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.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
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!
Latest Magazine Issues
Jul 2025
Jan 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
September 2025
Nuclear Technology
August 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
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 Joint Committee on Nuclear Risk Management (JCNRM) is responsible for the preparation and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards, standards-related guidance documents, guidance standards, and technical reports that support the application of risk-informed approaches. These efforts address currently operating and future nuclear power plants and other types of reactors, as well as the transport, storage, handling, and processing of new and used nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. The JCNRM may also support other consensus committees of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and other standards-developing organizations (SDOs), by reviewing and commenting on risk-related aspects of standards, guidance documents, and other documents prepared by those organizations, at their request.
Activities of the consensus committee shall be guided by the Procedures for ASME Codes and Standards Development Committees but shall also meet the intent of ANS Standards Committee Procedures Manual for Consensus Committees unless specifically authorized by the ANS Standards Board.
The JCNRM oversees the following 4 subcommittees:
Volunteer placement is managed by ASME. Individuals interested in JCNRM standards projects may contact Standards for information.
JCNRM Organizational Chart
JCNRM Schedule Milestone Plan
JCNRM Operating Guide (2023)
Last modified July 9, 2025, 4:00pm CDT
