Dennis Henneke

Vogtle Unit 3, one of two Westinghouse AP1000 pressurized water reactors at the Georgia site. (Photo: American Nuclear Society/Dot Schneider) March has put Westinghouse front and center in multiple news stories, from its role in Japan’s investment in U.S. nuclear energy to the economic impact that 10 potential AP1000 reactors could bring to the United States.

June 25, 2024, 6:56AMANS News ANSI/ASME/ANS RA-S-1.2-2024, Severe Accident Progression and Radiological Release (Level 2) PRA Standard for Nuclear Power Plant Applications for Light Water Reactors (LWRs), received the approval of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) on May 31, 2024, and was issued on June 17, 2024. ANSI/ASME/ANS RA-S-1.2-2024 is available in the ANS Online Store.

This standard states requirements for a Level 1 probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) of internal and external hazards while at power for the evaluation of core damage frequency. It also states requirements for a limited Level 2 PRA sufficient to evaluate large early-release frequency. The only hazards explicitly excluded from the scope are accidents resulting from purposeful human-induced security threats (e.g., sabotage, terrorism).