Understanding the Alarm Buffer Time


SoniCloud implements a feature known as an Alarm Buffer Time to ensure our customers only get the alarms that matter most.  By leveraging the best alarm buffer time for needs, customers can ensure that high-priority alarms are generated while extraneous alarms don't cause Alarm Fatigue.  

 Sonicu's recommended alarm buffer time is 35 minutes for threshold alarms.  This 35-minute buffer allows for 2 check-in cycles of your factory default Sonicu meter, plus an additional 5 minutes to ensure no network delays cause erroneous alarms.  This 5-minute addition to the check-in cycle will help ensure your data is stored in SoniCloud before an alarm is generated.  

The standard check-in cycle for a monitoring point is 15 minutes.  This would make the shortest buffer time for a standard alarm profile to be set to 20 minutes.  Sonicu recommends a 35-minute buffer to allow for at least 2 check-in cycles.  This will remove nuisance alarms and allow you to act accordingly when actual alarm situations are generated.

For Sonicu customers that are utilizing Premium Monitoring Points and have a check-in cycle that is shorter than our standard 15 minutes, you may have a buffer time that is shorter than that 20 minutes.  However, it would still need to be at least 5 minutes longer than your check-in cycle.  

 

For any more questions regarding your alarm profiles and buffer times please contact Sonicu Support for assistance.  Sonicu Support can be reached by email at support@sonicu.com or by calling (317) 620-8627.  Sonicu Support is available M-F 8 am-5 PM EST.