Recently, the Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic of China approved and released the recommended industry standard General Technical Specifications for Bridge Dampers (JT/T 926—2025), which will officially come into effect on April 1, 2026. The standard was led by China Communications Construction National Engineering Research Center for Long and Large Bridges Co., Ltd., with Chengdu Datong Road & Bridge Machinery Co., Ltd. participating as one of the contributing organizations in the revision and related technical work.

The release of this standard marks a new stage of systematization, generalization, and standardization in the field of bridge dampers in China, and is of great significance for improving bridge vibration and seismic mitigation performance as well as enhancing the safety and resilience of bridge structures.

I. Background of the Standard Revision

Since its implementation, the former industry standard Viscous Fluid Dampers for Bridges (JT/T 926—2014) has provided an important technical basis for the engineering application of viscous dampers. In recent years, however, with the development of bridge engineering toward larger spans, more complex environments, and higher durability requirements, vibration (and seismic) mitigation and energy dissipation technologies have advanced rapidly, and damper products have become increasingly diversified. As a result, the original standard has been insufficient to comprehensively cover current industry development needs in terms of its scope of application.

Against this background, the Ministry of Transport organized the present revision, integrating and upgrading the original standard. The scope has been expanded from a single type of viscous damper to general technical specifications applicable to multiple types of bridge dampers, in order to better align with technological progress in the industry.

II. Main Contents of the Standard

General Technical Specifications for Bridge Dampers is a general-purpose technical standard for bridge dampers. It provides unified requirements for damper classification systems, structural configurations, specification and model designation, technical requirements, and test methods, and is applicable to the production and quality inspection of bridge dampers.

Compared with the former Viscous Fluid Dampers for Bridges standard, this revision represents a transition from a single-product standard to a general technical specification. Major additions, extensions, and structural adjustments include:

• Expansion of the applicable scope from viscous fluid dampers to multiple types of bridge damper products;

• Establishment of a damper classification system based on application purpose and working principle;

• Addition of structural forms, commonly used specifications, and model designation methods for different types of dampers;

• Unified general requirements for service performance, environmental adaptability, environmental protection, and design service life;

• Supplementation of performance indices and test methods for eddy current dampers, metallic dampers, friction dampers, built-in dampers, and other products;

• Inclusion of appendices covering mechanical models, connection methods, and installation and maintenance recommendations, thereby strengthening guidance for design and engineering applications;

• In accordance with the principles of compiling a general standard, deletion of inspection rules, marking, packaging and transportation requirements, and certain product-specific test appendices.

These improvements contribute to enhancing the consistency of technical requirements and the applicability of bridge damper products in engineering practice.

III. Company Participation in the Standard Compilation

Datong Road & Bridge Machinery Co., Ltd. has long been engaged in the research, development, and manufacturing of bridge vibration and seismic mitigation equipment, and has accumulated systematic practical experience in damper structural design, manufacturing processes, and engineering applications. As a contributing organization to this standard revision, the company participated in discussions and refinement of certain technical clauses, and provided practical references regarding the engineering applicability of relevant technical requirements.

Through participation in the compilation of this standard, the company has gained a more comprehensive understanding of damper technical index systems, test verification methods, and engineering application requirements, and has further deepened its insight into industry technical specifications and development trends.

IV. Follow-up Work

In response to the implementation of the new standard, the company will further refine its product technical specifications, test verification procedures, and quality control processes in accordance with the standard requirements, ensuring effective alignment between product technical status and the standard. At the same time, based on practical engineering needs, the company will continue to carry out product optimization and reliability improvement efforts, steadily enhancing overall product stability.