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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 American Nuclear Society (ANS) Standards Board shall be responsible for policy and procedural direction for the standards activities of the Society. The Standards Board oversees the activities of the Standards Committee. The Standards Committee is a historical term that is used to identify professionals who participate in various committees allocated by the Standards Board. The Standards Committee does not conduct itself as a committee. It does not meet nor act as a single body. It is simply a collection of qualified volunteers who participate in the development and maintenance of ANS consensus standards and related documents.
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. The scope includes the development and maintenance of standards on the following subjects and closely related activities:
The Standards Committee does not develop standards for the application of radiation for medical purposes. The Standards Committee may review standards being developed or issued by other organizations on related topics to help ensure consistency and completeness and to avoid duplication. Standards developed by the Standards Committee are intended to be issued as American National Standards.
Last modified July 17, 2025, 11:19am CDT