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
Fusion Energy
This division promotes the development and timely introduction of fusion energy as a sustainable energy source with favorable economic, environmental, and safety attributes. The division cooperates with other organizations on common issues of multidisciplinary fusion science and technology, conducts professional meetings, and disseminates technical information in support of these goals. Members focus on the assessment and resolution of critical developmental issues for practical fusion energy applications.
Meeting Spotlight
Conference on Nuclear Training and Education: A Biennial International Forum (CONTE 2023)
February 6–9, 2023
Amelia Island, FL|Omni Amelia Island Resort
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
Feb 2023
Jul 2022
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
March 2023
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
February 2023
Latest News
Savannah River facility prepped for NNSA project
Work has begun to prepare the Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility (SRPPF) at the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site in South Carolina for its future national security mission: the manufacturing of plutonium pits for the National Nuclear Security Administration.
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