Event detection and notification system for monitoring abnormal conditions and compliance

Modules → Alarms | Tutorial | How-to Guide | Reference

Alarms Module Overview

Provides the critical event detection and notification layer for FrameworX solutions, enabling operators to respond quickly to abnormal conditions and maintain safe, efficient operations. 

Understanding Alarms in Automation

Industrial processes require continuous monitoring to detect deviations from normal operation. The Alarms Module bridges the gap between raw sensor data and actionable operator responses by:

  • Condition Monitoring - Detect when process values exceed safe or optimal ranges
  • Event Notification - Alert operators through multiple channels
  • State Management - Track alarm lifecycle from detection to resolution
  • Compliance Recording - Maintain audit trails for regulatory requirements

Key Concepts

  • AlarmItem: Individual condition monitored for alarm generation based on tag values and defined limits
  • AlarmGroup: Collection of alarm items sharing common acknowledgment, notification, and logging behaviors
  • AlarmArea: Hierarchical organization structure for grouping alarms by location or function
  • AuditTrail: Chronological record of system events, operator actions, and alarm occurrences for compliance

What It Does

The Alarms Module provides comprehensive alarm management through:

  • Real-Time Evaluation - Continuously monitor tag values against configured conditions
  • Intelligent Notification - Multi-channel alerts via sound, visual, email, SMS, or custom methods
  • Acknowledgment Workflow - Require operator confirmation of critical alarms
  • Hierarchical Organization - Group alarms by area, system, or responsibility
  • Historical Logging - Record all alarm events for analysis and compliance
  • Deadband Management - Prevent alarm flooding through time and value hysteresis
  • Shift-Based Limits - Different alarm thresholds for different operational periods

Configuration Workflow

StepActionDescription
Create AlarmItemsDefine conditionsSpecify tags and limits to monitor
Configure AlarmGroupsSet behaviorsDefine acknowledgment and notification
Build AlarmAreasCreate hierarchyOrganize by plant structure
Set Global SettingsSystem configurationDatabase and audit trail setup

Runtime Behavior

Alarm States

The module manages alarms through defined state transitions:

  • Normal - No alarm condition exists
  • Active - Condition detected, awaiting acknowledgment
  • Acknowledged - Operator confirmed awareness
  • Normalized - Condition cleared, awaiting final acknowledgment

Notification Methods

Alarms trigger notifications based on group configuration:

  • Visual indicators on operator displays
  • Audible alerts with configurable sounds
  • Email and SMS through script integration
  • External system interfaces via custom methods

Performance Management

Built-in features prevent alarm system overload:

  • Deadbands prevent rapid re-triggering
  • Priority levels highlight critical conditions
  • Area filtering focuses operator attention
  • Acknowledgment requirements ensure awareness

Feature Highlights

  • Pre-Defined Groups - Critical, Warning, and AuditTrail groups ready to use

  • FDA Compliance - 21 CFR Part 11 audit trail capabilities

  • Flexible Database - Support for SQLite, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, and more. 10.1.5 improves reliability of offline buffering so alarm DB writes are reliably preserved through outages and forwarded when connectivity is restored.

  • Runtime Control - Start, stop, pause alarm evaluation dynamically

  • Display Integration - AlarmViewer, AlarmArea, and the new Alarm Linear Gauge control for HMI

  • Script Integration - Custom notification methods via Script Classes

  • Distributed Architecture - Alarms evaluated centrally, viewed anywhere

  • Localization Support - Multi-language alarm messages and displays

Explanation - to understand concepts

→ Modules / Industrial Operations / Alarms Module

Tutorials - to learn by doing

→ Tutorials / Industrial Operations / Alarms Module Tutorial

How-to Guides - to accomplish specific tasks

→ How-to Guides / Industrial Operations / Alarms Module How-to Guide

→ How-to Guides / Standard Compliance / FDA-21 CFR 11 Compliance

Reference - technical details

→ Technical Reference / Platform Modules / Alarms Module Reference


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