What is the main purpose of alarms in a BMS?

The primary purpose of alarms in a Building Management System (BMS) is to alert operators of system failures or abnormal conditions. Alarms serve as critical notifications that allow quick responses to potential issues such as equipment malfunctions, temperature fluctuations, or security breaches. This timely alert system is essential for maintaining the overall efficiency, safety, and reliability of building operations.

Operators depend on these alarms to take immediate action, preventing further complications or damage, ensuring the comfort and security of occupants, and optimizing system performance. The ability to quickly respond to abnormal conditions can significantly impact the management and operational effectiveness of the facility.

In contrast, notifying maintenance schedules, indicating energy consumption levels, or communicating with external agencies, while valuable functions within a BMS, do not encapsulate the core role of alarms, which is predominantly focused on immediate situational awareness and incident response.