The past two columns have discussed building automation system (BAS) alarm saturation. Building operators are often inundated with too many alarms. This results in alarms being ignored, critical ones not identified and addressed in a timely manner, and even decision paralysis. Many of these alarms are unnecessary and are commonly referred to as “nuisance alarms.” One of the reasons for the quantity of nuisance alarms experienced is a lack of alarm suppression; that is the suppression of an alarm in instances when the alarm condition is expected to be experienced.
Below are some common examples of when alarm suppression should be considered. They are listed in order of increasing complexity and may not all be appropriate for every project.