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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.
The ANS Standards Board (SB) has established the Risk-informed, Performance-based Principles and Policy Committee (RP3C) as a committee that reports directly to the SB. The RP3C is responsible for the identification and oversight of the development and implementation of RIPB approaches in ANS standards. Activities for training and knowledge sharing of RIPB principles and practices are part of the scope. The RP3C Community of Practice (CoP) is one of the more successful ongoing training activities. These principles are applicable to standards that address the design, construction, operation, evaluation and analysis, decontamination and decommissioning, waste management, and environmental restoration for nuclear facilities. The RP3C is not authorized to develop consensus standards or other similar products.
Chair:Steven Krahn, Ph.D. Vanderbilt University
Vice Chair:Brandon Chisholm, Ph.D. Southern Company
Last modified June 24, 2025, 4:04pm CDT