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Annunciator Specifications
How To Write a Technical Specification for an Alarm Annunciator
Before writing a specification for an alarm annunciator for a specific application certain technical aspects must be considered. They are as
follows:

1. How many alarms need to be monitored?

2. What is the Voltage of the power source supplying the Annunciator?
3. Are the alarm inputs dry contacts (no voltage) or will they supply a separate Voltage upon alarm?
4. How is the unit to be mounted?
5. How large a display is required? An LED per alarm point or a backlight window.
6. What is the “Sequence of Operation” when an alarm is received?

Depending on how complex the application, the specifications need to become more detailed.

An example of a simple eight-point alarm annunciator specification would read as follows:

The annunciator should be capable of:

1. Monitoring (8) Eight Alarm points

2. The unit will be powered by 115Vac
3. All eight of the alarm inputs will be Normally Open, dry contacts and will close on alarm.
4. The unit should be capable of being 19” rack mounted.
5. Each alarm point should be a backlight window approximately 1” square in size the legends for each should be definable on site by the user and
printed by a standard computer printer using software provided with the Annunciator by the Annunciator manufacturer.
6. The Sequence of operation should be as follows:

CONDITION STATUS LEDS AUDIBLE

Normal Green On Off
Red Off
Alarm Red Flashing Flashing
Green Off
OPERATE ACKNOWLEDGE BUTTON
Alarm Red Steady Off
Return to Normal Red Off Flashing
Green Flashing
OPERATE ACKNOWLEDGE BUTTON
Normal Green Steady Off

The Three Most Popular Sequences of Operation

The Instrument Society of America or ISA has defined a multitude of sequences of operation, which prescribes how the lights on the front
panel of the annunciator will flash when the inputs to the Annunciator go into the alarm condition. Different industries have adopted different
sequences as their own.

As control room instrumentation becomes more sophisticated, three sequences of operation among Annunciators have become most
prevalent throughout all industries.
These sequences are as follows:

How to Specify an Annunciator

Sequence #1 This sequence always shows the current status of each of the alarm inputs and requires Acknowledgement when a transition
has taken place.

CONDITION STATUS LEDS AUDIBLE

Green On
Normal Off
Red Off
Red Flashing
Alarm Flashing
Green Off
OPERATE ACKNOWLEDGE BUTTON
Alarm Red Steady Off
Red Off
Return to Normal Flashing
Green Flashing

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Annunciator Specifications Page 2

OPERATE ACKNOWLEDGE BUTTON

Normal Green Steady Off

Sequence #2 This sequence is used when only one color is available to illuminate the window. The window will flash when the point is in the
alarm state as well as when the point returns to the normal state. A reset button is used to darken the window after the point has “Returned
to Normal”

CONDITION STATUS LED AUDIBLE

Normal Red Off Off
Alarm Red Flashing Flashing
OPERATE ACKNOWLEDGE BUTTON
Alarm Red Steady Off
Return to Red Flashing
Off
Normal Slow
OPERATE RESET BUTTON
Normal Red Off Off

Sequence #3 This Sequence uses one red LED per alarm point and will flash when the alarm input is in the alarm state and will continue
until acknowledged. When Acknowledged it will remain lit steady. Upon return to normal it will just darken without operations personnel
required to press Acknowledge or Reset.

CONDITION STATUS LEDS AUDIBLE

Normal Red Off Off
Alarm Red Flashing On
OPERATE ACKNOWLEDGE BUTTON
Alarm Red Steady Off
Return to Normal Red Off Off

The preceding was a simple overview of the considerations required when an annunciator system is specified. Please continue to check this
site as we expand upon this discussion.

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http://www.annunciator.com/annunciator-specifications.htm 10/22/2011 10:05:49 PM