THE EFFECT OF NUCLEAR STANDARDS ON THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY

To date, the effect of existing nuclear standards on the nuclear industry has been quite limited. Until the regulatory and licensing agencies include such standards in their licensing and construction agreements, it is probable that only minimum use will be made of them. It is estimated that 3000 to 5000 engineering and quality standards are needed in the construction and operation of a typical nuclear reactor. Only about 100 of these standards have been approved by recognized nuclear standards groups, which are composed of volunteers from technical and professional organizations. Since the work of these groups on standards is supplementary to their normal work load, progress is limited and signs of tangible results are slow to appear. Meanwhile, the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission has allotted -funds from the Division of Reactor Development and Technology's annual budget to develop reactor standards that will provide nuclear power reactors in the United States with the safeguards required to ensure the protection of the health and safety of the public. Thus the Commission, recognizing the limited availability of standards written particularly for the nuclear industry, has found it nec- essary to establish a standards program of its own. Significant difficulties are encountered due to the newness of the industry. If need exists, for example, of a standard for chemical processing of irradiated fuels, it is difficult forming a group of interested professionals since there is only one commercial processor in the United States at the present time. The question of need certainly arises. By the time the standard is written, the chemical processor would have already built his plant and begun operation.