Abstract: Studs projecting downwardly from the decking carrying a battery of underjet coke ovens, all received in recesses in support walls which extend only in a parallel direction to the heating walls for the over chambers. Dampers are provided between the studs and the vertical surfaces of the recesses in the support walls for absorbing forces such as those developed during earthquakes which act parallel to the heating walls of the coking chambers. Strip members project downwardly from the decking along the sides of the support walls. Dampers are interposed between the strip members and support walls to absorb forces acting in a direction normal to the longitudinal heating walls of the coking chambers. The decking includes individual decking portions with adjoining boundary surfaces having interlocking projections.