Simplifying building design with fluid viscous dampers by using an ICC-approved prescriptive method.

Fluid Viscous Dampers (FVDs), or simply “dampers,” effectively dissipate seismic energy to reduce steel and foundation costs in new buildings and improve structural resilience, especially for critical facilities. A new building design procedure using dampers has been developed, validated, and published with certification from the International Code Council. This new design procedure opens the door for more damper applications in new steel structures by eliminating the requirements for nonlinear response spectrum analysis and peer review in damped buildings.