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.
Division Spotlight
Isotopes & Radiation
Members are devoted to applying nuclear science and engineering technologies involving isotopes, radiation applications, and associated equipment in scientific research, development, and industrial processes. Their interests lie primarily in education, industrial uses, biology, medicine, and health physics. Division committees include Analytical Applications of Isotopes and Radiation, Biology and Medicine, Radiation Applications, Radiation Sources and Detection, and Thermal Power Sources.
Meeting Spotlight
2024 ANS Winter Conference and Expo
November 17–21, 2024
Orlando, FL|Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld
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
Oct 2024
Jul 2024
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
November 2024
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
New edition of IAEA’s Climate Change and Nuclear Power available
The 2024 edition of Climate Change and Nuclear Power has been released by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The 99-page report focuses on the need for a significant increase in investment to achieve goals for expanding nuclear power.
The report: According to the IAEA, the report delves into the financing of nuclear projects as ambitious climate targets draw nearer. It also explores the imperative for financial frameworks to help nuclear energy become a cornerstone of global decarbonization efforts and highlights the challenges and best practices in financing nuclear projects.
Formed in 1957, the American Nuclear Society (ANS) Standards Committee has been active in the development of industry standards ever since. The Standards Committee is a term that relates to the entire collective group of individuals who participate in standards activities for ANS. The Standards Committee is a historical term that is used to identify professionals who participate in various committees allocated by the ANS 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 Board is the top-level management body of the Standards Committee. It is charged with providing governance, direction, and guidance to all activities in the development and maintenance of ANS consensus standards, related documents and special committees. The Standards Board meetings are conducted as a committee and conform to Roberts Rules of Order. The Standards Board reports directly to the ANS Board of Directors.
ANS standards receive approval from the American National Standards Institute and are thus considered American National Standards. Industry standards are often started to establish safe practices. Once a standard is written and approved, it may influence regulatory guidance. Further, standards developed under voluntary consensus procedures, like those of ANS, often receive wide acceptance in their industry due to the broad representation of experts who worked to create the standard.
ANS standards, as well as the standards of many other organizations and industries, are documents that set forth requirements for the design, manufacture, or operation of a piece of equipment. They can also address computer firmware and software. A standard can address the necessary physical and functional features of equipment, its safe application, or some combination of these. These standards are applied on a voluntary basis. When a standard is adopted by a state or federal agency, then it becomes part of their mandatory code.
Since its start, ANS has written and approved over 150 different standards, and numerous versions of many of those. At present ANS has 90 standards that are current American National Standards and many others that are considered historical standards. These technical documents are written, reviewed, and approved by the army of talented volunteers that support our program. ANS has close to 1000 volunteers who provide their experience and expertise to the various levels of standards committees to see that these important documents are written for the industry's needs.
The various web pages for the standards program should answer your basic questions about this important activity of the American Nuclear Society. But, for any of your questions that remain unanswered, we encourage you to contact standards@ans.org.
Last modified September 11, 2024, 12:13pm CDT