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Alarms → Tutorial | Concept | How-to Guide | FDA 21 CRF 11 | Reference

Step 1: Configure Alarm Groups

1. Navigate to Alarms → Groups
2. Edit the groups:

• Priority: 1
• Acknowledgment: Required

• Priority: 3
• Acknowledgment: not required 

1. Verify pre-defined groups exist:

Modify Critical group:

• • Open the ComboBox Sound field
  • Select Exclamation
  • Press Enter

Step 2: Create Alarm Items

1. Go to Alarms → Items
2. Create alarmsAdd high temperature alarm:

Configure Deviation Alarms

For rate-of-change monitoring:

• Name: Pressure_Deviation
• Type: Deviation
• Tag: Line_Pressure
• Setpoint Tag: Pressure_Setpoint
• Deviation: ±10
• Time: 60 seconds

 Audit Trail

1. Go to Alarms → Audit Trail
2. Enable logging:

• • Login/Logout: Yes
  • Tag Changes: Yes
  • Alarm Acknowledgments: Yes
  • Configuration Changes: Yes

Alarm Summary Display

1. Go To Displays → List
2. Create operator display

• Displays → New
  • Add AlarmViewer control
  • Configure:
  • Show: Active alarms
  • Columns: Time, Area, Message, Value

Test Alarms

1. Add low level alarm:

Step 3: Configure Alarm Areas

1. Navigate to Alarms → Areas
2. Create hierarchy:

• Plant
  • Production
    • Tank1
    • Tank2
  • Utilities

1. Assign alarms to areas:
   • Return to Alarms → Items
   • Set Area = Plant.Production.Tank1 for both alarms

Step 4: Enable Audit Trail

1. Go to Alarms → Global Settings
2. In Audit Trail section:
   • Check Enable Audit Trail
   • Enable options:
     • User Logon/Logoff
     • Tag Changes
     • Operator Actions
     • Custom Messages
3. Configure database retention:
   • Life Time: 2555 days (7 years for FDA compliance)

Step 5: Create Alarm Display

1. Navigate to Displays → New
2. Name: AlarmMonitor
3. Add AlarmViewer control from toolbox
4. Configure properties:
   • List: OnlineAlarms
   • ShowAcknowledged: False
   • Columns: Time, TagName, Message, Value, Group
5. Add AlarmArea control for navigation
6. Save display

Step 6: Test Alarms

1. Start Runtime (Runtime → Startup)
2. Open Runtime → Online Alarms
3. Simulate alarm conditions:

csharp

// In Script Task or Watch Window
@Tag.Tank1_Temp = 90;  // Triggers high temp
@Tag.Tank1_Level = 15; // Triggers low level

1. Verify in AlarmViewer:
   • Critical alarm shows red
   • Warning shows yellow
   • Sound plays for Critical
   • Acknowledge required for Critical
2. Test acknowledgment:
   • Right-click Critical alarm
   • Select Acknowledge
   • Verify state change

Step 7: Verify Audit Trail

1. Change AlarmViewer List to AuditTrail
2. Verify logged events:
   • User login
   • Alarm triggers
   • Acknowledgments
   • Tag changes
3. Add custom message via script:

csharp

@Alarm.GlobalSettings.AuditTrail.AddCustomMessage(
    "Tutorial test completed by " + @Client.UserName
);

Next Steps

• [Configure Email Notifications] - Set up SMTP
• [Create Alarm Reports] - Historical analysis
• [FDA Compliance Setup] - Full 21 CFR Part 11

Step-by-step guide to configure alarm groups, conditions, notifications, and audit trail for operational monitoring and FDA compliance.

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