Investigation of non-standard appliance use instructions: soft quality can not be ignored

Right now it is hot and stuffy and hot days, the people can not help but enjoy a variety of appliances. Recently, the reporter visited Beijing’s Gome and Suning appliances markets and found that refrigerators, air conditioners, ice-cooled fans, and water heaters were selling hot. Consumers in the purchase of home appliances, in addition to the price, brand, often only pay attention to the appearance of the appliance, power and material, in fact, the use of instructions as home appliances, "soft quality", the same can not be ignored.

National standard:

Deciding on the "soft quality" of electrical products

Nameplates, packaging, and operating instructions are called "soft quality" of household appliances. They directly affect the purchase and safe use of consumers. Unclear or inaccurate indications not only mislead consumers, but can even lead to serious accidents that endanger consumers' lives, property, and the environment.

The National Compulsory Standard GB 5296.2-2008 "Consumer Products Instructions for Use - Part 2 : Household and Similar Electrical Appliances" (hereinafter referred to as the "Declaration Standard") is the main basis and guideline for the current instruction of domestic appliance manufacturers in the preparation of consumer product use instructions. The specification, contents, forms, basic requirements for preparation, and durability requirements of the instructions regulate the standards for the use of household appliances.

“Declaration Standard” stipulates that the instructions for use are part of the delivery product, all electrical products must provide corresponding instructions for use, and that the instructions for use should be able to describe the characteristics of the product in a real way, without exaggeration and false content. The “explanatory standard” also stipulates that “safety warnings” should be used when improper use of the product is likely to cause damage to the product itself or may endanger the safety of people and property. Instructions for use form include: imprinting, pasting, permanent fixing and printing. The basic requirements for the preparation include: The use of standardized Chinese characters must be used; safety warnings should be particularly eye-catching, and bold typefaces should be adopted. Safety warnings such as “danger”, “warning” and “attention” should be significantly larger than the text. Durability requirements include: The text, logo, and graphic symbols of the instructions for use should be clear and eye-catching throughout the life of the product, and be firm and not easily detached.

Reporter survey:

There are many problems with "use instructions"

Recently, in accordance with some provisions of the national standards, the reporter visited Beijing Guomei, Suning and Other electrical appliances markets. He looked at nameplates, packaging, and operating instructions for hundreds of household appliances. He found that many electrical appliances had inconspicuous nameplates and incomplete packaging information. And the instructions are not standardized.

The reporters found that the Ariston AB50SH1.5 water heater sold by Gome, the product nameplate and the standard requirements do not match, for example: the nameplate itself is only a simple paper printing labels, in the bathroom in high temperature and humidity environment is very easy to aging, shedding , it is difficult to meet the durability requirements; and the water heater's "attention" (warning label) is located in the back of the body, it is difficult to see, will not be warning effect.

The reporter also discovered an electric pressure cooker named Supor. The top of the pot was marked with safety instructions: “The steam outlet is very hot when it is exhausted. Do not touch it with your hands. Do not put the rag on the steam port during use so as to avoid causing Cover deformation." However, this warning is marked as a plastic material, and it is very easy to deform and fall off under high temperature conditions. It is also not durable. On the other hand, the typeface is marked with a font and does not meet the requirements of the “Safety Warning” in “Declaration Standard”.

"Description standards" seem simple for the product name requirements, but in fact many products have made mistakes in this regard, such as refrigerators should be marked as refrigerator, freezer or refrigerator freezer; electric baking pan should be marked as Cooking utensils or electric range. The reporter discovered a Liren electric baking pan in Beijing Carrefour supermarket and did not label it as a cooking appliance according to this standard, but only the “Lee Ren electric baking pan” brand logo.

The lack of content in the instructions for use is also very common. In the investigation, the reporter found that: the vanguard cooling fan product only has energy efficiency label (including the manufacturer and model content), lacks safety instructions and production date, etc.; the DHS electric kettle and Liren brand electric kettle are not marked as required. Product gross weight; there are some product instructions that do not have product maintenance and maintenance instructions.

The “declaration standard” put forward specific requirements on the preparation of the usage instructions. For example, the color of the safety warning should be eye-catching and the font should be bold. The size of the type should meet the requirements of GB 5296.1-2005. However, the reporter found during the visit: 9 Yang Soymilk's safety warning sign at the bottom of the body, font size and other words are not significantly different, not easy to identify; and a 9 Yang electric hot water cup warning label "forbidden to enter any liquid, use When the power supply is cut off, it is also located at the bottom of the unit. The font size is approximately the size of the small 6th body, which is inconsistent with the requirements of the black body and the fifth character above. It also conceals hidden dangers for safe use.

In addition to the above problems, the reporter also found that: In the packaging of some commodities, brand, model, power, size, weight and other information are written in English, there is no corresponding Chinese content, which does not meet the "standard of interpretation" Chinese and foreign languages ​​must be simultaneously with Chinese The rules of use.

Reporter's reflection

Hard and soft, with good quality

Zhu Yan, director of the Standardization Division of the China Household Electrical Appliances Research Institute, said in an interview with reporters that the instructions for use are part of the product and are inseparable, and are necessary documents for any consumer product to enter the market. The use description as a product of "soft quality" has a direct impact on consumers' purchase and safe use. The role cannot be ignored.

While improving the "hard power" of product functions, scientific and technological content, home appliance companies should also pay attention to "soft quality" such as usage instructions directly linked to consumer use. A good "use statement" can help consumers to better understand, use, and conserve home appliances, so that the functions of home appliances can be more fully and safely played, and the stability and permanence of product quality can be maintained, and the added value of products can be improved. Avoid all kinds of dangers and damages caused by improper operation or lack of maintenance. In addition, making a fuss about "soft quality" can also increase the value of products and brand appeal.

If "hardware" is the basis of product quality, then the instructions for use are the guarantee of product quality. Only by doing “soft”, “hard” and minor repairs can companies make truly high-quality products.