Learn how to configure and manage alarms in AVEVA System Platform to reduce alarm floods, improve operator focus, and align with ISA 18.2 best practices.
Alarms are critical for alerting operators to abnormal conditions. But without proper configuration, they can overwhelm control rooms with alarm floods, causing operators to miss the most important events
AVEVA System Platform provides robust tools to configure, categorize, and rationalize alarms at the template level, ensuring consistency across the application. Combined with OMI dashboards and AVEVA Alarm Adviser, it enables operator-friendly alarm systems that comply with standards such as ISA 18.2
This article shares best practices for alarm management in System Platform.
1. Configure Alarms in Templates, Not Instances
- Define alarms (setpoints, severities, messages) within object templates
- This ensures all instances of the template inherit the same alarm configuration
- Makes it easy to update alarm settings across hundreds of devices by modifying only the template
Best Practice:
- Keep alarms standardized across equipment types
- Avoid defining alarms only at the instance level (leads to inconsistency)
2. Use Alarm Categories and Prioritization
- Group alarms into categories (e.g., Safety, Process, Equipment)
- Assign priorities to reflect severity and required operator response
- Ensure critical alarms stand out from minor events
Example:
- Critical: Boiler pressure high — requires immediate shutdown
- Medium: Motor overload — requires inspection within hours
- Low: Filter maintenance reminder
3. Apply Alarm Shelving, Suppression, and Filters
- Shelving: Temporarily hide alarms during maintenance activities
- Suppression: Prevent nuisance alarms (e.g., disabled equipment)
- Filtering: Allow operators to view only alarms relevant to their area or role
Best Practice:
- Use suppression with conditions (e.g., only active when pump is offline)
- Document operator procedures for shelving vs. suppression
4. Integrate with OMI for Operator Dashboards
- System Platform’s OMI Alarm App provides real-time alarm visualization
- Configure dashboards so operators can filter by area, category, or severity
- Display KPIs such as alarms per hour to measure alarm system performance
Pro Tip: Combine OMI Alarm App with Trend App so operators can correlate alarms with process data quickly
5. Monitor Alarm System Performance
- Track KPIs like:
- Alarms per operator per hour (target <10 steady-state)
- Percentage of alarms acknowledged within response times
- Top 10 nuisance alarms by frequency
- Review performance monthly and refine alarm configurations
Example: A refinery reduced alarm floods from 3,000/hour to fewer than 200/hour by rationalizing templates and applying suppression logic
Effective alarm management keeps operators focused, responsive, and safe. By configuring alarms at the template level, applying prioritization, and leveraging OMI dashboards, System Platform enables ISA 18.2-compliant alarm strategies that reduce floods and improve decision-making.
🚨 Learn alarm management hands-on:
Our System Platform Training gives you practical, instructor-led experience in:
- Configuring alarms within templates and equipment hierarchies.
- Applying alarm categories, priorities, shelving, and suppression.
- Building OMI alarm dashboards for operators.
- Aligning alarm systems with ISA 18.2 best practices.
Register today and gain the skills to design alarm systems that are consistent, scalable, and operator-friendly
