ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
Latest Magazine Issues
Jul 2025
Jan 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
September 2025
Nuclear Technology
August 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
The RAIN scale: A good intention that falls short
Radiation protection specialists agree that clear communication of radiation risks remains a vexing challenge that cannot be solved solely by finding new ways to convey technical information.
Earlier this year, an article in Nuclear News described a new radiation risk communication tool, known as the Radiation Index, or, RAIN (“Let it RAIN: A new approach to radiation communication,” NN, Jan. 2025, p. 36). The authors of the article created the RAIN scale to improve radiation risk communication to the general public who are not well-versed in important aspects of radiation exposures, including radiation dose quantities, units, and values; associated health consequences; and the benefits derived from radiation exposures.
Truong V. Vo, Brian W. Smith, Frederic A. Simonen, Steven R. Doctor
Nuclear Technology | Volume 92 | Number 3 | December 1990 | Pages 291-299
Technical Paper | Fission Reactor | doi.org/10.13182/NT90-A16231
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
To provide a technical basis for improved in-service inspection (ISI) plans, Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) has developed and applied a method that uses results of probabilistic risk assessment to establish piping system ISI priorities. In the PNL program, the feasibility of generic ISI guidances is being conducted in two phases. Phase I identifies and prioritizes the systems most relevant to plant safety. These evaluations lead to the development of comprehensive ISI guidances for pressure boundary systems and components that take place in Phase II.