cases, the negative deviation in input power was too large, exceeding the specified lower limit of -10%. The main reason for this was that the manufacturers conducted inaccurate tests on the input power of their products, resulting in nominal values that were higher than the actual values. Fifth, the heating performance of smart toilet products does not meet the standard requirements. The standards require that the temperature of the hot air used for drying the body should not exceed 40°C, and the temperature of the warm air should not exceed 65°C; excessive temperatures can cause harm to the user. Among the 45 batches of smart toilet products inspected this time, 1 batch was found to have a heating temperature that did not meet the requirements. Sixth, the solid waste discharge function of intelligent toilets does not meet the standard requirements. The solid discharge capacity is an important indicator reflecting the sewage disposal ability of a toilet; if this parameter does not meet the requirements, it can easily lead to clogging of the toilet. The random inspection revealed that one batch of products failed the solid waste discharge test; the main reason was an unreasonable design of the toilet pipes and drainage outlets, resulting in poor siphoning or flushing performance of the products. Experts from PONY Purnell Testing Group, who specialize in electrical and electronic testing, would like to remind consumers to pay attention to the following points when purchasing smart toilet seats: Different brands belong to different manufacturers, and these manufacturers have varying levels of technical expertise as well as different degrees of control over the production processes. Generally, small manufacturers produce products with unstable quality and inadequate technology, which often leads to issues such as water leakage from the water tank and nozzles, as well as damage to the main control board and operation panel. Therefore, when choosing a toilet seat, give priority to products manufactured by well-known brand manufacturers.   The nozzles vary significantly in structure and material; the detachable nano-silver ion sterilizing nozzle ensures better hygiene and safety. It also depends on the way water is ejected from the nozzle; professional smart toilets usually use a bubble-shaped water jet, which enables a cleaner cleaning.  If the water quality is poor, using only the built-in filter in a filtration device will not be able to eliminate bacteria; it can only remove impurities, and over time the filter pores will become clogged. Reputable brands of smart toilets install an additional external ultrafiltration filter on top of the built-in filters, in order to ensure consumers’ hygiene and reduce the risk of infections.  Pay attention to the size of the toilet seat when choosing a smart toilet seat. It is essential to consider the size of the toilet; when the toilet and the smart toilet seat are not from the same brand, the smart toilet seat must match the size of the toilet in the consumer’s home. It is best to have dedicated power supplies and water supply systems for the toilet. A smart toilet requires a three-prong power plug, so when purchasing one, it is important to take into account the existing power infrastructure in your home. It is best to have a dedicated three-prong power supply to power it. At the same time, a smart toilet requires a tap water pipe to enable flushing, whereas ordinary toilets use recycled water for flushing. Therefore, if you want to use a smart toilet, it is best to leave a water pipe for clean water beside the toilet.  Replace parts on time: Different smart toilet seats come with varying warranty periods, and consumers should consult sales staff when making a purchase regarding the lifespan of the circuit board. Parts must be replaced promptly once this lifespan is reached, to prevent the smart toilet seat from being used beyond its intended limits and thus compromising safety.

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