The workstation alarm threshold determines what priority of alarms are shown in the alarm banner and sound the horns. The UserSettings.grf file contains one setting each for process alarms, device alarms, hardware alarms, as well as one setting each for SIS process, SIS device, and SIS hardware alarms.
By default, workstations are defined to show and annunciate all (priorities 4 -15) process alarms, SIS process alarms, and SIS hardware alarms. By default, workstations are defined to show and annunciate a subset (priorities 8 - 15) of hardware alarms, device alarms, and SIS device alarms.
This means that hardware, device and SIS device alarms with priorities below 8 will not be shown in the alarm banner and will not sound the horn. These alarm defaults were selected because many low priority alarms do not represent a potential impact on the process and are primarily intended for maintenance personal. However, these alarms are still visible to the operator in the Alarm Summary display, in user-defined graphics and in the Event Chronicle.
The default alarm threshold setting may be modified for one or more workstations in the UserSettings.grf file. The workstation variables used for alarm thresholds are
frsVariables.gn_ProcessAlarmThreshold.CurrentValue
frsVariables.gn_DeviceAlarmThreshold.CurrentValue
frsVariables.gn_HardwareAlarmThreshold.CurrentValue
frsVariables.gn_SISProcessAlarmThreshold.CurrentValue
frsVariables.gn_SISDeviceAlarmThreshold.CurrentValue
frsVariables.gn_SISHardwareAlarmThreshold.CurrentValue
These variables can also be changed dynamically while in run mode. For example a button can be configured to modify the alarm banner to only show and annunciate process alarms of priorities above 12, for use during an upset.
You can customize the priority of the alarms displayed in the alarm banner by adjusting the Alarm Threshold values in the UserSettings.grf file. The default settings display all process alarms, all hardware alarms, HART, and fieldbus device alarms of priority eight (8) and above. This means that the highest priority alarm, whether hardware, process or device would occupy the leftmost position in the alarm banner. Node status is shown in the lower right corner of the alarm banner.
Hardware alarms default to enabled on newly created nodes. Node status is unaffected by the enabling or disabling of hardware alarms.
The node status section of the alarm banner shows the highest priority hardware problem based on node integrity. You can use the alarmban_HAC.grf file if you want to replace the node status section of the alarm banner with the highest priority hardware problem based on hardware alarms. To remove hardware alarms from the highest priority alarms shown in the alarm banner, adjust the Alarm Threshold values in the UserSettings.grf file such that the hardware alarm threshold is set to 10. The highest priority hardware problem based on hardware alarms is still shown on the lower right corner of the alarm banner.
DeltaV-installed layout files already use the _HAC alarm banners on primary monitors, with the exception of the operator keyboard layout files. To use the alarmban_HAC.grf picture for your operator keyboard alarm banners, set the default initialized alarm banner in the UserSettings.grf or a Layout file. Instructions for editing the UserSettings.grf and Layout file to customize the DeltaV Operate environment. for additional information.
