Nuclear Consulting

Bring Us Your Toughest Challenges

Insights That Power Results

With decades of experience and deep expertise navigating complex regulatory frameworks in high-risk industries, Exponent delivers the clarity you need to address critical challenges when outcomes are essential for the safety of our communities, human health, and the environment.

Nuclear consulting services for nuclear reactors, including small modular nuclear reactors

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HOW WE HELP CLIENTS

Meet complex compliance requirements

Given the profound implications for public safety and environmental stewardship, the design, construction, and operation of nuclear power plants attract intense regulatory scrutiny. Exponent helps developers of the next generation of nuclear plants balance efficiency and commercial viability with rigorous safety standards and regulatory compliance — and avoid costly delays, enforcement actions, and lasting reputational damage.

Safeguard assets and investments

To streamline cooperation between stakeholders, the industry has turned to a risk-informed, performance-based (RIPB) framework, enabling developers and regulators to address crucial risks — including fire, earthquake, flood, and cyberattack — in plant design and construction. The framework supports the engineering and construction of robust, resilient nuclear facilities, equipping them to operate safely and reliably amid a range of complex hazards. Our scientists and engineers draw on decades of risk assessments and failure analyses to inform safer designs and reduce regulatory surprises — protecting assets and investments across the value chain.

Turn risk into reliability

As small modular reactors and microreactors rapidly transform the nuclear landscape, organizations are navigating a fundamentally new technical and regulatory environment where prior playbooks no longer apply. With our unparalleled multidisciplinary depth, regulatory insight, and technical evaluations, we enable clients to bring high-tech, innovative energy solutions to market efficiently — without compromising safety — to advance nuclear power as a clean, reliable alternative to fossil fuels.

Capabilities

Regulatory uncertainty can delay or derail nuclear projects. Exponent supports NRC, DOE, and international RIPB requirements, enabling clients to develop robust engineering strategies fully aligned with regulatory frameworks. We assist with all aspects of licensing — including initial applications and renewals — through probabilistic risk assessments, conducting seismic and fire protection evaluations, and delivering independent technical reviews to support compliance and safety. Our active leadership in standards development gives you practical insight into how requirements are applied, reducing the risk of late-stage redesign, regulatory, and approval delays.
Early project decisions — particularly around siting — are among the most consequential a nuclear developer will make; Exponent positions you to get it right. We support siting evaluations, including risk assessments from ground failures due to earthquakes, floods, and human-induced events, alongside RIPB-based feasibility assessments and constructability reviews. Working with asset owners, EPCs, and contractors, we also provide construction strategy support, schedule and cost analysis, independent technical oversight, and decommissioning planning — as well as delay and damages analysis when disputes arise.
Advanced reactor designs demand engineering that goes well beyond prescriptive codes — and Exponent's breadth and depth of expertise is a genuine differentiator. Our teams work across reactor physics, thermal-hydraulics, and fuel cycle management; piping, civil, and structural engineering with ASME code compliance; control and instrumentation systems, including cybersecurity and AI integration; and fire protection engineering — integrating each discipline into analyses that are technically defensible and built to withstand the most rigorous regulatory scrutiny.
Operational disruptions and outages carry serious safety, financial, and regulatory implications. Exponent gives you the tools to manage them with precision. We support outage planning, schedule optimization, and technical oversight during maintenance and life-extension efforts, along with radiation protection and ALARA-focused evaluations and root-cause investigations. When disputes arise from outages or construction activities, we deliver objective analysis of delays, cost overruns, and productivity impacts, supporting you in resolving complex technical and commercial claims.

Our Capabilities Are Unparalleled

With 50+ years of experience in the energy and nuclear power sectors, Exponent helps developers, owners, and operators navigate complex engineering, licensing, construction, regulatory, and operational challenges — including dispute resolution and litigation support — with clarity and credibility.

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What are best practices for nuclear outage planning and minimizing operational disruptions?

Outage planning is critical for ensuring both operational efficiency and safety in nuclear facilities. Teams of experts draw upon historical performance data, advanced scheduling software, and risk assessments to develop tailored strategies. During outages, technical oversight helps address unforeseen challenges and optimize workflow. This comprehensive approach allows operators to anticipate bottlenecks, deploy resources appropriately, and maintain productivity, all while reducing downtime and safeguarding personnel and equipment.

What strategies are effective for managing disputes related to delays or cost overruns?

Disputes arising from delays or cost overruns in nuclear projects often require rigorous technical assessment to establish causality and liability. Skilled engineers conduct root-cause investigations, analyze project schedules, and evaluate productivity impacts. They objectively present findings through clear documentation and expert testimony, helping parties understand contributing factors and potential resolutions. This methodology facilitates fair outcomes, supporting negotiation, litigation, and international arbitration processes with reliable, fact-based insights.

How can cybersecurity risks in control and instrumentation systems be mitigated?

With the increasing digitization of nuclear facility controls, cybersecurity is now a central concern. Exponent's multidisciplinary teams assess vulnerabilities — both physical and digital — within instrumentation systems. Our teams support layered security measures, such as network segmentation, encryption, and real-time monitoring, to detect and deter threats. By establishing robust compliance frameworks and conducting ongoing risk assessments, our engineers help you protect critical operations from cyberattacks and ensure systems remain resilient against emerging threats.

Experts

Our global and comprehensive expertise across industries gives us a deep understanding of current challenges, best industry practices, and the implications of emerging technologies.