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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!
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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.
Ernie Kee, John Hasenbein, Alex Zolan, Phil Grissom, Seyed Reihani, Zahra Mohaghegh, Fatma Yilmaz, Bruce Letellier, Vera Moiseytseva, Rodolfo Vaghetto, David Imbaratto, Tatsuya Sakurahara
Nuclear Technology | Volume 196 | Number 2 | November 2016 | Pages 270-291
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NT16-34
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
An approach is described that would use test data to evaluate the risk associated with the concerns raised in Generic Safety Issue 191 (GSI-191). The relationship to the elements of quantitative risk-informed regulation for addressing the concerns raised in GSI-191 in pressurized water reactor (PWR) plant licensing is described. Use of experimental data from a deterministic sump performance test to establish scenario success for tested debris loads is summarized and compared to the licensing requirements in the regulations. Generation and transport of debris to the emergency core cooling system sump from a loss-of-coolant accident is described, and data are shown for a particular PWR. Application of the analysis results to a license amendment for an operating PWR is summarized.
