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
Accelerator Applications
The division was organized to promote the advancement of knowledge of the use of particle accelerator technologies for nuclear and other applications. It focuses on production of neutrons and other particles, utilization of these particles for scientific or industrial purposes, such as the production or destruction of radionuclides significant to energy, medicine, defense or other endeavors, as well as imaging and diagnostics.
Meeting Spotlight
Utility Working Conference and Vendor Technology Expo (UWC 2024)
August 4–7, 2024
Marco Island, FL|JW Marriott Marco Island
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 2024
Jan 2024
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
September 2024
Nuclear Technology
August 2024
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Taking shape: Fusion energy ecosystems built with public-private partnerships
It’s possible to describe fusion in simple terms: heat and squeeze small atoms to get abundant clean energy. But there’s nothing simple about getting fusion ready for the grid.
Private developers, national lab and university researchers, suppliers, and end users working toward that goal are developing a range of complex technologies to reach fusion temperatures and pressures, confounded by science and technology gaps linked to plasma behavior; materials, diagnostics, and electronics for extreme environments; fuel cycle sustainability; and economics.
Formed in 1957, the ANS Standards Committee has been active in the development of industry standards ever since. All ANS standards receive dual 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 nearly 150 different standards, and numerous versions of many of those. At present ANS has more than 80 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 April 8, 2020, 7:42am CDT